-=Episode 16=-
Yes.
I will do it.
I can do it.
This disciple will surely surpass you, Master
and will complete the journey to master Joseon's martial arts.
Take this block of iron, grind it yourself
and try to make a sword.
Take a careful look.
Master,
you are not telling me to use this woldo to spilt this bean in half, right? (woldo = Korean moonblade)
You got it.
Abiding by our strict national laws,
all the guards who assited Crown Prince Sado and are assisting His Highness Prince Heir,
-= Yi San (Later King Jeongjo) =- . all the guards who assited Crown Prince Sado and are assisting His Highness Prince Heir,
-= Yi San (Later King Jeongjo) =- . . must accept dismissal and leave.
What?
You mean the Sword Saint has already left?
Yes, correct.
He went far away...
To a place far far away.
Now that we have become like this,
If the Sword Saint is also not around, it will be even more difficult.
I'm quite worried about the young Prince Heir.
I am also depressed, the same as all of you.
However,
No matter what the circumstances are, if there is something we must do,
we must do it the best way we can.
Do you understand?
Everybody gather!
From today onwards, you all must start special training.
What?
Me too. I too want to get special training.
You move to the side.
Move to one side.
Captain, why are you suddenly doing this?
Don't talk much.
On your current abilities,
it will be tough for you to guard even the Prince Heir's shadow.
From now on you must all practice to death.
You said... His Highness the Prince Heir?
You muddle-headed fellow!
Hurry up and get up to speed. Don't you have to protect the Prince Heir?
What?
I told you to move aside.
My Lord,
As I look at it, I see some strong energy.
The spirit strongly takes form as the bamboo.
Why is that so?
Strong spirit?
That is a nice thought!
Yes, right.
You have to do this, to be called loyal?
I have no way but to take away your lives.
Oh, I feel pity!
You sick minister!
Go!
Un...
You fellow!
Why is the weather so bad!?
Farewell.
You can't forgive me, Your Highness Crown Prince.
The lady who had the Bukbeoljigye on her body, is starting a trader group. This development
has not escaped my attention.
But, I don't know if you are aware of it.
Speaking of that trader group... I can change their fate with just a single command.
That is a fact.
Tonight, it seems like you will need to help me deal with an issue.
What do you want to do?
Consider this the first and also the last time.
I'll leave this up to you.
Nursing another's pain in your own heart,
is what an assassin does.
Un!
Kill me.
Try and kill me!
It is not that you don't dare, but you cannot, right?
Because you can't become an assassin.
Right now you...
are wielding the sword with your heart, as I see.
To an assassin, a heart is the same as death.
The moment he nurses a heart inside
is the moment an assassin dies.
Heart and all that
were abandoned a long time ago.
I need to be blindfolded?
Master?
Really...
Aish, it really is.
I walked through the whole of Qing.
It wasn't easy to get them.
The price is so steep. Is it any different than robbing?
On stealing things, aren't we the professionals!
Anyway...
I used my bargaining magic,
to buy it with half the money.
You should try to do it once!
Thank you.
Well, no need for thanks.
Give me some.
Here.
Yes.
Here we go!
Is that true? Was it Un?
Yes.
It seems...
Leaving you alone here is pretty dangerous.
Right now, it is still small.
So there are only a few occasional thieves coming.
But wait till it gets bigger.
Then those thieves will be all around here like bees.
What's wrong?
Not all thieves are bad, you know.
Aigoo. Is our Jin Ju angry again?
What this ajussi means is..
I am just saying... Just saying.
Aigoo, your temper is something.
What you say does make sense.
What about having our friends from the mountains employed as guards.
Though they have not formally learned martial arts,
they are not just scarecrows either.
Aigoo, yes.
If we do that, it will be a lot better.
Isn't it right?
Yes.
But this time, how about you elders also taking part in managing the trade group?
To do it by myself, I feel quite inadequate.
Jin Ju...
From now on you stay hot on Miss Ji Seon's trail,
and help the trade.
Well, stealing inside a bird cage is no fun either...
What?... I should do what, you said?
This sheep fur cap is now very popular in Qing.
Try it on and see.
Aigoo, looks like it feels good!
Beautiful, beautiful.
Right... right...
This...
This was brought over from Qing.
So it is about ten yang.
Ten yang is absolutely not a high price for this.
You try it on and see.
This is really very good.
Even at a time like this, wearing this is just as nice.
