That seems to be a running theme in Kang Chi’s life: whether he’s wanted by the people he loves. First it was Moo Sol. Then it was Chung Jo and Tae Seo. The only person who seems to have totally accepted him, gumiho and all, is Yeo Wool. She’s seen him at his worst, gh-d out, and it hasn’t changed how she treats him or views him. I don’t think he’s quite gotten this yet, but I think he will. He’s clueless but he’s not thick.
I like Gong Dal, because he's speaking what Kang Chi doesn’t want to acknowledge: this fear of being rejected because of what, rather than who, he is. I think Kang Chi ignores it most of the time, in order to stay sane, but I definitely think it’s a fear of his: that maybe they didn’t care for him as much as he thought, that his not rescuing them will change their feelings… I mean, Chung Jo rejected his rescue attempt and Tae Seo has tried to kill him. Those sorts of things *would* get a guy to question things.
Kang Chi doesn’t answer Gong Dal’s question.
Gisaeng House. The resident demon-spawn, Kwan Woong, has changed his mind. Tonight’s the night he’s going to deflower Chung Jo. I *knew* it was coming! I called it. I hate him so. Soo Ryun does not look happy, in her stoic-faced way. Chung Jo just happened to be walking by and overheard his demand. The tragic music still plays as she drops the tray she was carrying, horrified at the prospect of her impending rape. Kwan Woong just happens to smirk ever so slightly as he grunts with satisfaction. I’m just saying. Lorena Bobbitt should pay him a visit. He rises and tells Chung Jo to come back at twilight. Soo Ryun breathes a defeated sigh.
Chung Jo just sits there, twitching. Everything running through her mind is playing across her deadpan face: who he is, what he’s going to do, what choices she does or does not have, how she’s going to go there willingly or not.
Pyung Joon’s School. A blindfolded Tae Seo is on his knees, begging Kang Chi to save his sister. Yeo Wool listens in the distance. Kang Chi reaches down and tells him not to kneel in front of him. Tae Seo grabs him by the collar and yanks him upward, screaming, “Please!” Yeo Wool’s face is pitiful. Kang Chi’s face is horrified. He begs Kang Chi to take her away, before he’s not able to control himself and he hurts Kang Chi. You’re ripping my heart out, Tae Seo! And Kang Chi’s heart, you can just tell from his expression. How is he going to explain about her refusing to go when he tried to do this very thing?
Tae Seo’s telling Kang Chi to find happiness, that as her older brother, he approves of their relationship. Arrhhh! Stop, please, Tae Seo! You’re not just torturing yourself and Kang Chi, but Yeo Wool as well.
Boy, they’re just really digging into everyone’s insecurities today: Kang Chi and the question of whether Tae Seo and Chung Jo will still love him after everything, Yeo Wool and the question of whether Kang Chi will love her or be hung up on Chung Jo forever...
Tae Seo’s weeping now. I can’t stand it.
Gisaeng House. Chung Jo is just waiting to hear Soo Ryun tell her about her fate. Soo Ryun looks like she’s going to be sick, like she’s gagging on the words. She’s begging Soo Ryun to tell her she misheard what Kwan Woong said. What is it with Moo Sol’s kids today? They really like digging the knife in deeper today for some reason. What’s she supposed to say, ‘yes, you misheard.’? When Soo Ryun can’t, she grabs part of the shattered pitcher and threatens to cut her wrist. Soo Ryun is shocked and horrified and unprepared for her response. Chung Jo declares that, “He shamed me and made me his plaything… How much [is she] supposed to take?” That’s a good question. First Kang Chi’s mother and now Chung Jo. Kwan Woong is most definitely evil.
Chung Jo is getting hysterical. Soo Ryun slaps her across the face and demands she pull herself together. Chung Jo’s face is twitching. Soo Ryun points out that her death is only going to matter to her, not the rest of world. People worse off than her have died. I wonder who Soo Ryun’s thinking of? Maybe someone from her own past? Pain, misery, horrors, all unnoticed. That’s really sad that it’s true. She reminds Chung Jo that the only way that she will ever be able to matter, to have influence, is to bear this, so that when the time comes, she can have her revenge. I really don’t know if I could do that.
Chung Jo silently weeps as Soo Ryun leaves. Chung Jo sinks to the floor and fights wanting to scream as she cries bitterly. Walking away, Soo Ryun looks like she wants fall to the floor as well, but there’s nothing she can do to spare Chung Jo this future.
Yeo Wool stares off into space, ‘watching’ the students practice fighting with staffs. Gon is actually critiquing and correcting them, but she’s someplace else. She doesn’t even realize when one of the students is asking her a question. Gon senses that something is wrong. Dude, you should have taken advantage of all those times it was just the two of you on the road to tell her you love her...Yeo Wool abruptly tells them that they’re finished for the day and walks away. She looks like she’s about to cry. Gon looks like he wants to go and comfort her, but doesn’t know what he should say or do.
Yeo Wool comes across Kang Chi sitting on a bench, staring into space. Nobody’s happy today. And yesterday was such a happy day. They rubbed Kwan Woong’s face in it, stole his gold. But today is not a happy day.
Yeo Wool sighs to prepare herself for what she’s about to do and then clears her throat. He doesn’t react. She walks by and he still has no reaction. She walks by again. Nothing. She sighs and sits next to him, asking if he’s going. In a daze, Kang Chi turns to look at her. Is he going to run away with Chung Jo like Tae Seo begged?
