So Jung tells Wol Ryung that he looks well. Even though half his face is covered by his hair and he’s not smiling anymore. And is a demon. Wol Ryung tells him he looks older. So Jung jokes that everyone gets old. Wol Ryung says, almost bitterly, that after 1,000 years, he doesn’t pity humans at all, that they just barely live 100. Did he pity them before?
So Jung coughs uncomfortably and asks why Wol Ryung’s back. Wouldn’t the right question be *how* is he back? Or why haven’t you come back before this? So Jung wants to know if his old friend *is* going to be a demon for 1,000 years. I’m wondering if going demon is because of the broken heart, not because of some broken spell.
Before Wol Ryung answers, he wants to know something first. He walks closer to So Jung, who shifts uncomfortably because Wol Ryung’s now easily within strangling distance. Wol Ryung says he saw someone in the forest. Not a man. Not a demi-god. He was wearing So Jung’s talisman bracelet. He wants to know who it is. So Jung doesn’t really make much eye contact with Wol Ryung. Well? Wol Ryung growls.
The Village. Kang Chi is rushing through the crowd looking for Yeo Wool. She’s upset, but then she sees him and is all better. Happily, she stands up to meet him, but he just walks on by, bumping her. She *did* cover up everything but her face, so it could be understandable, but it’s awesome a second time how he totally doesn’t recognize her.
When he turns around, Kang Chi isn’t really breathing. She says that he’s late and he asks, “You? Is it you?” She nods and gets a little subconscious. You know you love his reaction! He’s still just standing there staring at her.
Abruptly we switch to Seo Hwa, the veiled lady. They’re at dinner. Kwan Woong is seated to her left and the emissary is to her right. Her men and Ninja Soh stand behind them. It’s the drum ceremony. Soo Ryun looks really nice in her hanbok and just her natural hair. Chung Jo is watching intently Soo Ryun’s technique. I’m wondering how Seo Hwa can see anything with the way her face is hidden by her hat.
Back to the village. Kang Chi slowly walks toward Yeo Wool, looking at her up and down. Stupidly he says, “Why are you wearing that?” Yeo Wool at least says that she does sometimes. After all she is a girl. Kang Chi just swallows and stares. Then she gets a little insecure and asks him if it’s weird. No, it’s not weird! You just won his heart, babe! But then I slap my forehead as Kang Chi slightly nods and says, “Yes, it’s weird.” She’s a little offended. Which part? He says all of it. I slap my forehead again and laugh is disbelief. He is such and idiot.
Yeo Wool walks away without a word and Kang Chi’s confused as to why she’s leaving. She doesn’t want to burden him with her weirdness. He stutters that he doesn’t mean *that* kind of weird. She spins around to face him. He needs to explain; what kind then? He stutters a minute and then digs the hole even further by saying that it’s not like her. Aw. But he adds it’s like she’s a someone else, a different person. She says that this is her, too. He sheepishly says he sees that and asks her not to be mad. She sighs, mutters, “What am I going to do with you?” and then starts to walk away again.
Kang Chi grabs the shoulder of her hanbok and wants to know where she’s going. Without looking at him, she says she has to get a lantern for the festival, shrugs her arms free and walks off. He stands there confused, his hand still clamped from where it was holding her hanbok. He blinks a few times and then runs after her.
A man hangs up her lantern. Smiling, Yeo Wool turns to Kang Chi and asks him if he likes it. He sputters an of course. He asks what she wished for. She says that they’re looking at hers. He’s confused. It’s not his? Again he’s staring at her as she reads her wish: To find the Book of the Nine and become human. She just stands there looking at the lantern while he looks at her.
After a moment, Yeo Wool says, without looking at Kang Chi, “Stop staring. I’m blushing.” Heh! He didn’t realize he was. She smiles, pleased. They continue to look at the lantern and occasionally at each other, smiling at each other. Kang Chi scratches his neck sheepishly, which makes Yeo Wool laugh. He keeps getting embarrassed when she looks over at him. Just the reaction she wanted!
Down the street, Wol Ryung is watching. It’s funny how he and Kang Chi pretty much wear the same hair style. Suddenly Kang Chi feels him watching, but when he turns to look, Wol Ryung is gone.
Century House. Drum ceremony. It is so cool how Soo Ryun does it! Kwan Woong glances over at the veiled lady to see if there’s any reaction. Nothing. Soo Ryun finishes. The crowd applauds and cheers. Oh Mom is really proud of her mistress.
Soo Ryun steps forward toward the table with the honored guests and bows. Chung Jo smiles, really proud of her mentor. There’s been no reaction from the veiled lady. He asks her how she liked it. In Japanese, she says, “Wretched.” Dang! I think Soo Ryun understands Japanese, because she blinks. More salt in the wound: “It seems her day has passed. She has lost her touch.” The emissary asks if she wants him to translate and she says that there’s no need to. Her tone said it all. The veiled lady rises to leave. Soo Ryun apologies that her best wasn’t good enough.