When it is cold in the winter, if you wear this...
Oh so warm... This is sheep fur.
It is really good, isn't it?
All this...
This is all money earned by selling fur caps?
Yes.
It is all thanks to Miss Jin Ju.
Oh, you are really a treasure! We have got a treasure here.
Then what are you planning to do now?
I want to do ginseng trade.
Ginseng?
Yes.
Joseon ginseng is exceptionally good.
It can fetch a good price in Qing.
Though I too have heard of things like that,
isn't there high competition now?
Even so, it is not as if there is no solution.
Please explain.
Look, I will show.
The relationship between Japan and Qing is poor lately.
So, trade groups have come to giving up on any money settlement.
So we Joseon folks
can play the middlemen. That is the deal.
Fine, but then?
All the tax in Qing is settled with silver coins.
To buy the Joseon ginseng, the Japanese will have to re-mint high quality silver coins.
So sell the ginseng in Qing, and buy fur caps.
We will then send the fur caps to Japan and convert it to gold and silver.
When we do that, it will be a three-way trade involving Qing and Japan.
From now on you fellows
are no longer thieves, but merchants.
Understand?
Yes!
Ginseng cannot be exposed to the rain and cannot get dried by the sun. You understand?
Everybody should surely be attentive.
Yes!
Good, so...
Everybody head out!
We will do it.
Let's go.
Do it as fast as possible.
Father, let me leave.
Fine.
Be careful.
Follow, follow.
We are going to get rich.
Everybody do your best!
If you want to laugh, go ahead and laugh.
Try to hit this.
Cut it.
Dong Su, of everything that you must overcome,
this is the last one.
Don't tell me that you want me to cut the falling pine needles?
-=Three years later=-
You should remove Heuksa Chorong's Sky Lord.
The two of you will be entrusted with Heuksa Chorong.
I badly missed Joseon.
The shame and humiliation from those bastards,
I want to give it all back.
Let's go, Hyeongnim. (hyeongnim - respected older brother or friend)
A rotten smell rushes to my nose.
Sky Lord, you fellow.
Quickly come out and bow down.
What are you doing here?
Where did the Sky Lord go, for a brat like you to come out instead?
The Sky Lord left this place a long time ago.
The Sky Lord is not here and you fellow became the custodian?
Ga Ok... Where is Ga Ok?
You were looking for me?
Ga Ok...
Ga Ok.
How have you been?
I really... really missed you.
What are you doing?
It is not my hand.
It is an artificial limb.
Listen! This is an imperial order.
From now onwards, this is who will be the new Sky Lord of Heuksa Chorong.
-=Jang Ryang=- . From now onwards, this is who will be the new Sky Lord of Heuksa Chorong.
-=Chang Ryang=- . . .
-=Chang Ryang=- . . Pay your respects.
Our greeting to the Sky Lord.
Ah, this smell.
I missed the Heuksa Chorong.
Ga Ok, even you can't beat the years.
The Sky Lord left so suddenly?
You really don't know where he went?
You are charming even when you are not talking.
You fellow also do not know, right?
Did this fellow also become like Ga Ok?
You don't have the charm though.
So, that's it.
That fellow Cheon, took the scroll I made and left, right?
This lists the famous martial arts experts in the eight provinces.
The last one is that fellow Gwang Taek.
Think about it. Why would I make that scroll?
All those fellows in that scroll
are aiming for Cheon's head.
You get it?
Hey...
Use this money to fill up that liquor can.
Come here!
Have you eaten yet?
Once this is cooked, eat it with me.
Thanks for getting me the liquor just now.
That is the fellow, no doubt.
Let's do it.
Get up!
By taking your head,
I will become one of the famous martial arts experts in the eight provinces.
So what?
What do you want to do?
You fellows are even waking up someone who was sleeping after a good drink.
You shut up.
Enjoy, Enjoy!
Who are you, fellow?
Move Aside!
I am a fellow who likes to sit down when he sees liquor.
It has been a long time, Your Excellency Hong Dae Ju.
Have you been doing well?
-= The Entertainment House =-
Then, that fellow is from Heuksa Chorong?
Yes, Your Excellency.
-=Gim Han Gu: Queen Jeong Sun's father=- . Yes, Your Excellency.
-=Gim Han Gu: Queen Jeong Sun's father=- . .
His manners are even worse than of servants'.