Kang Chi’s dilemma is evident in his response: Chung Jo wouldn't go anyway, even if he did go. AND she doesn’t know what he is, so the idea of them being together – like he’d dreamed of – doesn’t seem possible. He fingers his bracelet and says he doesn’t know where to start. It’s truly a family dilemma; like father, like son. He’s afraid of her reaction. Yeo Wool tries to downplay his fears, telling him she’ll probably think the gumiho is cool. As she talks, he turns to look at her. As Chung Jo: ‘So you’re half-human, half-demon? Your eyes can change, your face, too, but you’re still Choi Kang Chi. I don’t care. You’re still you.’ He asks her if that’s possible. Small moment where I want to shake him, since Yeo Wool is speaking from her heart, if he ever asked her about the whole thing. She tells him it is, if it’s love, if it’s real. Kang Chi laughs at her, like she would know. A little offended and mad, she reminds him that she’s a girl, too. He tries to dig his foot out of his mouth by saying that she and Chung Jo are completely different. It has nothing to do with her not being a girl.
As Kang Chi digs, he only makes his hole deeper: Chung Jo’s a sheltered flower. Yeo Wool snaps that whether a woman’s a flower (Chung Jo) or a weed (Yeo Wool), she loves the same. Again Kang Chi is *clueless* because he asks her about *her* being in love. He’s all interested to hear this story, her being in love, but she stops (because it’s him) and says “not yet.” He snickers at her. She covers by saying that you don’t actually have to *be* in love; you just sort of know this sort of thing.
Yeo Wool is such a good friend to him, because he sits through him talking about his unrequited love for Chung Jo, his staying up all night thinking about her, how one of her smiles could dispel 10,000 worries, how one of her sighs could break his heart. He says she has no clue and we all know that he is the one with no clue, since every thing he’s described Yeo Wool’s thought about and felt toward him.
Kang Chi again chuckles, since Yeo Wool will only be able to talk after she’s felt all that. She kind of looks like she wants to punch him as she tells the Loverboy that he’s right. He thinks she’s upset at the thought of him leaving without saying goodbye. He promises he won’t. She’ll be the first to know if he decides to do what Tae Seo asks. Yippee. Yeo Wool stifles a wince at his words, as he rips her heart out.
Kang Chi feels better. He sighs as he tell ‘little Dam’ that one day she’ll know what love is. He scuffles her hair (as they do in their relationship) and she tells him hands-off., slapping his hand away. Then she really slaps him, more than a couple of times, while he protests. They end up laughing and fighting each other.
Pyung Joon has witnessed the whole thing. He doesn’t look very happy at his daughter’s attachment with Kang Chi. Even though Kang Chi *just* saved the whole shebang and all of Korea by saving the gold.
Flashback. Pyung Joon as Gong Dal what he thinks of Kang Chi. Even though we know that he likes him, he cryptically replies, “it’s hard to say.” Pyung Joon says that he has the impression that Gong Dal’s taken with Kang Chi, and Gong Dal responds, “You’re not? Why?” Ah! It’s not because Kang Chi’s a gumiho – which is good – it’s because 20 years ago, Pyung Joon killed Kang Chi’s dad. So it’s not that he doesn’t like Kang Chi – and who *couldn’t* like Kang Chi – it’s just that the legacy of what he did to Wol Ryung and Seo Hwa haunts him.I can’t tell whether they’ve discussed this issue before. Gong Dal asks if Pyung Joon ’s worried about Kang Chi wanting revenge. Or if it’s something else?
We don’t get to hear the answer and we return to Pyung Joon watching Yeo Wool and Kang Chi ‘fight.’ Gon arrives. Apparently he’s leaving Gon in charge of the camp as he goes to attend to some business. He won’t be back until the next day. Isn’t this what Moo Sol did right before he died? With all the parallels with this story, I’m a little apprehensive. Pyung Joon looks apprehensive, too. He gives Gon no more instructions, but just leaves. Gon gets to watch Yeo Wool and Kang Chi play fight. He sighs.
Gisaeng House. Chung Jo pulls out the jar Kang Chi gave her and looks at it. I bet you wish you’d left that day, hunh? Chung Jo has a visitor. It’s Gob Dan! They rush to embrace each other and cry a little. Oh Mom smiles widely as she closes the doors so they can have some privacy. Chung Jo wants to know how everyone is and if there’s been news about Tae Seo. And apparently she hasn’t heard about her mother. Wow, the day she gonna get raped by Kwan Woong, she gets to find out that he killed her mother, too. Gob Dan has to tell her that Lady Yoon died, but that she thinks Tae Seo is okay, since they haven’t heard that he’d been arrested. Chung Jo collapses to the floor.
The servants at Century House are slipping, since Tae Seo was there just a few days ago and Gob Dan doesn’t know about it, about Kwan Woong letting him go. Wouldn’t Eok Man know this?
Oh, fun. Wol Sun and her mean girls have decided to crash the party. She asks what Gob Dan’s doing there. Gob Dan declares that she’s there for Kwan Woong’s business. Wol Sun asks about the package Gob Dan’s brought. She’s not happy to hear it’s for Chung Jo. She gestures and one of her minions wrenches it out of Gob Dan’s hands. Gob Dan is appalled. The minion ignores her protests and opens the box. Then she declares that Wol Sun never got so much from Kwan Woong before. At least Wol Sun’s gonna have a bad day. The rest of her minions are horrified that some one like Chung Jo is getting so much jade and rubies and the like. Then Wol Sun has to be Wol Sun and dig in the knife, saying that his presents won’t come without a price: bedding her father’s killer. Wait. I thought Kang Chi killed Moo Sol. That was the story Kwan Woong was spinning. I guess he talks the truth during pillow talk. You should use that Chung Jo.
