02x10 - Episode 10

[bunniefuu]

ALCHEMY OF SOULS PART 2

Throughout my life,

I spent most of my time
on this tree alone.

So I wonder what it was

that made me wait for
someone to come for me.

Because we made a promise.

You may not have remembered me,

but you remembered our
promise to be together,

which is why you waited for me.

I asked you to carry me last
time, but you just left.

There.

Are you happy?

If this is a brief chance
to keep the promise we made,

let us spend time together
like any other couple

who have met after pining
and longing for each other.

These chestnuts have
already matured.

- You are right.
- Shall we cook them in rice?

Sure.

Do you remember throwing things at
me when I was cooking last time?

- I did?
- "I did"?

You even threw a knife at me.

- Like this?
- Do not do it.

I bet I threw it like this.

All right.

I will pretend as if
this is nothing more

than just another
ordinary day together

and I will watch over
you until the end.

We should make chestnut rice

since both you and
Master Lee like it.

Master Lee?

He is currently at his
hut in Danhyanggok.

He was the one who
brought me here.

Did the Unanimous Assembly ask you
to take the ice stone out of Jang Uk?

I told them I could not

because there is another soul
shifter he has yet to catch.

I see you have decided
to let him catch you.

Then you should
go to Danhyanggok.

I am also responsible for how
things turned out for you two,

and I cannot sit back and do
nothing like I did before.

It is time

that I do my part.

What is it that you
have to do with us?

I did nothing when you were
a young master and a servant.

I also did not interfere when
you were a master and a pupil.

However,

I cannot sit by and watch
as one must be hunted

and the other must
be the hunter.

So I wish to put an end to
your current relationship.

You saved my life, so I will
accept whatever choice you make.

Then will you follow my
decision no matter what?

Then I want you two…

to have a wedding.

I shall be your witness.

I want you two to be
officially married.

Let us get ready.

The weather is nice, so let
us get it done and over with.

All right.

Listen, you two.

Is this a
matriculation ceremony?

Oh, do you wish to be my pupil?

Will you drink chaste herb tea

and practice chastity
starting today?

- No.
- No way.

This is a wedding.

You should be facing each other.

Oh, right.

A wedding ceremony is how
you announce your marriage

to the people around you.

But it is also to
inform the skies.

"We have decided
to be together."

"Therefore, no one
can set us apart."

That is what the message is.

Now, Jang Uk of the
Jang family and…

Come to think of it,

you have four names.

You were born as Cho Yeong, but
you grew up as the assassin, Naksu.

Then you lived as Mu-deok,

and now you are Jin Bu-yeon.

I never had a chance to live

with just one name.

Which name shall I call you by?

The name that my parents
gave me when I was born.

I would like to be
called Cho Yeong.

Uk and Yeong.

Your name means "light."

And your name means "shadow."

Light and shadow.

It may be that you two

were fated to meet
from the start.

Let us now begin the wedding
ceremony of Jang Uk and Cho Yeong.

It is a wedding drink.

If you drink that,

it means we are
officially married.

Go on. Drink up.

If you turn this off, I
will take you with me.

You and I…

have liked each other
for a long time.

I shall always stay by
your side at this distance.

That is my promise.

I must be going crazy…

because of you.

I found another use for you.

After all, you are offering
to substitute for her.

But this is my hand
that you are holding,

and it will be me who holds you
and puts you to bed at night.

So when you are looking at
me, see me for who I am.

You look pretty.

You told me to see
you for who you were.

That is what I am trying to do.

I will also…

boast to everyone that you lit up
a dark path for me late at night.

Sure, go ahead.

I plan to find my own room.

I will find out who I really am and
decorate my room with my own traits.

I hope…

that makes it easier
for you to find me.

I will keep you warm and
help you rest comfortably.

I just pine for you.

That is why I came to see you.

I liked you from the start.

I knew the moment I saw you.

You are my husband.

I now pronounce you
husband and wife.

You have informed the skies
through this ceremony,

so I wish you a
long life together.

Among all the married couples I
have seen through my entire life,

you two are the dearest.

I promised you

that I would bring you up here.

