Our episode starts with that conversation between Pyung Joon and So Jung. Can he become human? Is he dangerous? So Jung gets to the point: it would be better for them, because if they continue, it could mean one of their deaths, but there’s nothing anyone will be able to do if they don’t stop it themselves. So Jung, of course, is philosophical about things: it’s the nature of relationships. We hear Pyung Joon say, “One of them may die,” as we return to...
Kang Chi in chains. Tae Seo hasn’t shown up yet. There’s the pathetic yelling of each other’s names that’s so like Seo Hwa and Wol Ryung. And then, Tae Seo appears. We hear Kang Chi say, “That (them rejecting him) won’t happen. Tae Seo and Chung Jo will never turn on me.” Again I’m struggling as Tae Seo declares that he’s there for Kang Chi’s head. I hate the look on Kang Chi’s face. It’s so sad how he says, “forgive me, Kang Chi.”
Tae Seo grabs the bracelet. Kang Chi begs him not to take it off. But Tae Seo does. They just look at each other.
Oh, no! Bong Chool decides to run up and ram Kang Chi in the gut with the hilt of his sword. For good measure! That’s not good. Oh, he’s done it now. Kang Chi winces in pain and sinks to his knees. A huge wind kicks up in the forest.
Yeo Wool’s close by and hears the wind. Gon didn’t hear it. Scary, scary growling. That’s definitely not good.
Holy crap! Claws appear. The chains break. Veins are popping out. Tae Seo just looks at him. I wonder if he knew this would happen. He kind of has that expression.
Kang Chi slowly stands as highly dramatic music plays. His eyes are glowing green. Everyone jumps back in terror (except for Tae Seo and Chung Jo – they stumble back a few steps). Chung Jo is HORRIFIED. That was Yeo Wool’s initial reaction, too, so I’m waiting to see if she’s going to be ‘cool with it.’
I guess Tae Seo *wasn’t* expecting that, because he’s just standing there, quaking with fear. It seems like Kang Chi is a little more in control because he’s not instantly ripping out Tae Seo’s throat (considering the guy just betrayed him, told him he was there for his head, and is just a lunge away). Bong Chool is an idiot, because he lunges forward to hit Kang Chi with his weapon. Kang Chi stops him with no effort. Again, I think Kang Chi’s more in control, because he’s just grabbed Bong Chool’s wrist and he throws Bong Chool aside rather than ripping out his throat or heart.
Tae Seo lunges forward, but is stopped by Kang Chi’s claws across his chest. He looks down stunned. Kang Chi looks down, stunned and aghast that he hurt his brother. He looks totally freaked out as he looks down at his hands, which now have claws. Arg! He also looks like he’s about to cry. Please, don’t lose yourself!
Tae Seo collapses to the ground and Kang Chi starts to go help him, but is hit by a rock instead. Stupid Chung Jo! She’s telling him to stay back and won’t even listen as he tries to talk. The fact that he’s gumiho’d out and is still coherent is a big deal, but she doesn’t realize that. She’s yelling at him to stay away from her, throwing rocks, leaves, whatever else is there… So, she’s betrayed him, too. His face is really pathetic. She shrieks, “No!”
This time both Gon and Yeo Wool hear. They look at each other and then run in its direction, Gon with a determined look on his face. He still hasn’t bought into the idea not to put Kang Chi the gumiho down.
And Chung Jo faints. At least she won’t see this next part. Kang Chi falls to his knees beside her and says her name, wanting her to wake up. He’s trying to figure out what to do, when Bong Chool starts things again. Battle cries that echo through the valley.
Ninja Soh and his men halt in the forest. Ninja Soh has a ‘holy crap’ look on his face.
Yeo Wool and Gon arrive to see the carnage. Bodies on the ground, quivering. Bong Chool sputtering, holding his throat. Tae Seo and Chung Jo are gone. I think this says several things: Kang Chi is more in control, since he ran off with his family. Kang Chi also didn’t just rip everyone to shreds like last time.
Bong Chool sputters Kang Chi’s name to Yeo Wool. His gargling is activating my gag reflex. Gon surveys the situation and finds the bracelet. He gives it to Yeo Wool. They both know what that means. What is Yeo Wool going to do?
Tae Seo is staggering through the woods, clutching his chest. He’s muttering Chung Jo’s name, even after he falls to the ground.
Soon Shin is at the training camp. He’s not happy. He yells at Pyung Joon and tells him “I entrusted him to you.” That means he’s pretty precious to Soon Shin! Pyung Joon gives him a lame excuse: “He can’t be contained. If we try, something’s bound to break.” Whoa! What a rebuke: “The problem wasn’t containment. It was your fortitude. You knew I had plans for him.” Ouch! That’s a rebuke for a normal person – it’s *your* weakness, not theirs – but for a warrior. Man!
Pyung Joon looks down. You know he’s thinking, ‘My daughter.’ (Even though, with the state that things are in, Yeo Wool could end up dead because of Kwan Woong any day now, too. But I guess that logical awareness escapes him. It’s Tae Seo all over again!
There’s a report that Kwan Woong’s men are headed towards Neunggok Pass. I’m not sure how to read Soon Shin’s reaction when he hears that this is where Kang Chi is going. It’s almost a slight smile.
Pyung Joon wants Gon. Oops. They don’t know where he or Yeo Wool is. Soon Shin is definitely smiling.