Kwan Woong *doesn’t* understand Japanese because he’s a little perplexed at Soo Ryun’s apology. Her eminence didn’t like the performance? The emissary relays that the veiled lady said ‘wretched.’ The crowd is shocked. Wol Sun mutters that the finest drummer in the land is ‘wretched’? How humiliating it must be for her, she says to Kwan Woong. If Soo Ryun’s eyes could shoot daggers. It’s amazing how it never occurs to Wol Sun that Soo Ryun could crush her at any time. If Soo Ryun was like Wol Sun, she would torture her. But she doesn’t, because she’s noble.
Oh, no. Chung Jo’s piped up. Chung Jo agrees that it is humiliating. She wants for the veiled lady to tell her what was so wretched about it. Soo Ryun tries to stop her, saying her name, but she continues. Even though it’s been 10 years since Soo Ryun played, it still moves people’s hearts. Her movements are more graceful than a crane’s. Chung Jo’s really found her backbone because she demands to know what the woman didn’t like exactly.
Soo Ryun apologizes and says that Chung Jo doesn’t know her place. She’s about to continue when the veiled woman, in Korean, says, “it was all wrong.” The beats fell flat. The dance had no spirit, no soul. She lacked conviction. Wretched is the only word appropriate. Turning to look at Soo Ryun, she asks, “don’t you agree?”
Kwan Woong’s squinting. The veiled lady and her entourage walk away. The emissary asks Kwan Woong to excuse them and gives Soo Ryun a look before leaving behind her. What does that mean?
Kwan Woong snarks about Soo Ryun ruining the banquet. He gets up and stomps out. Chung Jo glares at Wol Sun, who smiles triumphantly, and Soo Ryun purses her lips in their direction.
Kwan Woong approaches the veiled lady. He smarms that the show was for her benefits and asks that she accept his apologies. The emissary says, instead, that the veiled lady is quite pleased. Kwan Woong’s suspicious that she speaks Korean. The emissary says that she used to study it with the late Lord Miyamoto, that he was their teacher. The more this guy talks about the late Lord Miyamoto, the more I’m wondering if he’s a complete fabrication.
Kwan Woong says that she spoke Korean like a native. She doesn’t react. The emissary excuses them and Kwan Woong watches her walk by and walk away. What *is* her agenda? She knows he’s suspicious and evil. How is she playing this? I like that she has two big burly shogun body guards with her at all times. At least that must be partially intentional, in case things go unexpectedly awry.
Ninja Soh approaches with Soo Ryun. She looks like she’s there to rip the bandage off early. She apologizes again for what happened at the banquet. Kwan Woong wonders whether it’s time she step down, since she can’t control even one girl. Totally overlooking the fact that *he* pushed that girl way too early into this life. Not that she’d ever be ready for him raping her, but she could have had more training. Kwan Woong doesn’t want to hear her apologies. She should come back at dawn to do her groveling for her ladyship. Soo Ryun sighs as Kwan Woong stalks off.
The Village. Chung Jo is walking with Oh Mom. They’re looking at all the lanterns. Oh Mom thinks they’re so pretty.
Flashback to Chung Jo attending the festival with Tae Seo, Gob Dan and Kang Chi. Tae Seo’s lantern wished for good fortune for their parents, their family and– Chung Jo and Kang Chi chime in unison “Century House.” He laughs at their teasing. Apparently this is his wish every year. Aw. It’s the wish nearest to his heart. Kang Chi wants him to add one next year: May he meet a lovely lady and get married. Chung Jo says she already hung that one this year, so he won’t become a cranky old bachelor. Tae Seo vows to teach them not tease him and starts to playfully wrestle with Kang Chi. All four of them are laughing. It’s a really nice memory, which makes me a little sad.
Chung Jo looks a little sad, too. She looks up to see a smiling Kang Chi walking down the street. He looks up and sees her. Some people move and she sees that he is with Yeo Wool, who’s wearing a hanbok. Uncomfortable staring. Chung Jo turns around to walk away and collides with a very drunk man. She apologizes, but he’s drunk so he’s belligerent. Oh Mom tries to get rid of him but her pushes her away and continues to be obnoxious. Kang Chi walks over and pulls the drunk guy's hand off of Chung Jo’s wrist and behind the guy’s back. He tells him to save it for his wife and shoves him away. He looks over at Chung Jo, who won’t meet his gaze. They say nothing.
Kang Chi follows them back to the gisaeng house to make sure they aren’t harassed. Oh Mom bows her thanks and goes inside. Chung Jo says nothing and starts in as well. Kang Chi asks her if she’s still afraid of him, because of how he looked. He apologizes for not telling her before.
Chung Jo cuts him off and asks if *she* knows, too. Does Dam Yeo Wool know, too? He grunts the affirmative. She smiles and says, “I see.” She twirls around and thanks him and tells him she owes him a drink some night at the gisaeng house. Chung Jo is shocked she’s acting this way, but she cuts him off again, implying that he’s looking down on her now because she’s a gisaeng. Kang Chi tells her to stop, that no matter what she wears, where she lives, to him, she’s still Park Chung Jo. He tells her to cut the pretense. I’m reminded of a conversation where she cut through his crap, back before everything went belly-up.