You were right. You can
see the world from up here.

It is nice.

Now that I look
at you like this,

it feels as if it has been a
long time since we last met,

but it also feels as
if we met yesterday.

It feels strange.

It feels like I held your
hand a long time ago.

But it also feels like I only recently
held it for the very first time.

Everything is clear to me now.

Deep down inside,

I recognized you from the start.

Just like when we first met.

I recognized the girl with
the blue marks in her eyes.

I recognized you.

Do you think Bu-yeon is
with Jang Uk right now?

Jang Uk will have
gone to find her

because of what she said
at the Unanimous Assembly.

Why did you not stop her?

Jang Uk got rid of Jin Mu,

and Bu-yeon found
the Jinyowon Plaque.

Regardless of anything,

the truth is that they
both protected Jinyowon.

I would like to think that she is
looking out for the two of them.

"She"?

I asked them how they
first met each other here.

They said someone had opened
the door to this place.

Do you really believe

that her soul remained in
Jinyowon along with the ice stone

and was reborn as my daughter?

How is that even possible?

My existence is proof
that it is possible.

I am alive because I entered
the dead body of a young boy.

She may have done the same.

Let us say you are right
and that it is possible.

What could be the reason
that she chose to stay?

I am sure there is a good reason

why she chose to stay with the ice
stone instead of leaving 200 years ago.

It sounds like you know
what that reason may be.

She must have protected the ice stone
because it was going to be used one day.

Jin Seol-ran and my master, Seo
Gyeong, went through the Great Chaos,

and I fear that the same kind
of chaos may occur once again.

The fire bird is safe.

Jin Mu is dead.

Heo Yeom stocked this place
with food and firewood

knowing I would come
back here one day.

It will be enough
to last you a month.

A month?

What is the matter?
Is it too short?

I did not come hoping to
spend a lifetime together.

I just came to stay by her side
until the very last moment.

That could last a
month, two weeks,

or even just a few days.

But I decided not to keep count.

I am going to believe

that we will always
have tomorrow.

How many of Naksu's
memories have returned?

There is still

a memory she does not recall.

You said you were dying to know

how I felt at that
last moment with you.

That moment will probably be

the very last memory
that comes back to me.

When I recall that last memory…

I will give you
a sign like this.

Then I will tell
you what I remember.

It will be…

my last love letter to you.

In the past, I
could not understand

why Master Seo Gyeong kept
his love letter unsent

despite having written it.

But now I understand why he would
have been unable to send that letter.

That love letter was
for Jin Seol-ran.

I hope the love you have for each
other will somehow reach her as well.

Heo Yeom also got
me new bedding.

Maybe it is in storage.

Jin Seol-ran?

What is this barrier?
Did you create it?

That is the fire bird.

The fire bird will
dry out the world.

I hoped that something so
tragic would never happen.

But the foolish greed of humans will
lead the world to burn to ashes.

The fire bird

is going to escape?

I just showed you

what is going to
happen to this world.

I foresaw this happening
a very long time ago.

You are able to see the future?

Who are you?

A priestess?

You used the yin-and-yang
jade to summon me, right?

I could not leave, for I was scared
that the world would fall into ruin.

But I only ended up contributing
to the summoning of the fire bird

and making this world burn.

I am not capable of
stopping what will happen.

It can only be
stopped by the man

who was born against the laws
of nature under the King's Star.

I have been hiding under the shadow
that was created by your light.

Now I plan to cast that shadow
aside and step out into the world.

Cast the shadow aside

and step out into the world?

Does that mean

you are Jin Bu-yeon?

That is right.

That is the name I was
given when I was reborn.

Jin Bu-yeon attracted
your shadow,

used it,

and will make it disappear.

The world I foresaw will
come no matter what.

And when it does,

tragic events will occur.

Just as Jin Seol-ran helped Seo Gyeong
stop the Great Chaos a long time ago,

you are the only person
who can stop the fire bird,

and Jin Bu-yeon must come into this
world to help you achieve that.

Jin Bu-yeon attracted
your shadow,

used it,

and will make it disappear.

Did you meet…

Jin Bu-yeon?