Gon and Yeo Wool in the forest. Gon grabs Yeo Wool’s arm and motions for her to be quiet. They quickly hide behind a bush. Ninja Soh and company speed walk by. Yeo Wool wonders how they knew Kang Chi was headed to Neunggok Pass. Gon purses his lips like he’s someone who FINALLY REALIZED that Tae Seo is compromised. Man, I hope so. For being such military geniuses, how they missed this I don’t know. Yeo Wool looks down at Kang Chi’s bracelet. They need to move more quickly. She tells Gon she has an idea of where Kang Chi’s going. I wonder…
I suspected as much: Chung Jo wakes to find herself in the Garden of the Moon. Kang Chi is pant/growling in the corner, holding his arm. When she sees him, she’s frightened again and is about to run, when he calls her name. It’s so creepy, his voice. He tells her it’s him and her response: “Kang Chi? But how?” Did you know see him transform not an hour ago? “You’re not human?” Oh, I feel so bad for Kang Chi. This is playing out just like he was afraid of. Although, sometimes you have to face your fears to get past them.
Kang Chi apologizes for Chung Jo having to see him like that. Did he ever say that to Yeo Wool? I don’t think so. She’s shaking her head in disbelief. She wants to know where Tae Seo is. At least her reaction is a little better than Seo Hwa’s. Kang Chi looks down with dread. She wants to know if he killed Tae Seo. He gets up to comfort her but she demands he stop. She cringes and slides away from him as she tells him not to come near her. I *knew* she was going to do this. She refuses to believe that he’s Kang Chi, because Kang Chi isn’t a monster. He wouldn’t kill her brother! Now she gets up and runs out. Where are you running to?
Well, she’s right, Kang Chi *isn’t* a monster. He is just half gumiho. But that’s what Yeo Wool’s been trying to say all along. You have this condition, but you’re STILL YOU. Chung Jo isn’t saying that. She isn’t saying that it’s cool. She’s running away screaming in terror.
There’s horrible screams from inside the cave. Kang Chi’s heart is breaking.
Dramatic music! Chung Jo is running. Yeo Wool and Gon are running. Hopefully they will find each other and she won’t find Ninja Soh. Ninja Soh and his men are running. Everyone’s running. Except for Kang Chi, who’s screaming pitifully in a cave. Chung Jo stops because of something she sees.
Dang it! Yeo Wool has forgotten how to get to the Garden of the Moon! Gon points out that they’ve been running around in circles.
Rats! Chung Jo’s run into Ninja Soh. I was afraid of that! She’s surrounded.
Gisaeng House. Jang Soo is reporting to Soo Ryun regarding Chung Jo. Does Wol Sun know she’s missing yet? He reports that Kwan Woong’s men went into the mountain, but doesn’t know why. You can tell Soo Ryun’s putting the pieces together.
Kwan Woong’s in the forest. Chung Jo and Ninja Soh are there, too. He’s got Bong Chool and the other men surrounded by his guards. All of them are beaten up, but no one looks that bad. Even Bong Chool was able to bandage his throat. Kwan Woong’s puzzled how Kang Chi did all of it. Bong Chool tells him that after Tae Seo took off his bracelet, Kang Chi’s eyes went “creepy nuts” and he turned into some kind of animal. Oops. I guess the bracelet wasn’t the source of his power after all. Kwan Woong remembers Wol Ryun transforming and when Kang Chi’s eyes blazed green after the death of Moo Sol. Kwan Woong’s putting the pieces together about who Kang Chi’s parents are, since Kang Chi and Wol Ryung are similarly strong. And there’s the blazing bracelet.
Ninja Soh’s put the pieces together, too, and suggests Kang Chi’s heritage, since his age is right. Kwan Woong’s seeing similarities between Kang Chi and Seo Hwa now, too. Fist clench! He demands Chung Jo tell him where Kang Chi is. No, Chung Jo! Don’t repeat his mother’s mistake! Kwan Woong doesn’t believe her when she says she doesn’t know.
Phew. Ninja Soh has chimed in to say that she was lost when they found her. Two more soldiers have shown up, dragging the injured Tae Seo. See! He *was* Kang Chi and he *didn’t* kill your brother. Tae Seo and Chung Jo try to go to each other by are held back by Kwan Woong’s men. Kwan Woong’s gloating: “You thought you could get away?’ Tae Seo crawls forward and begs Kwan Woong to spare Chung Jo. Kwan Woong just kicks him away and tells his men to take Tae Seo to the magistrate’s office. I’m confused as to why Tae Seo’s a criminal at the moment. Did I forget something?
Chung Jo begs Kwan Woong for mercy and he wants to know where Kang Chi is. She doesn’t know. Kwan Woong crows that Tae Seo will just hang at dawn, then. Oh, that’s right. He was convicted of treason based on Kwan Woong’s testimony. That’s why he’s a fugitive. They drag Tae Seo away, as he screams for his sister.
Kwan Woong tells Ninja Soh he needs to go, so Ninja Soh should wrap things up and bring Chung Jo to his quarters. Arg!!! No! Kwan Woong walks off, Ninja Soh nods at the guards and they start slicing up the mercenaries. Bong Chool is run through and falls with the rest of them. All Chung Jo can do is watch in horror.