How is he connected to you, I wonder.
Your Excellency,
Whether the servant does the clean-up work for his aristocrat owner,
or he does it for any aristocrat nobleman, the servant is still a servant.
-= Hong Bong Han (Yi San's maternal =- -= grandfather, Noron Faction's Leader) =- . It is something to throw away after use.
He is something to throw away after use.
You do not need to worry.
Isn't that right?
Please help yourself.
- You passed. - I passed.
We passed!
Leave him alone.
He holds the knife like he is holding a brush...
I'm afraid he will need more time.
Let's go.
-=Hong Guk Yeong=-
I already knew you guys would certainly make it.
Anyhow, congratulations, you rotten brats.
Everyone, have another.
- Aigoo, brat. - Thank you. - Good, good.
Thank you.
- Good, good - Thank you.
There. Let's drink!
But...
Cho Rip... How did it go for Cho Rip?
Captain... That...
Could I join for the drink?
You are...?
I am Gim Hong Do.
Oh right, Gim Hong Do.
Yes.
I passed the examination today, and became a painter.
Oh, is that so?
That is a good news.
- Sit down. Have a drink. - Yes, thank you.
Look here. You became a painter or whatever, but,
why do you have to come here?
Me? I came to give everyone some very good news.
It is about that friend called Yang Cho Rip.
That friend is admitted for the ceremonial year of liberal arts,
and he did pass the civil service examination.
Oh, that's great! That's our Cho Rip!
So it's done. He did it!
But...
Isn't that friend's real name Hong Guk Yeong?
How did you know that?
What?
If that is so,
Cho Rip is from a noble family, you mean?
But, why were you always hiding it till now?
Listen, you fellows.
Till now, who among those learning fighting at Chang Yong,
has been from a noble family?
For fear that you all would exclude him,
we made up a fake name.
This son will wholeheartedly support you.
You may look up.
-=Yi San (Later King Jeongjo)=-
You all are willing to be my trusted assistants?
- Yes, Your Highness. - Yes, Your Highness.
Oh, hey.
Are you Hong Guk Yeong?
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Is there any book you are looking for?
If there is a copy of Si Jeon,
-=Si Jeon: One of the 5 Confucian Classics. Annotated Book of Poetry=- . If there is a copy of Si Jeon,
-=Si Jeon: One of the 5 Confucian Classics. Annotated Book of Poetry=- . bring it to me.
Yes, Your Highness.
Were you visiting the jangseogak?
-=Jangseogak: Palace Depository of Treasured Books=- . Were you visiting the jangseogak?
-=Jangseogak: Palace Depository of Treasured Books=- . Yes.
-=Jangseogak: Palace Depository of Treasured Books=- . I wanted to look for a book to read.
Day and night, I see that Your Highness is diligently reading.
Inevitably, like your ancestors,
Your Highness will become a wise ruler.
I will take that as a compliment.
Si Jeon, is it?
I heard you were not feeling well lately.
Have you recovered completely now?
Yes.
After drinking the ginseng tea that Your Majesty grandfather sent,
I immediately recovered.
-=Yeong Ju=- . I immediately recovered.
-=Yeong Ju=- . .
-=Yeong Ju=- . Good, good.
It is good to expand your scholarship,
but you cannot ignore your body.
Keep that in mind.
Yes, Your Majesty grandfather.
-=Queen Jeong Sun=- . . Prince Heir,
-=Queen Jeong Sun=- . What is the book you that you are reading these days?
I am reading a poetry book.
So...
Is the rumor true, that you are reading Si Jeon that has annotations?
Yes, it is true.
Si Jeon?
Is it not a book that I prohibited?
Go to east palace and bring the poetry books.
Yes.
This is really commendable.
I labeled Si Jeon as a forbidden book
only because of this yoapyeon.
-=Yoapyeon: A portion of Si Jeon that describes parents' kindness and love=- . only because of this yoapyeon.
-=Yoapyeon: A portion of Si Jeon that describes parents' kindness and love=- . .
Though you are yet to be enthroned,
you can already read the royal mind. Surely you have the gift to be the ruler.
I am truly humbled, Your Highness.
Hong Guk Yeong is the name, right?
Your intelligence saved me!
Eat.
Its all here.
Cut it down.
A Sword needs to be held with the heart.
Those who understand it can wield the sword.
Take them away.
Yes. Let's go.
You have done a good job.