Yes.

I ended up seeing something

that is inevitable.

According to Jin Mu's plan,

we must first take the
fire bird out of Jinyowon.

Then we must confiscate
the Jinyowon Plaque

by gathering another
Unanimous Assembly.

We need to keep
Songrim out of it,

but how will we justify it?

We must use Jang Uk
as our justification.

He disobeyed the King's
command, did he not?

That is right.

When should we gather
the Unanimous Assembly?

Are you all right?

Forget about the Unanimous
Assembly and the Jinyowon Plaque.

We have no time to waste.

We must go to Jinyowon at once
and bring out the fire bird.

We must do it now!

Why did His Majesty gather the mages
of the Unanimous Assembly at this hour?

I do not know why,

but I think one of the
mages is a soul shifter.

He absorbed the energy
of one of the eunuchs.

A soul shifter is in the palace?

Then His Majesty is in danger.

- We must stop him.
- It is hard to believe,

but I think that soul shifter

is someone you know,
Your Royal Highness.

Someone I know?

Who?

It is me, Your Royal Highness.

You are the Queen's relative
from Seoho Fortress, are you not?

I see you fail to recognize me
because my appearance has changed.

It is me.

Your long-time master

and Gwanju of Cheonbugwan,

Jin Mu.

Jin Mu?

How can you be Jin Mu?

I shifted into another
body when I was in Gwido.

You shifted your soul?

His Majesty sent someone for
me, so I was able to live.

His Majesty saved you?

I came back to help the King
and the Unanimous Assembly

achieve their goal.

Shut your mouth!

His Majesty would never
see eye to eye with you.

Jin Mu is telling the truth.

Jin Mu will be standing with
me and the Unanimous Assembly.

Your Majesty.

Jin Mu, did you say
you wish to take away

the Crown Prince's Gold Plaque?

Yes, Your Majesty.

His Royal Highness
stabbed me in the back,

so I should return the favor.

I shall take away the
Crown Prince's Gold Plaque.

You are no longer the
heir to the throne.

Keep him locked up in here
until I say otherwise.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, you are
being fooled by him.

Your Majesty!

Jin Mu.

What are you trying to do by fooling
the King and Unanimous Assembly?

I am merely picking
up where I left off.

I shall head to Jinyowon
and bring out the fire bird.

Is Young Lady Bu-yeon

also not here?

Is she with Young Master Jang?

Lady Jin.

What is going on between them?

I cannot tell you
anything right now.

Time will solve everything,

so please have
patience and wait.

Does that mean you
know where they are?

Maidservant Kim.

My mother still has
not fully recovered

after helping Young Master Seo.

She needs to rest, so
please go back home.

Lady Jin, the mages of the
Unanimous Assembly are here.

What?

What do you think you are doing?

How dare you attempt to enter
Jinyowon without my permission!

Apologies, Lady Jin.

We need to take out the artifact
that is needed for the lake's rite.

Open the door to Jinyowon.

You came barging in here at this
late hour to get the artifact

for the lake's rite?

The royal family
has approved it,

so all you need to
do is open that door.

I cannot do that.

I cannot open that door even
if the royal family orders it.

Have you forgotten about
the Jinyowon Plaque?

All the mages of the Unanimous
Assembly are here except for Songrim,

so we shall
confiscate the plaque.

Give us the plaque.

This is ridiculous.

I cannot let you do that.

Enough!

I told you we have no time.

- Mother!
- Make one more step and your mother dies.

h*-gyeong.

Your brother has shifted souls.

Open that door before I suck out
all the energy of the Jin family

that you are so proud of.

Jin Cho-yeon!

Open that door.

Or I will drain your mother's energy
until she is as dry as firewood.

Mother…

Open the door.

Do it now!

He is a soul shifter.

If he drains Lady Jin's
energy, she will die!

Hurry and open the door!

Quickly go to Songrim
and ask them for help.

Hurry.

Mother!

Mother, are you all right?

Is that the fire bird's egg?

- What is that sound?
- What is that?

Jinyowon must be collapsing now
that the fire bird's egg is out.

We must leave now.

h*-gyeong.