Pyung Joon’s Camp. I thought Kwan Woong had things to do, but he’s there with Ninja Soh and the rest of his men. He’s pondering the statue of the dragon with the arrow. Pyung Joon and his students come out to meet him. Staredown. Kwan Woong starts with the pleasantries. He pretends to be hurt that Pyung Joon hasn’t come to say hello. Pyung Joon politely asks what he wants. Kwan Woong wants to know why Pyung Joon didn’t kill Seo Hwa 20 years ago. Why did he leave her alive to be a curse upon them all? Even though this should have been his question 20 years ago, when she showed up and tried to kill him. Pyung Joon responds that he doesn’t cut down the helpless. Unlike Kwan Woong or Ninja Soh. This type of honor is beyond their comprehension.
So you let a monster, Kang Chi, be born? When Pyung Joon just sighs and straightens his shoulders in response, Kwan Woong’s suspicions are confirmed. Even though no one has actually confirmed that up to this point. When Kwan Woong presses, Pyung Joon excuses himself and starts to walk away. Kwan Woong has the audacity to grab him by the shoulder and stop him. The students instantly react to this action against their master and grab their sword handles. This could escalate quickly.
Kwan Woong wants to know why Pyung Joon was helping Kang Chi, since Pyung Joon was the one who killed his father. Pyung Joon just sighs. He’s probably thinking ‘why did I ever get involved with this guy?’ Kwan Woong wants to know what Pyung Joon is up to.
One of his students has had enough and demands that Kwan Woong unhand his Master. He lunges forward, sword in hand, which immediately get a reaction out of Ninja Soh and his guards. They draw. So all the students draw. Now everyone’s swords are pointed at everyone else. The only people who haven’t drawn are Kwan Woong and Pyung Joon.
Pyung Joon orders them to lower their weapons, despite their protests. He turns around and tells Kwan Woong to go. He tries to walk away again, but Kwan Woong snarks about him working with Soon Shin. I would be so tempted to retort, “and I know you’re working with the Japanese,” but that wouldn’t help anyone. Kwan Woong just never changes; he says it (Soon Shin, the bullion, Kang Chi) all reeks of conspiracy and they’ll have to answer for it. But Pyung Joon doesn’t respond. Instead he yells for Jin Song to sound the gong and walks away.
Kwan Woong’s going to go after him, but his students are there, blocking the way with their swords. Again everyone has their swords drawn. I thought Pyung Joon told you to put those things away. Like the great villain that he is, he ominously seethes, “Some day you’ll learn. I’m not to be trifled with.” I think they’ve gotten that lesson, seeing what you’ve done with Lord Yoon and Moo Sol. They’re just not afraid of you. If he had a cloak is would have swirled as he turns around and stalks away.
Pyung Joon returns to his office and tells Soon Shin to stay the night. He thinks it will be best for avoiding Kwan Woong’s men on the way to the mountain.
Yeo Wool is in the forest, staring at the bracelet. Gon tries to get her to quit, since they’ve been going in circles for a while. Aw, she’s worried about him, that he must be having a hard time without the bracelet.
Back in the Garden of the Moon, Kang Chi is trying to figure out what to do. Chung Jo’s screams to stay away ring in his ears. A mournful singer and piano are playing, so I guess Kang Chi’s going to be sinking into a pity spiral soon. He looks at his wrist.
Then we find him in the woods. He’s looking for the bracelet! Instead he finds all the slaughtered bounty hunters. Did they not move from where they originally fought? I thought they had, but maybe not since Kang Chi is frantically searching for the bracelet. He wants to be human so badly. He smells something: Yeo Wool.
Kang Chi’s about to run off, presumably after Yeo Wool, when someone groans. It’s Bong Chool. He can barely gasp as he asks for help. Kang Chi looks at him and growls and is going to just leave him, when Bong Chool cries out for his mother. Kang Chi goes over to him.
Even though he’s got the creepy eyes going on, Bong Chool still begs him for help. Kang Chi asks the logical question: Why should he since Bong Chool tried to kill him. And is pretty irredeemable anyway, being an extortionist and bounty hunter. Bong Chool sputters that he was wrong and deserves death. This ticks Kang Chi off, trying to get absolution by begging for forgiveness! Is he maybe reacting to what Tae Seo’s done, just a little bit? Kang Chi tells how he really feels: Bong Chool’s scum, feeding off the innocent. His death would do the world a favor.
Kang Chi turns to walk off and Bong Chool cries out that he has a mother, that Kang Chi should help him because of her. It’s enough. Kang Chi walks over to him and draws Bong Chool’s dagger. He raises it to strike and Bong Chool screams. And there’s a growl, but we don’t see him do it.
Training Camp. Soon Shin is meditating. He begins to write a letter.
Outside, the leader from earlier, who I guess is Jin Song, goes to relieve Song, Kang Chi’s friend from the kitchen. Song wants to stay on shift and Jin Song gives him another 30 minutes. Just like a kid with a video game. Kang Chi is there. He *creepily* places his hand on the dragon statue and surveys the area. There’s growling under his breath. Again. If he were really full-on, demonic, out-of-control gumiho, he would have just burst in and killed everyone. Think people!
Song hears him and rushes over to see who’s there. And Kang Chi *doesn’t kill him.* He instead hides on the other side of the statue. He starts to creep across the courtyard (where staying on the outskirts might have been a bit smarter). Crap! Someone saw him. Instantly, the students swarm around Kang Chi. He crouches on the ground, using one of his arms to hide his face. Jin Song demands Kang Chi identify himself. Song looks completely freaked out.
Kang Chi slowly rises to his feet, still hiding his face. Then he shows himself, with a low growl emanating from his lips. They’re all shocked, especially Song. Pyung Joon comes out and asks for a report.
Soon Shin is still writing his letter but stops. He senses something is happening.