Chung Jo spits, “Should I be a giseang and pretend I’m not? Like someone is a monster and pretends he isn’t?” Wow. That was too harsh. What is she doing? Is the salve in the pond all over again? She continues, “What’s worse? Facing what fate has given us or living lives in denial?” Without another word, she goes inside. Just inside the door, she stops and it looks like she’s struggling with whether to go tell Kang Chi she didn’t mean it. He just stands there and looks at the door.
As dawn approaches – I guess he didn’t go on patrol, then – he’s solemnly walking back to the training camp. Yeo Wool’s standing there waiting for him, dressed as usual, holding the hanbok in her hand. She’s staring down, scratching the dirt with her foot. He just looks at her, not knowing what to say. She looks up and sees him. A long moment where they just look at each other. He looks so defeated.
After a moment, Yeo Wool braces herself and runs over to Kang Chi, asking if he saw Chung Jo home. Still being a good friend. He nods, a little sad. She misunderstands why. He says, “And here you are again. The old you.” Way to kick a girl when she’s down. And she felt that kick and merely nods and grunts a yes. He softly smiles and says, “let’s go.”
Instead of just going, Yeo Wool tells Kang Chi that he cares for Chung Jo above everyone and that’s not going to change, is it? He doesn’t get what she’s saying. She apologizes, saying she still does that. Whatever that is. She turns and starts to go. He stands there stupidly for a second and then runs after her, grabbing her arm and spinning her around. He stands there, staring at her. His face begs her to understand, but instead, he blurts out, “I’m hungry.” Doh!
At least he knows this time that he’s just been stupid because he huffs a little and looks away, trying to cover, saying that there’s nothing like rice soup in the morning. She laughs a little. He nervously laughs but she stops smiling.
Meanwhile, back at the training camp, Song is reporting to Gon and Gong Dal that Kang Chi and Yeo Wool have been out, *together,* all night. Gon looks like he’s about to explode. Gong Dal can’t believe it. Gon basically screams that he’s going to *kill* Kang Chi. He starts to go make his words a reality when Gong Dal stops him with his broom, telling him to hold on and take it easy. Song runs over and grabs Gon’s other side, to help hold him back.
Gon doesn’t want to hear it. He demands they let him go so he can kill that Choi Kang-sleaze! Gong Dal tells him to pipe down or Pyung Joon might hear and then they’d both be dead. Gon starts to glare at Gong Dal as Gong Dal tries to appeal to his protective instinct towards Yeo Wool. Gon’s trying to process that when…
Pyung Joon shows up. He’s been looking for Gon. The trio turn to look at Pyung Joon and try to look normal. Gon’s trying to hold it together, for Yeo Wool’s sake. Song says, Master. Gon bows and Gong Dal says, “Good morning, Master Dam.” He chuckles a little, which causes Pyung Joon to ask what he’s laughing at. Gong Dol says that it’s nothing. All three of them are acting really weird. Song’s bug-eyed and smiley. Gong won’t meet Pyung Joon ’s gaze and Gong Dal’s being too airy. Gong Dal says that they’re out there exercising with Gon. Gon gives him a weird look. Right, Gon? Gon affirms it, gritting his teeth.
Pyung Joon is looking for Yeo Wool and asks Gon if she’s up yet. Gon’s eyes bug and he tries to think up something – since he’s a terrible liar – and Gong Dal butts in that he sent Yeo Wool on some errands early that morning. And Kang Chi? Gong Dal says he sent both of them. Then he smiles and giggles. Right, Gon? Again the gritted ‘Yes.”
Pyung Joon wants to see Yeo Wool when they return. Gong Dal hurries Pyung Joon on his way saying that he most definitely will. Then he whispers for Gon to behave himself. Gon's still shaking.
They’re interrupted by one of the students running in, calling urgently for Gon. It’s the jerk. Oh, no! The jerk says that it’s Kim. Kim’s propped in a tree, dead, drained. Why did it have to be Kang Chi’s one friend?! It does make sense, since Wol Ryung would want to finish catching the mouse he was stalking. Tae Seo walks up and sees the body. Gon looks very grim. Pyung Joon , Gong Dal, Song, Jin Song and the jerk are there too. Pyung Joon ’s concerned because Gong Dal’s sent Yeo Wool and Kang Chi on errands outside of camp. He wants to know exactly where they are. Gong Dal doesn’t exactly have an answer.
Yeo Wool and Kang Chi are in the village, eating some rice soup. Or rather, Kang Chi’s eating. Yeo Wool’s watching him eat. Two rough-looking types are watching them. Yeo Wool offers Kang Chi her soup. He’s surprised she’s not hungry and tells her she should eat a good breakfast. It doesn’t stop him from taking her soup, though. One of the rough types yells for the caretaker to take away their bowls. With all the trash around, he’s lost his appetite. Yeo Wool wants to know if the guy is talking about them. He snarks he’s talking about trash that repays kindness with murder. Kang Chi doesn’t respond, but Yeo Wool slams the table and marches over to them. She wants them to say it again.