Where Chung Jo was horrified before, now she’s furious. Gob Dan had no idea what was going to happen until Wol Sun said something. Chung Jo glares at her and Wol Sun and her minions sweep from the room. Gob Dan demands to know what Wol Sun’s talking about, but stops when she sees Chung Jo’s face.
Century House. Gob Dan’s just told Eok Man and Choi Ma Reum about Chung Jo’s situation. They are all outraged and horrified. Gob Dan declares that ‘he’ has to be told. Does she mean Tae Seo or Kang Chi? Ah, she meant Kang Chi, since she’s demanding to know where he is. I like how these people are loyal to the people they work for; that that loyalty was reciprocated. Ma Reum nods at Eok Man and tells him to make sure that he’s not followed when he goes to tell Kang Chi. I don’t know how well Eok Man will do with that directive, since he doesn’t seem the most stealthy, but he runs off anyway.
Kwan Woong and Ninja Soh have been watching from above. Ninja Soh wants to do something but Kwan Woong says to leave them, since scurrying *rats* don’t know what they’re doing. He orders Ninja Soh to lay a trap for Kang Chi. So one way or another, he’s going to get his jollies tonight. Or maybe he’ll get both of his fantasies: Kang Chi dead and Chung Jo in his bed. I hate him.
Pyung Joon ’s School. Eok Man has arrived to tell Kang Chi, Yeo Wool and Gon about Chung Jo’s situation. Well, I guess that made your decision for you, Kang Chi. Kang Chi doesn’t want to believe it. Yeo Wool winces as her heart is cut out with a spoon. Eok Man is desperate. Kang Chi is about to rush off to Chung Jo’s rescue when Yeo Wool steps into his path to stop him. Her spidey-sense is tingling. Chung Jo’s is Kwan Woong’s bait. This makes Kang Chi think.
Eok Man is offended at Yeo Wool thinking that he’s working for Kwan Woong. He’s “Kang Chi’s man, straight and true.” Yeo Wool declares that Kwan Woong would use Eok Man’s loyalty, too.
Despite it being a trap, Kang Chi declares that he has to go, because Chung Jo’s counting on him. Um, no she’s not. She has no idea that you might be coming. So Yeo Wool declares that they’ll go together. Such a good woman!
Gon is shocked at her declaration. You can tell he doesn’t want *that* to happen. In unison, Kang Chi and Go tell her, “no.” Yeo Wool and Kang Chi glance at Gon as if to say, why are you in the middle of this conversation?
Kang Chi thanks her but refuses, as it’s not her problem/business/affair. Gon gives this lame excuse that she and he need to take care of the camp while her father’s away. Kang Chi uses the lame excuse and tells her that he won’t get an earful for helping her skip out on her duty.
Words I never thought I would hear come out of Gon’s mouth: “Please listen to him.”
Yeo Wool is surprised, too. “You’re allies, now?” They begrudgingly glance at each other, acknowledging their truce. But Yeo Wool refuses to be left behind, no matter how much they argue with her. She tells Kang Chi that she’s the better strategist. Do I have to mention the bullion, again? He seems pretty clever.
Yeo Wool declares that it’s the end of the discussion! Gon blinks in shock at her veracity. Eok Man wants to know if they’re going to tell Tae Seo about all this. Kang Chi says that it’s better he doesn’t know. Because that always works out. And as I suspected, Tae Seo is listening right outside the door. Don’t do anything stupid, Tae Seo! Kang Chi’s going to save your sister! Don’t muck things up, especially since you’ve got that spell still controlling you!
Tae Seo remembers Kwan Woong’s command for information about the camp and the bullion. Tae Seo fist clenching! Tae Seo turns, with a determined look on his face, to discover Gong Dal standing right behind him with his staff. Tae Seo tries to walk away but Gong Dal asks him what’s wrong. His eyes are full of fear, pain, and delusion. Thank you for telling him what I’m saying: “Don’t let it cloud [his] judgment.” Tae Seo grimaces but doesn’t say anything and walks off. Gong Dal, do something!
Kwan Woong exits Century House, where his palanquin waits to carry him to the Gisaeng House. I hate him even more! He can’t walk, he has to be carried by four men *walking.* Ninja Soh and his men are ready for Kang Chi’s arrival.
Chung Jo watches as the sun slowly sets, dreading what’s coming. At least she decided not to kill herself.
Soo Ryun paces in her room. We get a flash of her white sash. I wonder what that means.
Night has fallen. Soo Ryun sighs as if she’s steeling herself for the impact of a decision that’s she’s just made.
Oh Mom and the servants are hanging these really beautiful lanterns. Soo Ryun comes out and tells her to put them all out. The House of Pleasure will have no guests tonight. The whole house is to be left dark. She tells Jang Soo to place a mat in the courtyard. Oh Mom and Jang Soo don’t know what she’s thinking.
Chung Jo notices that the house has gone dark.
Kwan Woong and Ninja Soh arrive at Gisaeng House. Hmmm... It’s not supposed to be dark. The gate opens to reveal Soo Ryun sitting, eyes down, on the mat in the courtyard. She calmly looks up at Kwan Woong. Kwan Woong saunters in and demands an explanation. Soo Ryun begs his pardon but they aren’t receiving guests tonight.
Kwan Woong is amazed that Soo Ryun dares disobey his orders. She says that she failed 20 years ago and it costs two people their lives. Is she talking about Wol Ryung or Jung Yoon (Seo Hwa’s brother)? She tells him that they may just be giseangs, but they have their code. It’s her duty to teach the code and make sure that it’s observed.
Kwan Woong asks what she wants, even though he knows what Soo Ryun wants. She wants him to rescind his request. He’s shocked that she would say it. If he doesn’t, the House of Pleasure will *never* receive customers again. She tells him to kill her if he’s not going to agree.