One hundred yangs.
-=Jang Tae San=- . I hope I will meet you again.
Have a drink with me.
Who are you?
I asked who you are!
Ah, yes.
I don't know now... Did I ask you to say something?
Come on. Show your stance.
Jang Tae San, have that drink with me!
Brats, come on in.
If all of you come here like this,
who will protect His Highness?
Your Royal Highness.
Sword Saint hyeongnim?
Though I actually know where he is,
I do not know how to find him.
In fact, His Majesty wants to find the Sword Saint.
His Majesty wants to?
Then I will try to get in touch somehow.
I trust you will do so.
Yes.
Pay your respects. This is His Highness the Prince Heir.
Then, I shall wait to hear from you.
- We will leave. - Yes. Quickly go back.
- Sa Mo. - Mmm.
Who is it?
All those guards following him. Could it be...
Prince Heir?
You, can't you be a little quieter?
You! Why are you so starry-eyed all day?
Ah, really...
His Highness Crown Prince is pretty handsome!
You better not even think of that...
Like you know how this feels!
What is all this?
These are ginseng seeds.
Ginseng?
Yes.
After harvesting it, we need to properly understand
the Ginseng types, characteristics, taste and the fragrance.
Only then we can produce the best varieties, right?
Ajussi.
Please help. We need to urgently identify these ginseng types.
You girl, can't you do just one thing at a time?
Like I don't know that?
Hanyang climate and soil are not suitable for growing ginseng.
And also, for selling ginseng, we need official permission.
These are not a easy matters.
This... What is this, now?
This is made from panax ginseng by steaming and then drying,
due to its color, it's just called red ginseng.
Red ginseng?
Can I have a taste?
Let me see...
Aigoo... This taste.
This taste is so... so bitter! Bitter!
But... where did you learn about this way of refining ginseng?
I read that in the book, Routes to Goryeo.
-=Routes to Goryeo: Book by a Song Dynasty envoy, on what he saw in Goryeo during Injong's reign (1123).=- . . I read that in the book, Routes to Goryeo.
-=Routes to Goryeo: Book by a Song Dynasty envoy, on what he saw in Goryeo during Injong's reign (1123).=- . The longer it's steamed, the greater the taste and aroma.
So you mean, the longer the time, the better for the body?
Yes. Steaming and drying this within a stipulated time period,
isn't an easy task.
We have to thank Jin Ju's skills for these.
Mmm...
Now I finally know how clever and skillful you are, Jin Ju.
Appearances aside,
there is nothing I cannot do, and I am that kind of a woman.
I think I find this quite tasty.
Stop eating, or you're going to finish all of them!
Mmm...
What is written there is wrong.
What?
On that, it shows that my skills are equal to Hwang Jin Gi's.
It is not so.
Do you know Hwang Jin Gi?
As a bounty hunter, how can I not know Hwang Jin Gi?
Right, right, that's right.
Perfect. I have a question to ask you.
I heard that if you capture Hwang Jin Gi there is a ten thousand yang reward.
Why have you not gone to capture him?
How could I have not gone to capture him?
After that, I gave up trying to capture Hwang Jin Gi.
So where do you place his martial arts skills?
About the same as you. Should be about equal.
That day I fought with him.
I found that he has strength.
Though not as agile as he used to be,
he has twice the strength than before.
Jin Gi, I have no other choice.
Hwang Jin Gi?
Yes.
That fellow Cheon is looking for Hwang Jin Gi?
Okay.
If anyone here has a problem with cutting Cheon's head, speak up.
Of course, there isn't.
There is the imperial order to kill Cheon.
Furthermore, each generation's Sky Lord must die at the hands of the future Sky Lord,
as per the Heuksa Chorong rules.
Ah, right! Your father was the same, right?
Although it hurts inside, isn't that the fact?
Hyeongnim, please go to take Cheon's head.
Though I won't oppose if you go, isn't it the impossible that you are off to try?
The Sky Lord's martial arts skills can't be unknown to you.
Ga Ok, when I was thrown out of Heuksa Chorong, I had silently sworn to myself.
Do you know what that was?
That I would never... never fight a losing battle.
How the Sky Lord dies... You just wait and see.
Hyeongnim.
Hwang Jin Gi?
Isn't it known that the fellow is already dead?
He happens not to be dead.
Heuksa Chorong's Earth Lord had clearly said that he was dead.