Kang Chi tries to get her to leave it. She’s tired of him having to put up with it. He says that Moo Sol is dead because of him, because he didn’t stop it. He’s not going to respond to the insults and finger-pointing, because in the end he failed to protect his lord. The rough type snarks for them not to come back and to watch themselves. Yeo Wool responds with a cross kick to the face! Yes! She tells them to watch their backs. The rough type goes to punch her, but Kang Chi catches his fist and squeezes. Kang Chi just wants to leave it alone, but the guy’s not going to give up.
Bong Chool saunters up with his guys and talks about them starting trouble first thing in the morning. People run off and the rough guys are suddenly very apologetic. He’s surprised to see Kang Chi. Kang Chi asks if he survived and he says, ‘Of course.’ Bong Chool wants to know what the commotion is all about. No one answers so one of his men yells at Kang Chi, asking him if he’s deaf. Bong Chool turns around and slaps the guy on the forehead, calling him a doofus.
Bong Chool clarifies. Not Kang Chi and Yeo Wool. The other guys, staring pointedly at them. The trouble-makers are surprised and point at Kang Chi. Kang Chi’s surprised, too. Bong Chool continues: “What? You got up and thought you’d make trouble for my brother, Kang Chi here?’ His brother! Yay! Bong Chool turned over a new leaf!
Bong Chool’s guys are equally surprised. I guess Bong Chool didn’t share this change of heart with them. Now Kang Chi’s really surprised. Bong Chool calls the trouble makers nasty, rude, stupid, dumb-jerk-punks! Ending in a scream. He says he’ll give them what-for and raises his hand, making a guttural whacking sound. The two guys run off.
Bong Chool turns back to Kang Chi, all smiles, and hopes that the incident didn’t affect his digestion, gently patting Kang Chi's stomach. Kang Chi smacks his hand away because this is really weird. The doofus chimes up that this is Kang Chi! Bong Chool responds, “That’s right. Choi Kang Chi.” He needs to speak the name with respect. Or he won’t speak at all.
Kang Chi wants to know what’s gotten into Bong Chool. Bong Chool smarms, calling Kang Chi brother again. He may not make an honest living, but he doesn’t forget the man who saved his life.
Yeo Wool wants to know the story. Kang Chi says never mind and tells Bong Chool to stop talking. Of course, of course, because Kang Chi saved his life. If he needs anything, any time, anywhere, anyone, anything, he just needs to call Bong Chool and he’ll be there. Bong Chool gives Kang Chi this really unsettling wink. More than once.
Kang Chi and Yeo Wool walk off, with Bong Chool calling after them, see you soon! His men are bowing their goodbyes. Yeo Wool teases him about his nice friends. Kang Chi’s trying to recover from the weirdness.
Gon’s in the village looking for them. Yeo Wool sees him and hides her hanbok behind her. He rushes over to them. He’s got an urgent look on his face. The Master wants to see her. It just occurs to her that Pyung Joon might know that she stayed out all night. With Kang Chi! Kang Chi knows they didn’t do anything and huffs a c’mon. But then wants to know, too. Gon just glares at him. Gon says that there’s been ‘an accident’ with Kim. Kang Chi wants to know what’s happened to his friend.
Kim’s body lays covered in a sheet. Tae Seo and the other students stare at it. Kang Chi arrives. Immediately the jerk – I wish they would give him a name – asks him what he wants. He says that he needs to see the body. The jerk wants answers first. They want to know where he was last night. Tae Seo demands to know what they’re doing, treating a mourner in this way. The jerk is adamant that they need to know that he wasn’t involved before they treat him properly.
“He was with me all night.” Yeo Wool is talking to her father. Pyung Joon ’s confused, based on what he’d been told. She explains that they were watching lanterns all night at the festival. He is rightfully mad. Kwan Woong’s out to get Soon Shin. Everyone’s in danger. And she goes for a stroll?! She says that she felt bad for Kang Chi because of all the bullying he’s been getting. Pyung Joon wants to know why it has to be him? He never thought she would do this. He’s always trusted her and respected her judgment. But now–
Yeo Wool cuts him off, asking that he can’t trust and respect her judgment about Kang Chi? He says no. She starts to argue with him some more, but he cuts her off and doesn’t want to hear another word. Pyung Joon gets up and walks out.
Outside, Pyung Joon ’s intercepted by Tae Seo. Tae Seo’s decided to be a double agent. Seeing Kim’s body, he’s realized he can’t waste any more time. Pyung Joon wonders if Kwan Woong was involved. Tae Seo answers that Kwan Woong knows what Kang Chi is, that he can use the murder to put pressure on Kang Chi and the camp. At least Tae Seo’s thinking clearly again. Tae Seo wants to know what he should do, since he’s going to Century House.
Century House. Seo Hwa’s mixing up something. Soo Ryun has arrived. Seo Hwa wants to know why Soo Ryun is there. Soo Ryun says it’s to apologize for the young gisaeng from the night before. Seo Hwa comments that she’s been at the gisaeng house a long time. Yes, 23 years. Wow, she was only there about 3 years and she was already in charge. This seems to unsettle Seo Hwa a bit.