Kang Chi is ready to fight if someone attacks him. Jin Song tell Pyung Joon that it’s Kang Chi. Pyung Joon looks at Kang Chi, who is standing there softly snarling, and remembers Wol Ryung in attack mode. His face is like, ‘shucks. Now I have to deal with it.’ He approaches and says, “This isn’t you, Kang Chi.” At least you recognize that finally! Pyung Joon wants to know why Kang Chi’s there with his fangs bared. Kang Chi wants to see Yeo Wool. Aw, he knows that she can help him be human. He demands Pyung Joon bring her out. Pyung Joon is pretty much not having that, while Kang Chi gumiho’d out, which really angers Kang Chi, because he knows that she’s pretty much the only one who can help him right now.
One of the students stupidly rushes Kang Chi. Who *doesn’t* kill him. Kang Chi instead grabs him by the throat and throws him to the ground. Kang Chi’s choking him a little. Kang Chi tells them to stand down, that he’ll only attack if they attack him first. Pyung Joon wants Kang Chi to let the student go since he can’t go around killing people. That logic doesn’t quite seem wise to Kang Chi since the guy attacked him *first.*
I want to punch Pyung Joon right now. He declares that he has no choice and is going to draw his weapon. Kang Chi’s expression changes a little, shocked that Pyung Joon ’s going to attack him. After all, this is a guy Kang Chi respects and admires. Kang Chi prepares for Pyung Joon ’s assault. Pyung Joon reaches for his sword…
And Yeo Wool is there! Thank goodness! She yells for Pyung Joon to stop. There’s almost relief on Kang Chi’s face. He turns to look at her, saying her name. She runs to stand between Kang Chi and Pyung Joon and tells her father to lower his weapon. She was a little too quick for Gon, but he runs to stand on the other side of Kang Chi. Pyung Joon orders her to stand aside. She says no. You, go, girl!
This is not something either Kang Chi or Pyung Joon expected. Kang Chi’s face softens and he lowers his raised claw. There’s almost a look of desperate hope on his face, that she still sees him as a man and not a monster. Pyung Joon reels backward a little. I think this is the first time that she has flat out defied him like this. Gon is shocked, too.
Yeo Wool reminds Pyung Joon of what he taught her: there are no bad people only bad situations. Although I’m sure that a caveat exists for Kwan Woong. He’s a bad person. Yeo Wool is desperately arguing with her father to stand down. She says that Kang Chi is in the same situation: his change isn’t bad in itself. It’s just a bad situation. She asks Pyung Joon to please lower his weapon since Kang Chi did nothing wrong.
Proving her right, Kang Chi lets go of the student, who rolls away. Kang Chi rises to stand. He really doesn’t look violent anymore. He actually looks like he wants to cry. If a green-eyed gumiho could look like that.
Pyung Joon isn’t swayed. He orders Yeo Wool to stand aside, which gets Kang Chi’s hackles up. Yeo Wool defiantly turns and takes Kang Chi’s hand, to stand by his side. Aw, I want to cry. *This* is why So Jung’s proclamation about their fate is wrong. Because it’s not going to take Kang Chi years to learn to control himself like Wol Ryung did and he’s not going to be betrayed like Wol Ryung was. They’re totally different people.
Shocked, Kang Chi looks at her. She just stares at her father. Their theme plays. She interlaces their fingers. He looks down at their hands. It’s the hand that wears the bracelet. Yeo Wool declares that she won’t stand aside. Ever. I’m starting to get a little blurry-eyed. Kang Chi thinks her name. Looking at her, his eyes return to normal. The veins and claws disappear. Kang Chi returns to normal.
The crowd reacts. Gon is shocked that it worked. Finally Yeo Wool turns to look at Kang Chi. Pyung Joon remembers So Jung’s words: Once it starts, nothing can be done to stop it. Kang Chi smiles his gratitude at her. She smiles a ‘not at all.’ Pyung Joon finally lets go of his sword’s hilt. I reach for a tissue to wipe my eyes.
Soon Shin has watched the whole thing and looks optimistic.
Pyung Joon walks back into his office. He’s not happy because he wasn’t able to stop Yeo Wool’s ‘fate.’
Kang Chi has the bracelet back on and is kneeling before Soon Shin. He looks pretty defeated. Soon Shin’s doing some clean up of Kang Chi’s soul. He gently prods Kang Chi to talk. He’s heart broken that Chung Jo saw his true face and ran. Soon Shin wonders that it might not have been the beast but Kang Chi’s blood lust that scared her off. Although that wasn’t what was there when they were in the cave, when she ran. “The one I loved as a brother betrayed me. The one I cared for threw stones at me” But you still have Yeo Wool! And Soon Shin! “The only family I ever knew, turned on me.” He’s really spiraling right now. Which is understandable, given how it looks.
Soon Shin points out a universal truth: families can hurt us because they’re so close to us. The wounds are so deep because we love and cherish them. Kang Chi starts to cry as he says, “she called me a monster.” He doesn’t mention how she refused to do what Yeo Wool did: still believe in his goodness, despite how it looked. Soon Shin tells him that it doesn’t matter how other people see him, only how he sees himself. It seems like he told him this before. Kang Chi’s not out of his pity spiral quite yet. “I know how I see myself. I am not a man. Just as the mountains can’t change the sea, I can’t change being half-human and half-demon.”