That is exactly the problem!
The only one who knows Hwang Jin Gi's whereabouts is Ga Ok.
That is the Earth Lord whom you are talking about, Your Excellency.
If so, do you want to get the government army to help you to capture Hwang Jin Gi?
The reward for capturing Hwang Jin Gi is ten thousand yangs.
But, besides money, if you help in catching the bandit chief,
Your authority before His Highness will also rise.
But how will you capture that Hwang Jin Gi, if he comes and goes like a shadow?
I am not sure if you realize or not, Your Excellency, but...
I have intelligence, and I have strength.
If it will ring loud if you gag it, will you be able to put a gag on it?
I had mentioned this to Ga Ok.
I surmise that she will find Hwang Jin Gi herself, to our gratitude.
Mother.
You make a greetings visit to the army officers.
Yes.
Will ring loud if it is gagged?
Sky Lord, you wash up your neck and wait for me.
I do not want to dirty my knife.
What? The Human Lord wants to attack us?
How does he know about this hideout?
The Sky Lord will also come looking for you.
And for what reason would he want to find me?
The Sky lord is going around to find the best martial arts experts in the 8 provinces to duel.
You are one of them.
The Human Lord who has a grudge on the Sky Lord may join hands with the government army and come here.
No time to waste.
You need to quickly leave with Jin Ju.
Earth lord, my brothers are here.
How can I leave alone?
Isn't Jin Ju's safety more important?
If you can't do it, then I will take Jin Ju away.
Jin Gi, are you inside?
Jin Gi, you fellow.
Please don't come out. I will send Jin Ju back in.
If you are in there, come here.
You are here, master?
Oh, yes.
Father.
You have to go back in.
You must have traveled far.
That is right.
In fact I thought about whether I wanted to fight you.
But I heard you have become very strong.
That is why I need to contest you.
Sorry I caused this.
Oh, it is alright. If I win, that will do.
Draw your sword.
Move aside!
Why are you here?
Stop it here.
You know I cannot.
A person called Jang Ryang has come from Qing.
Jang Ryang?
He is an officer in the imperial guard of the Qing Emperor.
Imperial guard officer?
That means, he and Dae Ung must be looking for me?
For following my footsteps, I should greet them with thanks, I feel.
They will be here soon, if you don't know...
Ga Ok, don't say more.
Having come this far,
stopping it is not what is in my mind.
Stay back!
Father.
Jin Ju, even if you see me make a mistake,
you can have absolutely no thoughts of revenge.
Do you understand?
Father.
Master, I will leave for a while.
Fine. Don't be too late.
Yes.
Are you nervous about meeting the Cheon fellow?
No.
Once we catch Hwang Jin Gi, you finish off taking his life.
What are you doing?
Shoot!
They want to be the targets? Keep shooting then!
Father!
Mother. Mother.
Jin Ju, I'm still fine.
Mother. Mother.
Mother? What is this new thing that I haven't heard of?
Mother!
Calling her mother? Are you calling this lady your mother?
Did you call her mother?
He is the third Sky Lord?
Yes. Does he not look like a devil?
Take her into the house.
Mother!
So you have become a true assassin.
All thanks to your teaching, Sky Lord.
Good. It should be like this.
But Dae Ung you, how did you end up so rotten?
Aren't you rotten too, when you try to kill your fellow fighters?
Yes, I should be feeling sorry.
Was dying once not enough? You want to die a second time?
If I die twice, I live thrice. If I die thrice, I live four times.
There are still a lot of parts left that are not chopped off.
Sky Lord, would I come alone to kill you?
I brought over one thousand soldiers and also...
Hyeongnim.
Draw your knife!
You are an Imperial guard military officer?
I am interested to see what you can do.
Move aside!
You do it.
You won't? Make it fast!
Looks like you have really become a devil.
If one is faithful to his own separate destiny, then that is enough.
Mother.
Mother, are you alright?
Will you be alright, mother?
Mother, are you alright?
Don't worry about me. Quickly get away from here.
No. We will go together, mother.
Hurry!
No, mother. Let us go together.
Ga Ok, can you stand up?
Save my daughter.
- Quickly leave. - No, Mother. No. Let us go together.
- I will protect your mother. You get away. - Mother!
Ga Ok, quickly get up.
If you die, how can I live?
Save my daughter.
She is your daughter.
What did you just say?
She is your daughter.
You...