I could have absorbed all your
energy, but I could not bear to.

Anything that belongs to Jinyowon
makes me sick to my stomach.

Mother.

Your wound is deep.

We cannot let them
take the fire bird.

Go to Songrim right now
and ask them for help.

Jin Cho-yeon! Go now!

Hurry!

Yes, Mother.

Jinyowon…

is collapsing.

No.

No…

Lady Jin.

Lady Jin, are you all right?

Please take me inside Jinyowon.

If Jinyowon collapses,

all the relics
inside will escape.

I must use my divine
powers to keep them there.

Hold onto me.

I will take you inside.

My lord.

- Young Master Park.
- Are you all right?

The mages of the Unanimous
Assembly took the fire bird.

Jinyowon is going to collapse.

I will check on Jinyowon.

Go and follow the mages
who took the fire bird.

- Yes, my lord.
- The fire bird is a dangerous relic,

so I shall go with
Young Master Park.

My mother is severely injured.

Please help her, Lord Park.

All right.

Uncle.

Where is Lady Jin?

She went inside to keep
the relics from escaping.

Maidservant Kim went
in there with her.

Maidservant Kim?

Maidservant Kim is
inside Jinyowon?

Maidservant Kim!

Maidservant Kim,
are you in there?

Lord Park, I am in here!

The relics are escaping!

If it collapses,

all the other dangerous
relics will escape as well!

I must seal the door.

Maidservant Kim,
hurry up and leave.

If you do not, you will die.

What?

The relics are
starting to escape.

I must seal the door!

What about you?

Maidservant Kim!

It is going to collapse soon!

If we do not seal the door, we will
not be able to stop the relics!

No!

I cannot seal the door.
Maidservant Kim is still…

My wife is still in there.

My lord!

Seal…

the door.

Maidservant Kim!

We cannot let this
place collapse.

So please…

seal the door.

I understand.

My lord.

I will be all right.

So seal the door.

Hurry!

My lord! It is
about to collapse!

Even if you decide
to seal that door,

I know how heartbreaking
it will be for you,

so it does not upset me so much.

I do not mind it.

Yeon…

Yeon…

Lord Park Jin.

Do not fall into despair.

You still have a
chance to save her.

I will give you the power
to save the person you love.

Your Majesty…

is this what you

and the Unanimous
Assembly both want?

I told you.

Everyone wants to share
the power of the ice stone.

It would be greedy of Songrim
to keep it for themselves.

The power should be divided among
the powerful mage families of Daeho

and used wisely
through common consent.

So you plan to awaken

the dangerous fire bird
just to achieve that?

The lake's rite
will bring us rain

and help us get the ice stone.

Then we will seal it back.

What about the world that will
burn to ashes because of it?

Does that not matter to you?

All things require sacrifice.

Worrying about
insignificant things

only prevents us from
achieving what we want.

Do you not wish

to save Maidservant Kim?

Do not be a hypocrite and pretend
that is not what you want.

Evil…

always does what it wants
without ever stopping.

But why is it that virtue

always needs to prove
itself over and over again?

Yes.

I do wish to save her.

I would do anything to
save her, even if it meant

I would lose my sanity.

But even so,

I will…

stop you from getting
what you want.

Not a single one of you

has the right to laugh at me…

and call me…

a hypocrite.

Stop right now…

or I will break the
barrier of the fire bird.

This place is
going to burn down.

We need to leave.

He fought against the
representatives of eight families

and still made it this far.

He really was a
highly skilled mage.

What a waste.

If he held hands with us, I would
have helped him shift souls.

But he willingly chose death,

so there is nothing we can do.

Lord Park!

- Lord Park!
- Lord Park!

- Lady Jin!
- Lord Park!

Lord Park!

Uk.

Uk…

Uk, Jin is…

Jin is…

- Lady Jin!
- Lord Park!

Last night,

the fire bird was
taken from Jinyowon.

Lady Jin and Maidservant
Kim went inside Jinyowon

in an attempt to stop
the relics from escaping…

and passed away.

Not even Jin Cho-yeon could open
the collapsed door to Jinyowon

so we could not
collect their bodies.