Soon Shin sighs and asks him which side he’s going to choose to live as. Kang Chi’s lost his hope, because he replies, “what choice do I have?” Soon Shin continues: A man needs only a friend to share his vision, a love to share his heart, and a nation to protect to be able to call himself a man. That’s pretty profound. You just need someone to share your life with and something larger than yourself to die for. Kang Chi, of course, mopes that he has none of that, even though HE’S TALKING TO ONE and ANOTHER ONE is right outside. All he can see is that he’s tainted with demon blood. Soon Shin reminds him of what he said before: He’s met many men unworthy of being called human. Kang Chi’s choice to be a man has nothing to do with how he was made; it has everything to do with how he chooses to live. Another tear falls down Kang Chi’s cheek as Soon Shin asks him again how he wants to live. What does Kang Chi truly want?
I think Kang Chi might actually be starting to hear Soon Shin, because he’s stopped staring pathetically off into space and has met Soon Shin’s eyes.
Yeo Wool is pacing impatiently outside. Kang Chi slowly comes outside. She says his name and they walk to each other. She wants to know what Soon Shin said. She’s worried that Kang Chi got chewed out. Kang Chi hasn’t quite lost his self-pity because he asks her why she’s still so good to him. At home, we’re all shouting, “Because she love you, you idiot!” She blinks and replies, “Because I’ll do anything for you. For love.” Whoa! And Kang Chi has a little of the whoa face on, too. She smiles gently at him.
We see his answer to Soon Shin’s question: “I want to be a man. Not half-and-half.” The choked up way he says them rips out my heart more. “ As a whole person.” He cries and Soon Shin cries with him and I start to blubber. He’s ugly crying now and covers his face with his arm as he sobs. Soon Shin reaches over and takes his hand and pats it in comfort. Kang Chi looks at him for a moment and then cries some more. And I have to stop for just a minute to cry myself.
The forest. Bong Chool is still breathing. He wakes and sits up. He looks around, confused, and then even more so when the wounds in his stomach and neck are gone. He smiles at still being alive.
Flashback to Kang Chi drawing Bong Chool’s dagger. Bong Chool screaming and shutting his eyes. Nothing happens. So he opens them. Kang Chi’s just looking at him, a little disgusted. I don’t know if it’s with himself or with Bong Chool. Kang Chi takes the dagger and slices his palm, dripping the blood into Bong Chool’s wound. Bong Chool sputters, asking him what he’s doing. Kang Chi has no idea. He sighs and remembers saving Yeo Wool. The blue lights appear and settle on Bong Chool’s wound. Bong Chool mutters ‘mommy’ before passing out. Kang Chi just sighs.
Bong Chool is now crying as he laughs, happy to be alive.
Arg! Century House. Kwan Woong is lounging. Ninja Soh arrives with Chung Jo. She’s got a fancier hanbok on. They drag her forward and make her sit in front of him. Then they leave the two alone. Kwan Woong demands she pour him some tea. She refuses. He trots out the brother card. He has an offer for her. How she responds will mean whether Tae Seo will die in the morning. She starts to pour him some tea. He slams the cup on the table and then grabs her. He wants her to be his and he will be hers. What the heck does that mean? And how would that work? And I need to take a shower now.
Kwan Woong grabs her and asks Chung Jo why she’s being coy. Of course, a rapist would see her protests as being coy. Is it her pride? The sex part? She tells him that he KILLED HER PARENTS. He tries to push this away by telling her that they didn’t die for her, that her father died protecting Kang Chi and her mother killed herself. I thought that was your sword, Kwan Woong. He tells her she just needs to look out for herself. That’s what she’s trying to do, you slimeball.
Kwan Woong’s sharing his philosophy: Discard what you must. Take what you can. By whatever means necessary. There’s no shame in it; it’s entirely natural. Chung Jo asks him again to let her go and he repeats his psycho offer. Not only is he vile, he’s also old enough to BE HER FATHER. She’s not agreeing, so he takes what he can.
Tae Seo suddenly wakes up in his cell. He can’t really move because of his ripped open chest, but his face says he’s worried for his sister.
A flower falls from a tree and lands in a lake. I guess that’s a metaphor for Chung Jo’s deflowering.
Training Camp. Yeo Wool stands outside her father’s door, hesitant to enter. She braces herself and enters, brightly asking him if he’s slept well. He doesn’t look up from his papers. You really didn’t think that would work, did you? She asks if he’s eaten. He still gives her the silent treatment. She says ‘Father’ and he tersely responds, ‘what?’
Pyung Joon tells Yeo Wool that Kang Chi is wrong for her. She argues that he can turn human using the Book of the Nine, which will change his/their destiny. I still don’t agree that it *is* his destiny, because the monk’s already been wrong about several things when it comes to Kang Chi. I love her as she declares, “I won’t stop living my life out of fear for what might happen. We have to face the future, not run from it. You taught me that.” Again, Pyung Joon is having to swallow his own words like a bitter pill. They’re true and in any other circumstance he would agree, but he’s not thinking clearly since this is his little girl. Too bad Yeo Wool’s mother’s not alive to point out the flaw in his logic, since he’s sent her out on plenty of dangerous missions where she definitely could have died.
Kang Chi is sitting in his room, sort of in the dark, thinking. He fingers his bracelet and then looks at his hand, the hand she held when she stood by his side. A friend to share your vision and a love to share your heart, Kang Chi! “I won’t ever stand aside. Never.” He thinks of her response to his question as to why she’s *still* so good to him: “I’ll do anything for you. For love.”