Seo Hwa says that Soo Ryun’s performance was actually impeccable, especially after not doing it for 10 years. Soo Ryun’s confused why she said what she did and Seo Hwa responds, how else would she get to see Soo Ryun in private? She says she manipulated the situation. And here you are. Soo Ryun asks, “And so you were insulting.” Seo Hwa’s apology is almost tender. Soo Ryun says she didn’t need to apologize and excuses herself.
Before Soo Ryun can leave, Seo Hwa asks Soo Ryun to invite her to the gisaeng house. Soo Ryun nicely says that ladies aren’t permitted on the premises. It’s not a place for idle sight-seeing. Seo Hwa wonders if that would change if she really wanted to go. Soo Ryun responds that there are two ways women enter the house: As a giseang or as the madam. She says goodbye and as she leaves Seo Hwa repeats her words about the giseang and the madam. Before Soo Ryun leaves Century House, she turns to look thoughtfully back at where Seo Hwa is.
Kwan Woong’s sure he’s seen the veiled lady before. He could swear he knows her. Ninja Soh asks him if he wants it looked into. Yes, but quietly and cautiously. He doesn’t want to get out of their favor. As Ninja Soh leaves, Kwan Woong wracks his brains as to where he’s seen her before.
In her room, the veiled lady is undressed by her servants. On her shoulder is the tattoo of the gisaeng house. The other shoulder bears the scars from where Wol Ryung grabbed her. As if we didn’t get it.
Training Camp. Kang Chi, Tae Seo, Yeo Wool and Gon are standing in front of Pyung Joon and Gong Dal. He’s giving Kang Chi the icy stare of death and doesn’t even acknowledge it when Kang Chi gives a bow. Gon looks uneasy. They all go and sit. Pyung Joon ’s called them all there for a reason. Tae Seo’s leaving the training camp and going to Century House. Kang Chi is shocked but Tae Seo says that they need to find out exactly what all Kwan Woong’s up to. Kang Chi doesn’t like that he’s going alone. Tae Seo points out that Kwan Woong doesn’t know he’s free of the spell. Kang Chi asks to be sent instead, but Pyung Joon shoots that down because of Soon Shin’s letter which vouches for him.
Aw, Dad’s really mad. Gong Dal’s now training Kang Chi and that’s going to be his primary job. Kang Chi is worried about the thing in the forest that killed Kim. Pyung Joon ’s giving that job just to Gon. Because Gon has super powers being half gumiho. No wait, that’s Kang Chi. Gon’s just a man who can get sucked dry if Wol Ryung grabs him. Gon reluctantly agees.
Pyung Joon turns to Yeo Wool. What’s he got in store for her? What! After this is all over, she and Tae Seo are going to get married. Gong Dal didn’t know that one was coming. Tae Seo says Master, but what he’s really saying is, no, she’s supposed to be with Kang Chi. Gon’s face is priceless. Stunned and horrified. And just blinking. Yeo Wool stutters that it’s all so sudden but Pyung Joon spouts that it isn’t; it was settled with Moo Sol a long time ago. So why has no one heard about it until now? I don’t believe him. She starts to protest but he tells her to behave herself. And then he’s really mean. She has to give up training and teaching and do lady stuff. No more pants; just a hanbok. Pyung Joon seals the conversation telling them they’re all to help Tae Seo and dismisses them. He leaves and Gong Dal follows after him.
Yeo Wool is trying to process what just happened. The look Kang Chi gives her is absolutely heartbreaking. Again, the girl he loves is going to have to marry someone else. At least this time she doesn’t want to and is going to fight it. She looks at him and after a moment, they can’t look at each other any more.
Gon looks like Pyung Joon has punched him in the stomach. Not only is he not getting the girl, but the guy that he was okay with her going to isn’t getting her either. His brother is. How’s that for returning his loyalty?
Tae Seo isn’t happy either, even though he’s in love with Yeo Wool. Because he knows that she loves Kang Chi and Kang Chi loves her. With her, Kang Chi finally isn’t alone. And who would want to marry someone who was in love with someone else?
Outside, Gong Dal’s talking to Pyung Joon . He calls what Pyung Joon ’s just done a bolt of lightning. Pyung Joon spouts that if he doesn’t set boundaries now, it will be harder later. But this so isn’t like you!
Yeo Wool leaves, with Gon trailing behind her. He keeps saying her name but she doesn’t want to talk to him.
Back inside, Tae Seo looks over at Kang Chi, who’s devastated. They don’t say anything, can’t say anything.
Yeo Wool reaches her room and slams the door closed behind her. Gon gently asks her if he can come in. She doesn’t answer. He says he’s opening the door. Oh, way to dig in the knife! Yeo Wool sits next to the hanbok she wore to the lantern festival. She doesn’t turn around or even acknowledge him. He starts to try to talk to her but she tells him to go away, that she wants to be alone. The tears are starting to come. Sadly Gon leaves. And then the tears won’t be stopped. Gon gets to listen to her sob as he stands outside her door.
Flashes of Kang Chi. The hanbok. And Yeo Wool’s tears.
Chung Jo fiercely practices the drums as she thinks about pulling away from Kang Chi when he came to rescue her, throwing the stones at him when he changed and telling him to stay away. Her face is tortured as the sweat pours. There’s Kang Chi with Yeo Wool in a hanbok smiling at him like a woman in love. Finally she drops one of the sticks, then the other. She sinks to the floor and tells herself to pull it together. She said she hates him, that he’s a monster.