Because of that…

their coffins are empty.

As for Lord Park, he tried to stop them
from breaking the fire bird's barrier,

but the fire bird's energy
set the place on fire,

and he passed away there.

The place completely
burned down.

The only thing we found
there was his sword.

I was locked up after they
took away my Gold Plaque.

I narrowly escaped when
the fire broke out.

My father, the King
of this country,

is with the Unanimous Assembly.

This all happened

because Jin Mu was able to shift
his soul into Seo Yun-o's body.

I would barge into Cheonbugwan
right this instant,

but they have the fire bird.

We cannot make rash decisions.

If people find out that
the fire bird got out,

there will be extreme chaos.

Let us quietly hold
their funerals.

Then we must stop them
from waking the fire bird.

The fire bird will awaken.

I was told that

it is going to happen
no matter what.

However…

these three did not pass away.

If the disaster created by
human greed was foreseen,

the will to stop it
can become a variable…

and change the outcome.

Jin will be all right.

Do not cry too much.

All right.

Lady Jin, you have used up
too much of your energy.

Not only did they
take the fire bird,

but I also failed to
stop all the relics…

from escaping Jinyowon.

You put your life at
risk and did your best.

Was it Bu-yeon who
entered Jinyowon…

while it was collapsing?

Yes.

Jinyowon's door was built
by Jin Seol-ran as well.

Bu-yeon created a door that allowed
her to enter Jinyowon from Danhyanggok.

While she entered Jinyowon and
stopped it from collapsing,

I followed her instructions
and went to find the fire bird.

I could not find the fire bird.

But fortunately, I
was able to save Jin.

Does that mean Naksu
no longer lives

in that body?

She left the body,

which led Bu-yeon to completely
regain her divine powers.

It took you so long to
find each other again.

But you were not even
given a full day together.

The yin-and-yang jade

is shared by couples in
order to stay together.

So we can no longer…

be sharing this.

When I recall that last memory…

I will give you
a sign like this.

I guess we were…

never fated to recognize
each other at first sight.

My birth led to
your father's death.

Then you k*lled
me to avenge him.

You are right.

Judging by the
fate that we share…

we probably should not have met.

But…

fate was not what brought us…

to recognize each
other at first sight.

We…

lightened up each other's lives
when we needed each other the most.

We embraced the shadows
that came with it…

and chose to love each other.

So now…

there is only one
reply I can give you

in our last moment together.

I love you.

Songrim is mourning, and the
fire bird is in our hands.

Neither Jang Uk nor Songrim
will be able to do anything now.

Tonight, I will wake the fire
bird and perform the lake's rite.

Then after tonight, I will be able
to use the power of the ice stone

and finally abandon
this weak, ill body.

People could show up
to hinder our plan,

so please gather all the guards
protecting Daeho Fortress

and have them
protect Cheonbugwan.

I will send my army
to Cheonbugwan.

I want you to safely
awaken the fire bird

and bring me the ice stone.

Your Royal Highness,

please stop the King
from mobilizing his army.

But I no longer have the Gold Plaque
that gives me power over the army.

Use this.

This was left for
you by the late king.

This country does
not need a king

who does not care whether or
not the world burns to ashes.

It needs a king who
wishes to stop it.

I already stole
your King's Star.

Now I will even be
using your Gold Plaque.

Jang Uk.

Have you really never dreamed of
becoming the most powerful person

in this world?

I have already climbed

to the very peak of this
world with the person…

I made that promise with.

That is…

more than enough for me.

While we perform
the lake's rite,

the King will send his army
to Cheonbugwan and protect it.

Jang Uk and Songrim
might come to stop us.

What are you worried about?
We have the fire bird.

You saw Park Jin.

He could not do anything
despite his strength and power.

I guess you are right. Once we
break the fire bird's barrier,

Jang Uk and Songrim
will become helpless.

Awakening the fire
bird is dangerous.

If the flames burst toward us
while we break the barrier,

we will instantly
be reduced to ashes.

If the fire bird fails to
fly after being disturbed

and its energy of fire bursts…

all of Daeho Fortress will burn.