Century House. Chung Jo is slowly, zombie-like putting on her clothes. Kwan Woong is lounging, smugly, on the bed behind her. Ninja Soh announces Tae Seo’s arrival. She turns to look at Kwan Woong in horror, pleadingly asking him not to let her brother see what they’ve done. Kwan Woong smarms that she doesn’t need to be ashamed, since she saved her brother’s life. I need another shower!
Chung Jo tries to leave before Tae Seo enters, but she’s not fast enough. He sees her. She can barely say ‘brother.’ He doesn’t want to believe his eyes and asks why she’s there. Kwan Woong croons about her saving his life, implying ‘by sleeping with me.’ Tae Seo’s face is pitiful as he begs her to say that it’s not true. They both start to cry and she leaves the room, not wanting to see his face. He screams her name after her. Kwan Woong is so pleased with himself. You have an overdeveloped sense of vengeance, Tae Seo.
Tae Seo is able to shake of his guards and grab one of their swords. It’s quite smooth actually, how he’s able to pull the sword from its scabbard as one of them is falling away. Kwan Woong just sits there as Tae Seo’s able to knock all the guards aside. Tae Seo almost kills him, but Ninja Soh’s there to stop him. Ninja Soh pins Tae Seo to the floor and asks for Kwan Woong’s orders. As Tae Seo screams that he’s going to kill Kwan Woong, Kwan Woong tsks at him. So many death threats. One of these days, someone’s going to make good on what they’re promising, Kwan Woong. You’re not immortal, after all.
Kwan Woong gloats about Tae Seo being powerless, pathetic. Like he’s scolding at child. Kwan Woong tells Tae Seo to find out what Soon Shin is doing with his bullion, or else something worse will happen to his sister. He sweeps out, the guards following behind him, leaving Tae Seo bitterly sobbing on the floor, looking at the place where his sister was defiled. You know he’s thinking about how he failed yet again to protect her. I’m trying not to cry again, but his mournful cries are getting to me. I hate that he’s broken.
Chung Jo’s returned to the gisaeng house. Wol Sun and her minions are sitting, chatting in the courtyard. Wol Sun tries her same old shtick: How dare she leave without permission? How do you know she didn’t have permission, Wol Sun. You’re not in charge, Soo Ryun is. Chung Jo just turns and stares at Wol Sun. One of her lackeys chastises Chung Jo for her glare. Calmly Chung Jo asks, “Did you say that my life would take a turn? If so, who would be the top giseang here?” Wol Sun’s eyebrows say, ‘oh, crap!’ as she asks, “What?” Chung Jo’s done with the conversation and walks away.
Soo Ryun is in her room. Oh Mom has told her that Chung Jo is back. Soo Ryun gets up to find Chung Jo, but Chung Jo’s entered her room. Soo Ryun can tell something’s wrong. Instead of answering Soo Ryun’s questions, Chung Jo asks, “You said I could have dreams? Can I believe this isn’t the end?” Soo Ryun asks her what’s happened, but she simply declares that she wants to start a new life as a giseang. They stare at each other as Soo Ryun’s face says how sorry she is for what’s happened to Chung Jo.
A broken, zombie Tae Seo walks into the training camp. The students practicing in the courtyard stop to look at him, but he doesn’t acknowledge they’re there. Kang Chi is walking across the courtyard and sees Tae Seo stumble by. He only watches Tae Seo walk on. Pyung Joon is shocked to see Tae Seo. Tae Seo barely gets out Master before collapsing to the floor. Pyung Joon catches him on the way down. Tae Seo struggles to hold back his tears as Pyung Joon asks what happens.
Kang Chi has arrived at the meeting hall’s door. He remembers their last meeting, Tae Seo’s betrayal. Kang Chi starts to walk away when he remembers Moo Sol’s last words: “Never forget. You were a son to me. Look after Tae Seo and Chung Jo.” Boy, I didn’t think I would cry this much this episode. Clenching his fists, he struggles with what to do.
Tae Seo says that he wanted to be like his father, that if he tried hard enough, he could be the man his father was. He’s pathetically laughing at his foolishness. Distraught eyebrows are twitching and tears are running down his cheeks. Without his father there, he’s just weak and pathetic, living a life of anger unquenched, vengeance unfulfilled. It’s barely a life worth living. He hangs his head in shame.
Pyung Joon wants to know if Tae Seo unleashed the beast. Tae Seo pathetically looks up at him as if to say, ‘how did you know?’ From behind them, Kang Chi demands to know how long Tae Seo is going to whine. Tae Seo doesn’t want to face him but Pyung Joon doesn’t tell him to go away. Kang Chi walks over to stand beside Tae Seo and demands Tae Seo look at him. Of course, Tae Seo can’t and refuses. Kang Chi grabs him and drags him to his feet, repeating his demand. Tae Seo’s being stubborn in his self-pity and won’t even look at Kang Chi when they are face-to-face.
Instead of angry, Kang Chi’s face is full of compassion. “Why won’t you look at me? Scared I’ll growl at you? Or is it because of the stupid spell?” Kang Chi begs him to look at him, so he can explain, to say how scared he is, lonely. He needs his brother back. Tae Seo’s crying. Kang Chi’s crying. And so am I.
Finally Tae Seo looks at Kang Chi’s crying face. For a minute it looks like finally it’s over, but Tae Seo hauls off and starts pounding on Kang Chi. Kang Chi just takes it as Pyung Joon does nothing. Tae Seo just yells and punches while Kang Chi keeps looking at him.