A gisaeng opens the door and tells Chung Jo that she has a visitor. She gets cleaned up and goes to see who it is. Kwan Woong’s there with a bunch of the gisaengs. Wol Sun sits to his right. Gob Dan is also there. She’s very happy to see Chung Jo. Chung Jo is confused.
Kwan Woong says that Gob Dan’s a gift. I like how people are property. Gob Dan adds that she’s there to serve Chung Jo now. A gisaeng with a servant. How’s that going to work? Kwan Woong wants Chung Jo to return the favor. Wol Sun doesn’t look too happy that she’s not his pet anymore. He wants her to pour him a drink. Chung Jo says it’s not what she would call a gift, since he was the one who took her in the first place. Wol Sun chirps that Chung Jo is a shameless ingrate. Kwan Woong wants to know what gift *would* make her happy. What about Century House?
Wol Sun starts to rebuke her when Chung Jo interrupts her, declaring that until Kwan Woong does that (give her Century House), he can get rid of that little trap (Wol Sun) to ease her mind. Wol Sun gasps and asks Kwan Woong how long he’s going to put up with her mouth. Without even looking at her, Kwan Woong kicks her to the curb since that’s what Bluebird wants. Wol Sun is stunned and gasps, “How could you do this to me?” Kwan Woong says more loudly for her to leave, still not looking at her. Before she goes, she stops and exchanges looks with Chung Jo.
And Kwan Woong wants that drink. He’s impressed. Chung Jo says that she learned it all from him. He told her to do whatever she needs to, to survive. He chuckles. And she means to survive until she holds his cold dead heart in her hands. Bam! She says it with a smile. All the other gisaengs watch her do it. They’re shocked and it wipes the smile off Kwan Woong’s face. But instead of being upset, he says, “now that’s the look.” Just what he likes. She smiles demurely. He says that he’ll be waiting, right by her side, until she plunges the dagger into his heart. Then they share a smile and he drinks his tea.
Training Camp. Kang Chi sits counting his beans. Then he just stops, because what’s the point? Gong Dal asks him what’s got him so glum. Kang Chi looks in the direction of Gong Dal’s voice to find Gong Dal sitting right next to him, fanning himself. Kang Chi wasn’t expecting that and yells at him about sneaking up on people. Gong Dal asks him if he’s distracted now that Yeo Wool’s engaged. After a pause that says yes, Kang Chi says he’s not. Why don’t you just admit that you like her already? Kang Chi goes back to counting.
Gong Dal laughs and asks him what number he’s on. Kang Chi mutters six thousand something-hundred something. Randomly, Gong Dal asks him about taking off his bracelet. Kang Chi looks at him, shocked that he would suggest such a thing. He promised Master Dam that he would never take it off inside the camp. Gong Dal’s face says ‘yeah, right,’ as he asks ‘really?’ Kang Chi is adamant. Gong Dal is dubious but lets it go and tells him to get to counting.
As Gong Dal is about to leave, he nonchalantly asks, “Was it Yeo Wool? Was she what kept your demon at bay without the bracelet?” Kang Chi’s face reads ‘how did you know?’ And Gang Dal wonders aloud about how that works. Then he shuffles away as if perplexed by the whole thing. Kang Chi fingers the bracelet.
Flashback. Yeo Wool’s asleep on his shoulder. Slowly he takes the bracelet off, snapping his eyes closed as he does. And he waits. Nothing happens. He stays human. Smiling, he looks at Yeo Wool and then the bracelet.
Flashback. Kang Chi and Yeo Wool are looking at the lanterns. Kang Chi sneaks his hands behind his back and takes the bracelet off, closing his eyes again. The wind blows. Yeo Wool looks at him. Slowly he opens his eyes and then looks at her, asking ‘what?’ She smiles a nothing and goes back to looking at their wish. He can’t believe that he’s still human again.
Kang Chi’s voice says, “I’m not sure myself.” He thinks of when she held his hand and he returned to normal. “How do I control it when she’s with me?”
Kang Chi sits, fingering his bracelet and he smiles. Then something doesn’t feel right. Wol Ryung’s walked up behind him. Kang Chi turns around and sees him. He asks who he is. Wol Ryung says nothing. Kang Chi demands to know who he is. Wol Ryung smiles this malevolent half smile and just stares at him. Kang Chi jumps up, spilling the beans in the process. He turns to look at the beans and when he turns back around, Wol Ryung is gone. A wind blows and Kang Chi is creeped out.
Soon Shin’s fort. Soon Shin enters his office. Pyung Joon is there with Gon, Gong Dal, Tae Seo, and someone else out of frame. Pyung Joon tells them to pay their respects. Majestic music plays as Gon says, “At your service. Keeper of the attack seal. Gon.” He bows his head.
Gong Dal laughs that it’s his turn. “Keeper of the defense seal, Gong Dal.” He bows and Soon Shin returns the bow.