The rest of the Gisaeng House is listening and they are shocked by her declaration. Wol Sun wouldn’t do that for any of you. She looks rather upset, not because she cares about Soo Ryun but because this is all fighting over Chung Jo.
Soo Ryun declares that she’d rather Kwan Woong kill her and take what he wants than for her not to be able to protect one of her girls. He’s not going to take a step further until he either relents or kills her. There is no fear in her eyes, but resignation. He seems like he’s leaning toward killing her when she reminds him that a giseang is the property of the state and he’ll have to pay to cover the state’s losses if he kills her. She knows where he lives.He scoffs at the idea that killing a floozy will be the same as high treason. I like that she’s using his own tactic against him. He calls her a contrary old tramp and declares, “fine, have it your way.” What does that mean? Which way?
Kwan Woong draws Ninja Soh’s sword. Soo Ryun doesn’t flinch. The rest of the House gasps, horrified that their mistress and guardian might die at Kwan Woong’s hands. Wol Sun actually seems a little concerned now.Kwan Woong raises the sword to strike. Soo Ryun doesn’t even flinch. Someone says, “Behave yourself.” Everyone looks to see who it is.
I thought that was Kang Chi’s voice. He’s standing on a roof, arms crossed, overlooking the courtyard. He doesn’t look happy. Wow. He easily jumped down from the rooftop. Ignoring Kwan Woong, he goes to kneel before Soo Ryun. I bet she hasn’t had that happen too often in her lifetime, someone treating her with respect. He thanks her and tells her that he won’t forget that she tried to protect Chung Jo. He’s going to take over from there. Soo Ryun almost looks sad.
Kang Chi turns to stand before Kwan Woong and Ninja Soh. He complains that seeing “you again” is becoming a habit. Kwan Woong snarks that he must have a death wish. Kang Chi ignores him, telling him that he wants what isn’t his and he should watch out. Weren’t you paying attention when he smashed your table, Kwan Woong? Kwan Woong snarks about Chung Jo being Kang Chi’s. Without out flinching, Kang Chi tells him that a person isn’t anyone’s, nor is a person’s heart something you can take. Soo Ryun briefly reacts to his words.
Confident, Kwan Woong motions to Ninja Soh and a bunch of his henchmen bust in and surround the courtyard. We hear Yeo Wool tell Kang Chi not to fight, because that’s not his purpose. He’s there to save Chung Jo. Yeo Wool has a plan that involves fighting them without the fighting. He needs to lead Kwan Woong and his men to the market square.
Ninja Soh orders the attack and multiple men go to attack Kang Chi. Well, that’s different, because usually they attack one at a time. Kang Chi does a nifty leaping flip and avoids their blades and runs from the Gisaeng House. Everyone except for Kwan Woong runs after him. Kwan Woong turns to give Soo Ryun one last burning stare and then walks out. Only then does Soo Ryun sigh out her relief.
Chung Jo creeps out of her room at the noise and encounters Yeo Wool, who puts a hand over her mouth and tells her not to be scared, that she’s a friend of Kang Chi’s. I wonder if Chung Jo’s going to think Yeo Wool is a boy or a girl, or if she’s going to recognize her, since Tae Seo knew who she was.
Kang Chi leads the guards to the market square. It’s busy with people, even though it’s night time, and there seem to be Kang Chi’s everywhere. Ninja Soh orders the men to split up to hunt them all down.
Soo Ryun orders Jang Soo to lock down all the gates. She opens the doors to Chung Jo’s room, only to find it empty. Her expression reads dread. She tells Oh Mom to have Jang Soo find her without anyone (Wol Sun) knowing that Chung Jo is missing. Pained, she wonders why Chung Jo would run away. I guess she’s thinking that this will be a repeat of 20 years ago. Does that mean that she would have done this for Seo Hwa 20 years ago, if Seo Hwa hadn’t have run?
Yeo Wool and Chung Jo are running through the forest. That hanbok makes it really easy for Chung Jo. Of course, she falls. Yeo Wool worries that she’s hurt. She just says that she’s not used to the forest. Determined, Chung Jo gets up and then run to the rendezvous spot with Kang Chi.
Two of the guards catch up to one of the Kang Chis. It’s not him, but one of Pyung Joon ’s students. Each man that the guards catch up to *isn’t* Kang Chi. I like how one of them smirks at their stupidity as he walks away. Another one smiles up at the guy who’s caught him.
The guards return and report to Ninja Soh that all the Kang Chi’s weren’t Kang Chi. Ninja Soh declares that Kang Chi is working with the people from Pyung Joon’s camps and tells one of the guards to go to the magistrate’s office to have them arrested for obstruction. Obstructing what? Kang Chi’s not an outlaw. They have no right to be chasing him. He didn’t threaten Kwan Woong in any way. The whole idea is nuts.
As the guard turns to follow Ninja Soh's orders, they encounter someone. We only see his feet at first. It kinda looks like the monk’s shoes. That or Soon Shin’s. Oh, it’s Tae Seo. I forgot about him. He glares at Ninja Soh. Ninja Soh gives him a look as if wondering if he’s still under the control of the spell.
Gon is pacing in the courtyard of the camp. Gong Dal hobbles up behind him and asks if he’s waiting for someone. Gon replies that he’s waiting for Yeo Wool, since she isn’t back yet. Gong Dal chuckles and asks if he’s worried. Of course, where no one else has any clue that Gon likes Yeo Wool, he would know. Gon is surprised that Gong Dal knew what Yeo Wool and Kang Chi were up to. Gong Dal asks him why he isn’t doing anything, if he’s worried. I love the look on Gon’s face, where he’s embarrassed at this, at his not-question. He replies, sadly, “I’m in her shadow. Nothing more.” He looks so sad as he says, “I can be concerned but it’s not up to me.” Oh, I feel so sad for him! I just want to wrap him up and put him in my pocket.