Yeo Wool and Gon enter and Yeo Wool wants to help Kang Chi, but Pyung Joon holds up a hand to tell her to stop. So she gets to watch Tae Seo pounding on Kang Chi’s face. Kang Chi won’t stop looking at Tae Seo. Finally Tae Seo pauses, whimpering. Kang Chi tells him that friends face each other. Tae Seo collapses to the floor and does the very ugly, screaming cry. Kang Chi drops to his knees and embraces him. It looks like Kang Chi’s earned a little respect in Gon’s eyes.
Gong Dal announces that Kang Chi’s sincere love broke the spell, since it’s stronger than any magic. Evidently Pyung Joon just told him what happened. Gong Dal wants to know what the plans are now. Preparing for war against Jo Kwan Woong. Finally Pyung Joon’s had enough of Kwan Woong causing them pain. Gong Dal is happy. He’s so encouraged that he giggles with glee. He asks if he should gather the Four Pillars. Four Pillars? What?! That’s the four school mentors. Finally, we get to meet them.
Century House. Apparently Ninja Soh has another mole inside Pyung Joon’s camp because he’s telling Kwan Woong about the gathering of the Four Pillars, the moving force behind the Dam camp. Kwan Woong heard of these four martial arts masters of wealth and intelligence behind the village movement. Kwan Woong’s tried to get rid of them before but couldn’t find them. They’re helping Soon Shin, too. And the half-demon Choi Kang Chi.
Ma Reum arrives to announce visitors from ‘the Inner Circle,’ whatever that is. He passes over a special handkerchief with a bunch of funny circles embroidered on it. This means something, because Kwan Woong declares, “so the time has come.” He gloats a bit. Ma Reum wonders what he’s talking about.
Training Camp. Yeo Wool has brought Kang Chi a bag of beans. Apparently, Master Dam has put her in charge of him. I guess he’s decided to stop fighting fate. Plus, she helps Kang Chi be human when no one else can, so if something else happens, she’ll be able to help him keep it together. Kang Chi’s like, really? But Gon walks up and announces that they *both* are in charge of him. I guess Dad’s still fighting it a little. Thank you, for making me laugh. There’s been a lot of crying this episode.
Kang Chi clears his throat uncomfortably. He’s not Gon’s favorite person, after all. He asks about the bag of beans. He gets to count them. With chopsticks. Kang Chi says what I’m thinking: “What?!” It’s a lot of beans.
Yeo Wool tells him this is all part of his quest, the first step to being a man. Doesn’t it sound like fun? Gon can’t help but smirk a little and give Kang Chi a little eyebrow raise. I bet Gon had to do this once upon a time… Kang Chi looks pathetically at the beans and then up at Yeo Wool.
Century House. Kwan Woong, Ninja Soh, Ma Reum and several servants go to greet the Inner Circle. It’s not just a few people. Some of them have the Shogun shoulder pads. Does this mean the Japanese guys have arrived?
Kwan Woong tells them he’s been waiting for them. There’s palanquin with a woman in it with them. We don’t see her face. It’s obscured by the palanquin and a veil over her face. She looks beautiful, though.
Training Camp. Kang Chi has counted more than 1,230 beans. Yeo Wool is sitting beside him. She asks him how his real parents died. He ignores the question and keeps on counting. He gets distracted and she says, ‘sorry,’ sticking her tongue out a little. He’s lost count and has to start all over. He just sighs and starts again, which is growth in the self-control department.
Kwan Woong asks who the woman is. She’s the wife of the late Lord Miyamoto. AND she’s the current head of the Inner Circle. Holy crap! Kwan Woong’s shocked but also impressed. He surveys her more warily and inside the palanquin, there’s ever just a hint of a smile on the mystery woman’s lips.
Back at the training camp, a strong wind suddenly blows, stopping Kang Chi’s counting. He sense something, but doesn’t know what it is. The important moment music is playing, so I’m wondering how Kang Chi and this woman are connected.
In the distant mountains, the wind blows there as well. We settle on the spot where Wol Ryung’s body was covered with leaves. Is this it?! Is Wol Ryung finally back?! Please don’t be a demon! Please don’t be a demon! The leaves are dying quickly, which says that this isn’t good. Wol Ryung’s eyes open – but now they’re an evil red! No!
Kang Chi jumps to his feet, knocking the beans everywhere. Ominous music plays as Kang Chi looks off into the distance. He can definitely tell that something bad’s coming. He looks a little bit scared.
Thoughts
Yay! Wol Ryung’s back! Or rather, Wol Ryung’s back finally! It’s not so much a yay, since everything’s pointing to him being all demon this time. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he woke up just as this mysterious woman showed up. Seeing as Kang Chi seems to be connected to both of them, and the cast credits say that Seo Hwa lived, I’m guessing that she’s now back. I really hope that when Seo Hwa and Wol Ryung reunite, that she can break through his demon and reach the man he was, so she can tell him she’s sorry and he can know that she didn’t see him as a demon after all. Even though So Jung called their tale tragic, I want them to get their happy ending. Not that it’s probably going to happen, but that’s what I want.
What an emotional episode!!! So many dreaded things came to pass: Kang Chi is rejected by his family (Tae Seo and Chung Jo). Chung Jo is raped by Kwan Woong. Everyone knows about Kang Chi’s demon side now. Although the people at the training camp don’t seem to have too much of a problem with it, since he’s able to freely wander around without people giving him a wide berth or the stink eye. But some really good things happened, too. Tae Seo’s spell was finally broken. Chung Jo finally decides to embrace her destiny as a gisaeng. Kang Chi knows that he’s accepted and cared for by Soon Shin; he doesn’t just have to take it just on a hunch. He also finally suspects that Yeo Wool has ‘lurv’ feelings for him. Pyung Joon seems to have finally accepted their relationship and Gon’s also giving him some respect. And Soo Ryun stood up to Kwan Woong. Wow.