Tae Seo speaks, “At your service. Keeper of my late father’s finance seal. Park Tae Seo.” In response to his head bow, Soon Shin nods his head.
And the fourth… is Soo Ryun! She looks very honored to be there. “At your service. Keeper of the intelligence seal. Chun Soo Ryun.” Why am I a little choked up?
Pyung Joon announces that these four pillars – the Four Pillars! It’s so awesome that Soo Ryun is one of them! – will support Soon Shin like they were his shadow. They all swear their allegiance. Soon Shin is very grateful. He warns them that the road they will take with him may be thorny. A lonely road that none may know about. Pyung Joon replies that the road to defend their nation is never easy and they *cannot* let him take it alone.
Gong Dal offers, “If you will accept what little we can do, the honor will be ours.” I just realized. If Gong Dal’s one of the Four Pillars and he’s grooming Kang Chi to be his replacement, that means his replacement in this role, too! How awesome. And how stupid is Pyung Joon for not wanting his daughter to be with him? Yes, Tae Seo’s also a pillar, but if a sword is coming, what’s better, the pillar of finance or defence?
Soo Ryun says, “If you will accept our lowly assistance, our ears will be yours.” Soon Shin is just the man, because he has no problem with a gisaeng being one of the Four Pillars.
Tae Seo says, “We are your cane, to the last breath.” Whatever that means.
Gon doesn’t say anything.
Pyung Joon asks that Soon Shin accept their service. They all bow again.
Century House. Tae Seo sits in front of Kwan Woong and Ninja Soh. Kwan Woong sniffs that he’s here. Tae Seo responds that Kwan Woong told him it was his last chance. He’s there because of his sister, to save her from a life of misery. Kwan Woong wants to know what Soon Shin is doing with his bullion. Tae Seo tells him that Soon Shin’s building ships. What is their plan to be telling him that? Kwan Woong and Ninja Soh are surprised. Not just ordinary warships, but ironclads. Kwan Woong is perplexed but Ninja Soh looks very grim.
Flashback to the Four Pillars Meeting. Soon Shin is telling Tae Seo to do this as bait for Kwan Woong, to find out what he’s up to and what he’s told the Japanese. He wants to find out what Kwan Woong’s ambitions are.
Back to Kwan Woong. Kwan Woong wants to know what exactly ironclads are. Tae Seo’s even brought the plans for the weird turtle ships. I still don’t know how those two small sails and the oars are supposed to get the ship to move.
So Jung’s library. And he’s alive. Well, I guess that’s fortunate. He’s badly hurt though. It kinda looks like Wol Ryung has thrown him up against a wall.
Flashback. Wol Ryung repeats his question: who is the man he saw? So Jung answers that he’s Seo Hwa’s son. A twitch of Wol Ryung’s head as he says “Seo Hwa?” It’s almost as if he doesn’t know who that is. So Jung continues: His wife. The human, Seo Hwa. Wol Ryung matter-of-factly nods, as if remembering he needs to pick up his dry cleaning and asks about her having a son. There’s absolutely no emotional response out of him whatsoever. That’s not good. So Jung adds, “Your son.” Wol Ryung looks at him. I’m hoping this is sparking some sort of emotional response.
So Jung continues, “She was alone after what happened. She gave birth.” Wol Ryung wants to know where she is now. Is that a good sign? So Jung tells him that she died shortly after giving birth. At first, it looks like that means something to him but then he says, “Pity. I would have liked to kill her myself.” Wow. That’s cold. He really is evil. So Jung’s shocked at his words. Wol Ryung says that he’s come back TO DESTROY EVERYTHING. His eyes glow red and - yup, I was right - throws So Jung through the air to collide with the wall.
The present. So Jung can’t believe what’s happened to his friend. Although you knew the curse said that he would become a demon if he didn’t succeed… He mutters Kang Chi’s name and tries to get up.
Training Camp. Yeo Wool’s just found out that Kang Chi is no where to be found. Song and the jerk with no name tell her that they went to get him for dinner and he was gone. Evidently she hasn’t had to stop training or wearing pants yet, because she’s still carrying her sword and is in her uniform. And they’re reporting this to her. The jerk grouses that Kang Chi’s probably hunting people in the woods. Yeo Wool tells him to watch himself. He lips that she should watch herself, since you never know when he’ll turn on you. Like you’ve had so much experience with this.
Yeo Wool reminds the jerk of what Gong Dal said: innocent until proven guilty. The jerk gets mad at her (and Gong Dal) for always sticking up for Kang Chi. Why is she siding with him against them? Yeo Wool wants to know why he’s insisting there are sides. Why is he intentionally separating Kang Chi? He whines that Kang Chi isn’t human. Glaring at him, Yeo Wool says that Kang Chi came to the camp to learn how to be human. Although he has had plenty of practice already, but what she means is to learn to control the beast so he can be human again. Just like this jerk came to learn to be a better man. The jerk rolls his eyes at that. Song seems to be taking it to heart, since Kang Chi *was* his friend before all this happened. Yeo Wool says that she’s not taking sides. She’d stick up for the jerk if he was in the same situation. Then she walks off.