They will not be
able to do anything…

fearing that the fire
bird might awaken.

I am going to go to Cheonbugwan
and awaken the fire bird.

You are going to awaken the fire
bird, not stop it from awakening?

If the awakening of the
fire bird is inevitable,

it is better to let it happen
while we still have control over it

so we can change the outcome.

At the place where
the energy of the sky

reached the ground and
created a huge form of energy,

I will get rid of the fire bird that
is filled with the energy of fire.

In order to do that,

I must awaken the fire bird.

I checked the energy of the sky
through the constellation basin.

The energy of fire will be strongest
between 7 and 9 p.m. tonight.

Once that time comes, I
shall begin the lake's rite.

Cheonbugwan will begin performing the
rite between 7 and 9 p.m. tonight.

During that time?

Have the guards protecting Daeho
Fortress headed to Cheonbugwan?

The leader of the guards will be
here soon to give you a report.

Good.

Is it not time yet?

Why is the leader of the
guards not here to report yet?

The guards will not
be going anywhere.

I…

Withdrew the order you
gave, Your Majesty.

What is that?

Is that not a Gold Plaque?

It is the Gold Plaque of the man
you have feared all your life.

The man born under
the King's Star.

The King's Star?

The man born under
the King's Star

will stop what is
happening at Cheonbugwan.

Father.

It is time you step
down from the throne…

that kept you anxious
all your life.

What…

Relics that will ignite
the fire bird's energy

are placed all over the canal.

We must find and
destroy them all.

- Let us hurry.
- Yes, my lady.

Songrim forces have
entered Cheonbugwan.

It is not time yet,
but let us begin.

It is dangerous to rush it.

If the energy of fire
explodes, we will all die.

If we lose the fire bird,
we will all be doomed.

That is better than
burning to death.

Count me out.

No one here has the right to stop
this. Otherwise, you will die.

Now…

I want all of you to
wake the fire bird!

Jin Mu is right.

Let us wake the fire bird
so we can get the ice stone.

You were supposed to be careful.
Why is it suddenly awakening?

Jang Uk. What are you doing?

I am helping you all
awaken the fire bird.

Jang Uk, stop!

If the energy of fire
explodes, it will k*ll us all!

Did you expect to live while
the world went up in flames?

I am sorry, but I
cannot allow that.

Jang Uk.

Do you plan to k*ll everyone
in the Unanimous Assembly?

Is this not the kind
of world you wanted?

Take a close look at what it is
like for someone with strength

to gain and wield
even greater power.

Jang Uk.

You were right, Jang Uk.

In a world where those with
strength gain greater power,

the weak will just perish.

Jin Bu-yeon safely
arrived at Cheonbugwan.

She and Yul are waiting for the fire
bird by the constellation basin.

All right.

Take this to Jin
Bu-yeon and tell her

that I will be waiting
at Lake Gyeongcheondaeho.

I found Jang Uk's constellation plate
where the Crown Prince said it would be.

Is the fire bird safe?

Jin Bu-yeon has regained
all of her divine powers.

And the fire bird is safe.

She will awaken it atop
the constellation basin.

We got rid of all the relics
that would prevent the fire bird

from going to Lake
Gyeongcheondaeho.

The star in the very center of
the Big Dipper is the King's Star.

Now she will wake the fire bird

and send it to the King's Star.

I heard that

the seven stars gather their energy
and send it to the King's Star.

But right now, there
are only six of us.

No, there are seven.

There is one more person…

who was always beside Uk.

Now she will wake the fire bird

and send it to Uk at
Lake Gyeongcheondaeho.

- How beautiful.
- What is that?

- What is that?
- Do you know what that is?

Look at that.

The fire bird is awake.

Jang Uk did it.

The fire bird

has disappeared.

- Jin Bu-yeon.
- Shaman.

Bu-yeon.

To the light that
has saved the world,

I shall now return your shadow.

A light that embraces a shadow

will never be lost in darkness.



Peekaboo.

How lovely.

I cannot believe two of these
precious babies came out at once.

Peekaboo.

How lovely.

Peekaboo.

- How lovely.
- How lovely.