This episode was pretty profound in not a heavy-handed way. Several times, I thought to myself, ‘wow, that’s pretty profound.’ This week the show really focused on the theme of what makes someone noble or even human.
Soon Shin: I’ve met many men unworthy of being called human. The choice to be a man has nothing to do with how you were made (your blood); it has everything to do with how you choose to live.Wow, this is a pretty profound thing, when you think about it. Kwan Woong is the epitome of the man unworthy to be called a human being. He’s all about taking what he wants because he’s entitled as a noble (his blood) but the way he chooses to live is the worst parts of humanity. For all his mistakes, Kang Chi continues to show himself as someone definitely deserving that noble title. He does the right thing, even when he doesn’t want to. Yes, he makes mistakes, but it’s never with malice of forethought.
Tae Seo was weeping about how he falls short; and, yes, he does. But he’s allowing himself to be molded rather than crushed by his circumstances. Same thing for his sister. And I think this shows that they deserved the nobility that society entitled them with.
I really, really, really, really hate Kwan Woong. I still need a shower, he’s so slimy! I still question: does this mean that he’s hers now? And what does that mean? That they’re married in some twisted way? That they’re now monogamous? What? It’s just so slimy! My skin in crawling and I’m gagging just a bit.
So, let’s turn our thoughts away from this and to something happy: the unconditional acceptance and love between Kang Chi and Yeo Wool. That’s definitely a warm and fuzzy thing. Kang Chi doesn’t look at Yeo Wool as weird because she’s not the typical woman; he embraces and respects who she is. He appreciates those parts that society might poo-poo but are really her gifts: like being a warrior. He could have argued (more) with her about her rescue plan, but he took her advice instead. He doesn’t make her feel like she’s lacking – except when her insecurities creep in regarding their relationship. Even then, he isn’t saying what she’s hearing. Like their conversation about love and Chung Jo as a flower. Kang Chi wasn’t saying that Yeo Wool not being a gentle flower was bad or unwomanly, she was just different. It’s obvious that he’s still not quite thinking of her as a woman, because he laughed at her being able to talk about a woman being in love, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not ever going to be attracted to her. He’s just got the *habit* of not looking at her that way. And he already kind of started looking at her like that, any way, with his wondering if their meeting back then meant something now; particularly because back then he said he would make her marry him
I do appreciate his humility, though. No, he’s not totally humble, because he still gets offended. But he’s also really grateful to the people who help him. His telling Yeo Wool that he will never forget her or what she’s done for him, that it meant something, that goes back to that acceptance and love between them. If he didn’t accept her, he could easily brush those things off, but instead he’s grateful.
And Yeo Wool is just awesome! She consistently shows herself to be Kang Chi’s biggest, most loyal supporter. When they came across all those beat up men, and Bong Chool gurgled Kang Chi’s name, she didn’t doubt Kang Chi. When she saw the bracelet was gone, her only thought was how he might be suffering, rather than what he might violently be doing. She stood by him in defiance of her father and she HELD HIS BLOODY HAND even when he was a ‘disgusting’ gumiho. She didn’t run. She didn’t doubt. She was super pissed that he was going to give up his dream of humanity because of some sense of honor. And even with a broken heart, she couldn’t let Kang Chi leave without them saying goodbye. She couldn’t be that mean to him. I’m glad she exists, because she’s going to help Kang Chi be the human he deserves to be.
Speaking of what Kang Chi deserves, the episode also focused on how we determine our own destiny. Yeo Wool is not just going to accept that either she or Kang Chi is going to die if they stay together. She’s not going to just accept that Kang Chi is doomed to be half-demon. Chung Jo isn’t just going to accept the crappy life foisted on her; she’s going to make her lemons into lemonade. Kang Chi isn’t going to accept his current existence; he’s going to fight to be human. Although these things seem to be their destiny, it doesn’t seem like destiny is fighting them trying to change their fates Even Tae Seo is going to fight being bitter and broken.
And Tae Seo is finally free! It’s about time. Why didn’t they do something about it sooner? And why did they just give him free range? How did Pyung Joon know that Kang Chi was the key to breaking the spell, or that letting Tae Seo just whale on him would do the trick. Again, I have to say, I love how Yoo Yun Suk is acting this character. There’s a bunch of places where he could totally go for the melodrama and overact it, but his responses all seem very genuine and true. And even though he seems to cry a lot, it’s never because he’s timid or weak or wussy. He cries like a man. He’s not crying because life is stomping all over him and it’s not fair because he can’t do anything. He’s crying because he *cares* about the outcome, about the people. I’m really loving the evolution of his character. When we first met him, he seems a bit stuffy and stand-offish. He also seemed more of a watcher than a doer. But as things have happened, he’s become someone compelled to act and not afraid to do so. And I bet next time, when he likes a girl, he’ll actually do something about it rather than just love her from afar.
Go Soon Shin! He is just the bomb. And someone who is truly noble.
One last thought: I hope the guy playing Kwan Woong is nice is some other drama, because I *really* hate his character. Lee Sung Jae is doing such a good job of being evil. I want to see him as someone I can like.
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