Gong Dal chuckles and comments, “ah, youth.” Gon looks down almost ashamed. But Gong Dal isn't chastising him for loving her. I love Gong Dal! Gong Dal wonders where Pyung Joon went off to.
Pyung Joon is walking through the forest. This seems to be just about the exact anniversary of Kang Chi’s birth. Ah, he’s gone to visit Monk So Jung. So Jung’s been expecting him and calls him a welcome visitor. That’s nice, that he doesn’t harbor any ill will towards the man who killed his best friend. I wonder how Pyung Joon knows where So Jung lives, and what does that mean?
Yeo Wool and Chung Jo arrive at a dark barn. Yeo Wool tells her that the others will be coming soon. Chung Jo asks her name. So she doesn’t recognize her. How can you not recognize someone you’ve met before? Your brother was quick to recognize her. Yeo Wool is wondering the same thing, since she says, “you don’t remember?” She calls herself Swordmaster Dam’s daughter, Dam Yeo Wool. They’ve met before at Century House. Chung Jo remembers their meeting, as children. She doesn’t necessarily seem happy to know who she is.
The students arrive. Everyone is well. She tells them well done and asks about Kang Chi. As if on cue, here he is! One of the students calls him Lord Brag-a-lot. Ha! Kang Chi laughs, too. “Scoot-a-rama-roony. No fighting. Not a-thingy.” He and Yeo Wool exchange a smile. Aw.
Kang Chi asks about Chung Jo, even though she’s standing *right behind* Yeo Wool. Tender music plays as they are reunited. She looks like she might cry. He’s happy and relieved to see her. Yeo Wool has to watch the man she loves be concerned for someone else. Kang Chi asks if she’s all right. Instead of saying, “yes,” which is what she should have said, Chung Jo says, “no, not at all.” She rushes forward to grab onto him. The other students clear their throats, look away, and awkwardly leave the barn. Kang Chi slowly reaches to comfort her. Not squeeze her, but gently hold her as she weeps and holds him tight. He tells her that it’s over now and she’s with him. He pats her back, but his face doesn’t read like a man just reunited with the woman he’s in love with, more someone reunited with someone he loves. Yeo Wool doesn’t see his expression, since his back is to her, and she slowly, sadly walks out of the barn. But not before she glances back at them, sadly, longingly.
Sunrise. Gon has waited for Yeo Wool out in the courtyard all night. She arrives back at the camp (without the other students for some reason) and he smiles a ‘that’s my girl’ smile. It’s also a little ‘I’m-so-happy-you’re-alive!’ too. She smiles a hello. Oh, the other students were behind her. As well as Kang Chi and Chung Jo. Aw, man! Why did they have to bring her there? Gon bows his greeting. As she walks by him, she pats him on the shoulder and that seems like it’s enough for him. He nods at the other students and then leaves, probably to take a nap.
Tae Seo and his sister are reunited. He can’t believe she’s safe and rushes to embrace her, repeating her name. They both cry. As he wipes away her tears, he say, “my poor little sister.” He wants to know if she’s okay and she tells *him* she’s not hurt. She mentions their mother and he tells her he knows, that she doesn’t have to say anything. They embrace again. He tells her, very determined, not to worry, that he’ll look after her now.
Wait a second. One, you gave that job to Kang Chi and told him to run off somewhere and to find them happiness. Two, you’re STILL UNDER THE SPELL. Otherwise, why would Ninja Soh have let you go? Three, how are you going to do anything, since you’re a *wanted man*? Sometimes, his logic just doesn’t work very well.
They cry some more as Kang Chi listens on just outside the door. He sighs. He turns to walk away and finds Yeo Wool behind him. Significant eye contact. She knows what he’s planning on doing and he doesn’t want to say it.
So Jung’s house. He asks Pyung Joon what he wants to know. Pyung Joon wants to know everything So Jung knows about Kang Chi. Whether he’ll be able to become a man. Whether he’s a danger to people. So Jung correctly surmises that he is worried about Yeo Wool and says that there’s nothing he can do about their relationship. Flashes of him killing Wol Ryung, Seo Hwa pregnant vomiting, Yeo Wool exhausted, begging them to help Kang Chi. We hear him think, “so this is all because of me.”
Pyung Joon’s returned to the camp, to see Tae Seo, smiling, walking with his sister. They see him and stop, waiting for his reaction.
Pyung Joon’s office. Tae Seo, Yeo Wool and Gon look down as Pyung Joon demands to know what’s going on. He wants to know why Chung Jo is there! He starts to lay into Gon when Yeo Wool pipes up to say that it was her decision. She starts to explain about the impending rape by Kwan Woong, but he cuts her off and asks if Kang Chi was the one who did the rescuing. With her help?! Oh! So the man that Soo Ryun promised to take care of Chung Jo was Pyung Joon. I was wondering about that. And what does that mean about their relationship? Pyung Joon’s mad because Soo Ryun was taking care of protecting Chung Jo. Didn’t Yeo Wool think about the consequences?!!! Yeo Wool looks like she is about to cry as her father yells at her.
Tae Seo calmly declares that everything that has happened is due to his shortcomings. He tell Pyung Joon that Kang Chi did it at his request. He wants whatever punishment Pyung Joon’s going to administer. Pyung Joon doesn’t see how all this is going to help anything, since it’s just like adding fuel to Kwan Woong’s fire. Kang Chi has entered and declares that he’ll leave with Chung Jo. Yeo Wool objects, but he says that it’s for the best. He directly addresses Tae Seo and asks him for his permission to take Chung Jo away.