What are Dan and g*ng
doing here again?

Oh, dear.

My goodness.

There we go.

Are you g*ng or Dan?

He came with his wife to leave them
here to visit his mother-in-law.

They always ask you
to babysit for them

and go on dates.

What about us?

We are newlyweds too.

This is why we are never able to
go on trips to places far away.

Stop babysitting for them.

If you keep doing this,
they will never stop asking.

It is just for a while.

What would you do if
they were Uk's babies?

- Would you still not babysit them?
- Young Master Jang?

I can babysit 12 babies if
it is for Young Master Jang.

Your young master still
comes first, right?

He will forever be
your number one.

Goodness, do not be jealous.

What a relief.

They are both handsome because
they take after Young Lady Jin.

They have long arms and legs
because they take after Dang-gu.

I know the babies are adorable but
do not babysit them all the time.

Only once in a while.

- Goodness.
- What is the matter?

Maybe it is the honey
biscuits I ate earlier.

Is it…

- Is it what I think it is?
- No, it cannot be.

Nothing is for sure yet.

I have high
expectations for you.

Next time, I hope
you have twin girls.

Does that mean you are disappointed
that g*ng and Dan are sons?

I am not disappointed, but they
took their father's last name.

I am merely asking for a daughter
who will carry on our family line.

Uk told me not to dream
of having a daughter

since they are planning
to give birth to one.

Did you say they are
at North Fortress?

They caught one at North Fortress,
then headed straight to Seoho Fortress.

But I do not know
when they will return.

They promised to return to
celebrate the twins' 100th day.

Right.

Bu-yeon agreed to help out at Jeongjingak,
so they might return sooner than planned.

What do you mean, Bu-yeon agreed
to help out at Jeongjingak?

Jeongjingak is
recruiting new mages,

and she promised Yul
to interview them.

Jeongjingak is recruiting
mages through interviews?

Seo Yul is now in
charge of Jeongjingak,

which was established
by Master Seo Gyeong.

He made that decision as the
new leader of Jeongjingak.

QUALIFICATIONS ANYONE WITH
PASSION AND DETERMINATION

Is this really how you plan to
recruit new mages for Jeongjingak?

Then all sorts of
people will apply.

Word has spread that Seo Yul is in charge
of gathering pupils at Jeongjingak.

All the mages' children in the
capital are very excited about it.

However, if we recruit them this way,
children from prestigious families

will most likely not
apply out of pride.

When Master Seo Gyeong built
Jeongjingak, he would have wanted more

than for us to train children
from prestigious families.

But not everyone has the
power to cast spells.

I am not recruiting just anyone.

I will pick people with
good energy and potential.

And based on that, those two
were the ones that you picked?

The most powerful priestess in Daeho
saw their energy and recommended them.

She even told me that if
Sun-i is trained well,

she could even outshine
her own husband, Jang Uk.

She has the potential
to outshine Jang Uk?

They are my first pupils.

I will train them rigorously and
make sure they outperform Uk.

Seo Yul has always been
fixated on being the best,

even when he used to
train at Jeongjingak.

Those two are going to have it tough
thanks to their persistent master.

Anyway, what matters is that
Jin Bu-yeon vouched for them.

So they must have
something special.

I heard that she also
secretly takes part

in interviewing potential
wives for His Majesty the King.

She interviews them?

Master Heo.

Why are you staring
at Young Lady Heo?

I am trying to see if
she is fit to be a queen.

A queen?

A long time ago, I gave Jang
Uk my torrent of energy,

and he promised to grant
me a wish in return.

Married couples are one
both in body and spirit,

so if the wife takes part
in choosing the queen,

I can ask them to
pick my granddaughter.

But Master Heo. Young Lady Heo
is currently seeing someone.

What?

Who?

A young man once came
with a broken arm.

Since then, he brings flowers
for her every time he visits.

Is that so?

- What kind of man is he?
- He is handsome.

He is as handsome
as Young Master Seo.

Really?

I had no idea Yun-ok
was seeing someone.

I am so proud of her.

Then instead of asking her to
pick my granddaughter as queen,

I shall ask her to
interview that man.