Flashback to Tae Seo and Ninja Soh’s meeting. Tae Seo declares that the decoys are not from Pyung Joon’s camp and that Ninja Soh should arrest him, if he’s planning on arresting anyone. Ninja Soh tells him that he just wants Kang Chi. He practically spits Kang Chi’s name. I see a show down coming between those two at some point – Kang Chi and Ninja Soh, not Tae Seo and Ninja Soh. Sorry, Tae Seo, I don’t see you being the guy who can do that. Ninja Soh tells Tae Seo that he has to turn over Kang Chi in order to protect his sister and the camp.
As Kang Chi asks for permission, Tae Seo just sits there, eyes darting. At least he’s not trying to kill Kang Chi on sight. Oh. A tear runs down his cheek as he says, “please, Kang Chi-a.” As much as Kang Chi knows that this is what needs to happen, he doesn’t look too happy about it.
Chung Jo waits in the courtyard. She’s looking at the big statue of the dragon with the arrow. She pulls out the jar from Kang Chi – apparently she had time to grab it during their quick escape. It’s the same symbol. What does this mean? Voiceover: Dam Yeo Wool. We met once at Century House.
Flashback to when Chung Jo and Yeo Wool met. As Yeo Wool introduces herself, she offers the jar to Chung Jo, asking her to give the jar to Kang Chi. Yeo Wool is smiling. Chung Jo is not. Apparently it’s not the same jar, because Chung Jo threw the first jar into the pond.
Chung Jo hears Kang Chi’s voice and looks up to see him calling after Yeo Wool. They’ve left Pyung Joon ’s office and Yeo Wool has nothing to say to Kang Chi at the moment. It’s obvious there’s something between them.
They’ve entered one of the buildings. Yeo Wool’s ignoring Kang Chi. He asks her to talk to him. She stops and without turning around tells him she has nothing to say. He grabs her and makes her look at him. She yells that he said that she would be the first to know. She was kinda, since he announced it all at the same time. But that’s not what she’s upset about. It’s that he didn’t come tell her before everyone else.
Kang Chi doesn’t get it. He’s focused on how much the situation is endangering everyone. Pyung Joon ’s already risking so much sheltering Tae Seo. Adding Chung Jo to the fire might burn the house down. Yeo Wool wants to know where he’s planning to go, if he has a plan. He doesn’t really, just planning on going where two people can hide.
What about Kang Chi's dream of being human?!! Is he planning on giving that up, too? Aw, I love her. She’s not just reacting because he’s leaving to be with another woman, someone he’s told her has chased all his worries away with just one smile. She’s reacting because she knows what this means as far as what he’ll be giving up: the being human part. She’s pissed because this misguided sense of duty, of commitment, is going to destroy his life.
He reaches out to touch her shoulder and she tells him to let go. She calls him a quitter and tries to walk away. He grabs her and turns her around. They just look at each other. She starts to tear up and he isn’t quite sure what he’s seeing. She slaps his hands away and walks into a room, shutting the doors behind her and starting to cry. Through the door, Kang Chi says:
I’m sorry, Dam Yeo Wool. Forgive me for not telling you first. And, forgive me that I have to give up becoming a man. And more… thank you… for standing by me. Making it through Lord Park’s death. Dealing with who and what I am. I owe it all to you.Yeo Wool covers her mouth so that he can’t hear her cry harder. If I weren’t twisting enough, he tells her that he’ll never forget her. Idiot! A sense of duty is not worth what it’s costing you! He can’t forget her. Oh! The pain! How can you say that?!! Yeo Wool has to use both hands now to stay silent.
Kang Chi reaches up to touch the door, but stops short. Dude, how can to not know you’re in love with her?!!
Yeo Wool sags to the floor and weeps.
Kang Chi slowly walks outside into the courtyard. He sits on one of the steps and stares. Chung Jo looks on from the distance. He’s not her Kang Chi anymore. Is she going to be the same person who threw spitefully the jar in the lake?
Century House. Ninja Soh is getting chewed out by Kwan Woong for his latest failure. Kwan Woong doesn’t listen to Ninja Soh’s new plan. They’ve been following Kwan Woong’s plans so far, which have all worked out so well, but Kwan Woong’s so arrogant that he won’t even consider what Ninja Soh has to offer.
Ma Bong Chool’s arrived. The guy that Kang Chi has a history with. The one that tried to work with Gon and Yeo Wool to get the bounty on Kang Chi. The guy that was extorting money from the people at the market and who Kang Chi beat up quite nicely. That guy. Apparently Bong Chool’s just the guy to be able to find Kang Chi. Supposedly. Even though the only reason he did it last time is because he followed Gon and Yeo Wool. But Kwan Woong doesn’t have to know that.
Uck! He calls Kwan Woong Your Worship, Your Glory. And I notice that the scrolls on the walls are different now. I guess after losing the bullion, Kwan Woong doesn’t like that scroll anymore. Heh.
Kwan Woong’s new plan: kill Kang Chi. Bong Chool’s just the man to do it. What about Ninja Soh? You’ve never let him off the leash long enough to do that?! Why is this guy loyal to Kwan Woong? Maybe it’s not Kwan Woong that he’s loyal to, but someone else, who gave Kwan Woong to him as his assignment. That would make a lot more sense, since he doesn’t seem to like Kwan Woong enough to have this loyalty he gives. Bong Chool’s eager to oblige. Ninja Soh looks rightfully pissed.
Pyung Joon’s Camp. Kang Chi and Chung Jo are saying goodbye to Gon, Pyung Joon and Gong Dal. Gong Dal especially looks sad that Kang Chi is leaving. Kang Chi thanks them for everything and asks that they give Soon Shin his regrets for not saying goodbye before leaving. Do you *see* what he’s giving up for you, Chung Jo? Of course not. Pyung Joon sadly agrees to Kang Chi’s request.
Kang Chi looks around the courtyard, obviously hoping to be able to say goodbye to Yeo Wool. Gon decides to tell him that she’s at fencing practice and doesn’t want to be disturbed. This hurts Kang Chi, even though he doesn’t know why. Chung Jo sees it. Yeo Wool is trying to slice away her pain. She’s practically exhausted.
Apparently, they’re planning on taking Neunggok Pass and they need to hurry to make it before nightfall.
Tae Seo’s looking on from a distance and nods them a goodbye. Chung Jo is still in that hanbok, which doesn’t make traveling easy. That makes sense. They turn to go, but Kang Chi glances back, thinking, “I wanted to say goodbye. Farewell, Dam Yeo Wool.” As they walk away, Gong Dal tells Pyung Joon, “I hope you don’t regret this.”
As Pyung Joon walks away, he thinks, “I’ll stop them from being together. Any way I can.” You’d think he’d know to listen to the monk’s advice, but no. Of course, if So Jung weren’t so cryptic all the time, his advice might be easier to follow, but he was pretty straight forward with this bit of advice.
Soon Shin has gotten a message. It’s ‘ill-advised’ and Soon Shin is not happy. He calls his lieutenant, Moho. They’re riding for Pyung Joon’s camp. Who sent him the message?
Kang Chi and Chung Jo are walking through the woods on relatively level ground. Chung Jo stumbles and Kang Chi grabs her arm to steady her. I said that the hanbok was not a good choice for travel wear. He reaches down and takes her wrist and smiles gently at her. Not her hand but her wrist.
Ninja Soh and a whole swarm of men are just out of their eyesight, with Bong Chool. Apparently he *did* know how to find Kang Chi. Although it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that he would be leaving from Pyung Joon’s camp. Apparently, Bong Chool has heard they were heading for Neunggok Pass. Is there a traitor at Pyung Joon’s camp? Ninja Soh orders they take Kang Chi at the turn of the road. Bong Chool and his rough-looking thugs head out. Ninja Soh turns and congratulates someone. Oh, no! It’s Tae Seo! Is this the spell or is he just being stupid? He looks conflicted. Darn. He’s being stupid. Apparently, he bartered for his sister. Like this guy is going to be honorable. He put a spell on you, for Pete’s sake.
Ninja Soh thrusts a sword into Tae Seo’s chest and tells him to go with Bong Chool and kill Kang Chi himself. That’s the only way that he’ll spare Chung Jo. I just said he wasn’t honorable! Tae Seo looks horrified. How did you *not* see this coming? Hand shaking, he takes the sword. He looks so conflicted. He’s going to kill his ‘brother’ and best friend to save his sister. Ninja Soh reminds Tae Seo to take Kang Chi’s bracelet *first.* So they still think the bracelet gives Kang Chi his power. Hmmm. Apparently Tae Seo doesn’t know about the bracelet either, because it looks like he’s going to follow that direction, too. Oh. He’s crying again. This poor man!
Flashback to their conversation in the courtyard, where Ninja Soh clarifies the reality of Chung Jo’s situation. She’s been sold to a giseang house. Worse filth than Kwan Woong will be her clients. As a runaway, she’s facing a future where she’s caught and beheaded. Tae Seo can choose life in the mud for his sister, or hand over Kang Chi.
Tae Seo looks so distraught! He’s facing an impossible choice.
And, of course, Ninja Soh has no honor. He tells the guards to go and watch the pass and once Bong Chool and Tae Seo have dealt with Kang Chi, dispose of them. Which he’s done *before.* Even though they’re only 50 feet from Tae Seo, he doesn’t notice as the guards (minus Ninja Soh) run off toward the pass.
Pyung Joon’s Camp. Yeo Wool leaves one of the buildings with determination. Gon intercepts her and asks her where she’s going. She tells Gon that she lost her mind and can’t let Kang Chi go, not without saying goodbye. Darn, for a moment there, I thought she was thinking sensibly about not letting Kang Chi be stupid, but she’s just regretting sulking and hiding before he left. Gon has to look on as she tears up, as her voice cracks as she talks. Surmising correctly, he asks her why she’s going to run after him, since he’s now *with someone else.* She’s such a good woman. She doesn’t want to stop him from leaving her, because she’s honoring his choice. She just wants to say goodbye and wish him well. That’s love. Never before has being nothing but her shadow been so painfully obvious before. He’s as miserable as she is.
Kang Chi and Chung Jo have stopped for some water. It looks like Chung Jo’s grown up some, because she’s about to get him to come to his senses. She points out that he hasn’t said anything since they left the camp. Kang Chi didn’t notice. Too lost in his thoughts. He tries to play it off, but Chung Jo presses on. Is she a burden? Kang Chi declares she needs his protection. Which any woman would understand as the answer ‘yes.’ She leans over to put her head on his shoulder. He looks confused and uncomfortable.
Chung Jo tells him that he’s changed somehow. That he’s different. Distant. He doesn’t understand what she’s talking about. He fingers his bracelet, thinking that this is the reason. He remembers Yeo Wool telling him that Chung Jo will probably think the gumiho is cool. He puts his arm around her shoulder and says he needs to tell her something. But before he does, he tells her that he’ll do anything for her, even die for her.