Picking a wife for His
Majesty is more urgent.

He focuses only on taking
care of political affairs,

and he frequently invites
Master Lee to the palace.

Rumors say that His Majesty

even may have appointed
Master Lee as his master.

What?

Does that mean he is
practicing chastity?

They say the King of Daeho
has cut off his libido.

But then what about
his successor?

Did you not hear the rumor?

Rumor has it that the king
before the last had a son.

Yes, they say that
his son is Jang Uk.

No wonder Jang Uk was
always so extraordinary.

The moment I saw him beat
the Crown Prince in a fight,

I knew there was something
special about him.

Should I also try
practicing chastity?

Cut the nonsense.

Those men are unbelievable.

His Majesty should
quickly get married

so that people stop saying
he cut off his libido.

I cannot believe people think that
I, the King, cut off my libido.

That is surely

the most absurd thing I have
heard since a bogus shaman told me

to adopt a turtle as my son.

- I am the King.
- Exactly.

That is why you should
quickly find yourself a wife.

But Jin Bu-yeon promised

to come back and send royal notices
to the women she already picked out.

When will those two be back?

What they are doing is also important,
and they still seem pretty busy.

How many relics escaped
Jinyowon when it collapsed?

A total of 31 escaped,

and they have
captured 12 as of now.

Among those, there is a mouse
that goes around in human form,

and a dangerous pipe
that lures children.

Amid them, a crock that spreads
rumors and causes strife,

and a crying frog that spreads
plagues are especially dangerous.

They will have to stay busy
in order to catch them all.

Jang Uk will likely use that

as an excuse to reject my every offer
to make him the Gwanju of Cheonbugwan.

I will suggest it once again
the next time I meet him.

I will tell him to
drop by the palace

since Your Majesty
misses him dearly.

This is the pottery
that holds Gwiseo.

Tell them to capture the
mouse and put it in here.

All right.

I am relieved that you stopped
many relics from escaping.

If the swarm of mosquitoes that
causes earthquakes had escaped,

it would have been
very dangerous.

I was able to live
that day thanks to her.

Do you

no longer feel agony
whenever you see her?

Like you said,

if it was really Jin Seol-ran's soul
that was born through Bu-yeon's body,

and she chose that girl
to protect that body

as she left this world,

I choose to believe that my
daughter is living on thanks to her.

This mouse eats the clippings of
someone who trims their nails at night

and takes the appearance
of that person.

It transforms to look just like
you, then goes to your house

and eats your parents alive!

So…

always be careful where you
throw away your nail clippings.

If you are scared, you can go and
pray to the tree at Danhyanggok.

There is a gigantic
tree in Danhyanggok,

and when there is a full moon, two
people appear on top of that tree.

They saved my big sister when
she was being chased by a tiger.

They also summoned fireflies and
lit up the dark path for her.

- Really?
- Is that true?

Do they show up there often?

Yes, I heard the man is very tall
and the woman is very beautiful.

They are a married couple.

He is a bright light
that protects the world,

and she is a shadow that protects him by
embracing the darkness surrounding him.

Darling.

How long are you going to
make me carry you up here?

For eternity.

- For eternity?
- You promised.

Right.

What is the matter? Are you
already tired of doing it?

- No, of course not.
- Forget it. Let us go down.

No, wait.

It is not that I am
tired of doing it.

You were once a mage
who mastered Chisu.

So I am merely telling
you to challenge yourself.

There is no need, for I
possess divine powers.

You want me to train again?

No way. Never. I get sick
just thinking about it.

Gosh, back when
you were my master,

did you not always
scold me for being lazy?

You were able to come this far
thanks to your great master.

- What?
- Be grateful and treat her well.

All right, fine.

So did you find the creature
you were looking for?

- Did you see it?
- Yes.

I saw it.

It is in the west of the forest.

It is a cat, a wily beast
that escaped from Jinyowon.

A cat?

Hey, I thought you
said it was a cat?

That growl sounds like it may
be strong enough to eat a tiger.

It is as big as an elephant.

That is going to be

one cute cat.

Stay close to me.

Here it comes.

Go and take care of it.