Kang Chi, instead of starting with the half-demon part, starts with ‘I found out who my parents were.’ He’s about to say, ‘my father was a gumiho,’ when they’re interrupted by Bong Chool. Bong Chool declares that Lord Jo gave the orders and he brought the best hunters in the province to take care of Kang Chi.
Uh oh. They’ve wrapped him with chains. Just like Wol Ryung, right before Wol Ryung gumiho’d out in front of Seo Hwa. They’ve grabbed Chung Jo, just like they grabbed Seo Hwa.
Oh, no! Tae Seo’s there. Time stops as Tae Seo walks forward, grim determination on his face. Not again! Kang Chi can’t believe what he’s seeing.
Tae Seo declares that he’s there for Kang Chi’s head. Betrayed again. Chung Jo can’t believe her ears.
Kang Chi’s face is just as pitiful as the last time Tae Seo ran him through. Tae Seo does not look excited.
Gong Dal’s words ring in Kang Chi’s ears: “What if they don’t want you? What will you do then? You’ve changed. So have they. Suppose they don’t think of you as family?” We hear Kang Chi’s response this time: “That won’t happen. Tae Seo and Chung Jo will never turn on me.” And then he smiled/laughed.
As Kang Chi stares at Tae Seo, we hear Gong Dal tell him, “But Kang Chi, people are much weaker than you think.” He’s crying now. “Weakness that can lead to cruelty.” Why isn’t Tae Seo crying?!
Kang Chi asks Tae Seo why. No! Tae Seo declares that Chung Jo is the only family he has left and that he’ll do what he has to in order to protect her. And then he asks Kang Chi to forgive him. A small clue that the betrayal isn’t quite as bad as it looks. In hindsight.
Tae Seo stoically walks forward and grabs Kang Chi’s wrist with the bracelet. Kang Chi begs him not to do what he’s planning. Bong Chool is puzzled why Kang Chi’s freaking out. Kang Chi begs, please, no! But Tae Seo takes it off his wrist. Kang Chi cries “No!” horrified of what’s about to happen.
Thoughts
What an episode! We went from happy-happy, joy-joy to an episode where I think everyone’s fears and insecurities were realized. Yeo Wool will never love Gon. Kang Chi’s heart will always be with Chung Jo. Chung Jo and Tae Seo don’t see Kang Chi as family. Chung Jo has lost everything, even Kang Chi. So horrid!
But we did learn several things:
- Soo Ryun is in league with Pyung Joon. And possibly Soon Shin. Which means that she’s definitely been working against Kwan Woong all along. And she definitely hates him and what he stands for.
- Soo Ryun is working for that endgame she keeps talking to Chung Jo about. And she’s not clueless to Wol Sun’s machinations.
- Pyung Joon kept track of So Jung. How else would he know how to find him?
- Yeo Wool has realized that she loves Kang Chi. Her whole speech as Chung Jo was her talking. Especially the tag line, if it’s love, she’ll feel this way.
- Pyung Joon might actually approve of Kang Chi, despite him being half-gumiho. It’s just the history of killing Kang Chi’s dad that is causing problems in their relationship. And he doesn’t want history to repeat itself with his daughter.
- Gong Dal definitely likes Kang Chi despite how he acts around him. The fact that he gives him so much attention definitely shows that. And Gong Dal’s the man when it comes to observations about people: Tae Seo’s ‘plan,’ Gon’s unrequited feelings.
- Yeo Wool and Chung Jo have history when it comes to Kang Chi. Chung Jo threw the salve that Yeo Wool gave her to Kang Chi into the pond because she was jealous. Of a pretty, sweet girl that she just met.
- The spell might be weakening. Tae Seo was able to be unblindfolded in the same room with Kang Chi without trying to kill him. Even in the forest, he didn’t just go in for the kill, he was fighting his decision.
- There’s not a love triangle any more, even though Yeo Wool doesn’t know that yet. Kang Chi is not in love with Chung Jo anymore and he’s starting to wake up to his relationship with Yeo Wool.
- Soon Shin isn’t happy with the recent turn of events because they’re short-sighted. Which makes me think that he’s connected with Soo Ryun somehow, too. Because Pyung Joon should have just taken Chung Jo back to the gisaeng house. Having her leave with Kang Chi was a bad idea.
- Kang Chi and Yeo Wool are in love with each other, although neither has realized it yet. Yeo Wool might know how she feels, but Kang Chi is pretty clueless. Of course, he’s never had a real love relationship before, just the unrequited one that he’s boasted is real love.
- Ninja Soh has no honor when it comes to taking care of the enemy. Again, he turns back on his word when he’s out of earshot of the person he’s betraying.
- Kwan Woong is vile. He’s also really arrogant and thinks he’s flawless.
- Yeo Wool deserves the position she has at the school. Her plan to free Chung Jo was pretty clever.
- Yeo Wool is a good woman. She ignores her own breaking heart to look out for Kang Chi’s best interests. And she sees beyond the monster to who he’s been all along: the puckish Kang Chi.
So Jung showed up in this episode and of course was no help. Why would he be helpful rather than cryptic? The man is annoying!
I really hope that this betrayal by Tae Seo gets cleared up quickly. I don’t like Kang Chi being hurt like this, or his worst fears becoming real. It was bad enough that it happened to his dad, but please don’t make it be Kang Chi’s fate, too. (Although I suspect not, because there’s already differences. The woman the gumiho loves isn’t going to reject or betray him, although Kang Chi hasn’t realized that yet. Kang Chi is full of angst and shame about the consequences of being a gumiho while Wol Ryung couldn’t see his vulnerabilities. And neither of the pair is alone, which was part of the problem, no support system.)
When is Wol Ryung going to show up, any way? When history ‘repeats’ itself at the beginning of the next episode?
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