Pyung Joon ’s office. He’s not happy hearing that they just let her go alone into the forest. The jerk sputters that she didn’t give them much choice. Gon and Gong Dal are also there. And I would be giving the back of the jerk’s head a slap for such a lame excuse. Pyung Joon sighs. It’s your fault, dude. If you weren’t being such a butthead, this probably wouldn’t have happened. Kang Chi probably would have taken her with him when he left, or at least told someone what happened and where he was going. But since all he’s supposed to now be doing is counting beans, he’s not allowed to let anyone know that he’s going to do something like hunt down the thing that’s been killing people in the forest.
At the mention of his name, Gon says that he’s on his way. Aw. Glaring at the jerk he tells him to go with him. Gong Dal looks at Pyung Joon, hopefully to say what I was just thinking, and Pyung Joon sighs again.
Yeo Wool’s walking through the forest. And it’s dark. She’s yelling Kang Chi’s name. Shouldn’t you wait until you suspect that he *might* be around before calling out his name, seeing as there’s a man-killing it wandering around the forest. It could hear you. Kang Chi’s gone, why would he be out patrolling?
Too late. Wol Ryung’s heard her. He probably doesn’t realize she’s the girl in the hanbok that was with Kang Chi. There’s a rustling which catches her attention.
Kang Chi arrives at a very small house. The lights are on inside. He calls out, asking if Venerable is there. Oh, he means So Jung. There’s no answer but he goes inside anyway. That is one slow burning candle, seeing as it’s lasted almost a full day. He hears a noise and races to the library.
Not to be picky, but the outside of this house does not look big enough to have this library in it. Even if the entryway is sitting right off the front room, the front of that house is not wide enough to house both. I guess it could be on the *back* of the house, but I don’t think the set designers were paying that much attention to this point.
Kang Chi calls out for So Jung and finds him still leaning against the wall. So Jung gasps Kang Chi’s name and tells him to get out of there. He needs to get far, far away from there.
Yeo Wool’s still wandering the woods.
Kang Chi wants to know why So Jung is telling him to run away and keep running. Cryptically, So Jung says, “He’s back. He means to kill you.” Of course, Kang Chi wants to know who *he* is and So Jung gasps out, “Wol Ryung.” Does Kang Chi know what his father’s name is? Ah, then So Jung adds that it’s Kang Chi’s father. So Jung begs Kang Chi to run away to someplace his father can’t find him. Kang Chi just looks at him stunned. His father’s supposed to be dead. But he’s alive and back. Is that the man from the woods he’s kept on seeing?
Yeo Wool turns around quickly at the sounds of a bush rustling. A dark figure approaches. “Kang Chi? Is that you?” Instead it growls and has glowing red eyes. She draws her sword. I guess being around Kang Chi’s gumiho, this doesn’t scare her like it did everyone else. She demands he identify and show himself. He starts to run faster-than-the-eye circles around her. She starts to run. He’s chasing her.
Kang Chi busts out of So Jung’s house and starts running. Is he heading for the forest to confront his father?
Yeo Wool falls to the ground, exhausted. And her hair has fallen out. Oh, no! It looks like she fell because she twisted her ankle. She reaches for her sword but stops. Wol Ryung slowly steps out of the shadows. His eyes are back to normal but his expression is very much like a cat who’s pinned a mouse. They stare at each other and Yeo Wool thinks, “Kang Chi, help me!”
Kang Chi’s running and he stops, as if he can hear her thinking, ‘Choi Kang Chi!’ He says her name.
Wol Ryung walks over and squats down next to Yeo Wool. He reaches out and touches her chin, as if surveying her face. He smiles that malevolent half-smile. I wonder if he’s thinking about how much damage this might do Kang Chi when he kills her.
Kang Chi’s still standing there, with a freaked out look on his face. He says her name again as the episode ends.
Thoughts
Where to begin? We meet the Four Pillars and one of them is Soo Ryun. I’m also sorta surprised that Gon is, considering Kwan Woong’s comment about them being around years ago, but if Tae Seo is Moo Sol’s heir, it makes sense that Gon would be his father’s heir, too. Although, why does he not have a last name? All the rest of them said their whole name and he’s just Gon.
I thought that their pillars also made a lot of sense. Gon – offense: he is a great figher, skilled but also stealthy. Gong Dal – defense: he is a great fighter, too, but masquerades as a weak old man and watches all the time. Moo Sol/Tae Seo – finance: Moo Sol was abundantly blessed in his wealth and used his money well so that it grew, too; Tae Seo was managing his father’s money by the time this story began, so he is competent, too. It also makes sense that Moo Sol didn’t hesitate when Soon Shin asks for the money, since his heart is to protect Korea. And Soo Ryun as intelligence. This totally makes sense, since pillow talk has always been good for getting information, especially when someone’s fluffing your ego and you’ve drunk a lot of liquor. I wonder if the other gisaengs know that they’re providing this information. And like I said before, I think it is very cool that they don’t discount Soo Ryun because of her place in society. How did she end up with the job, since it’s not the most obvious choice? Props to the man who was open-minded enough to recognize her worth. Maybe it was Pyung Joon , since he’s pretty unconventional anyway. Or maybe the last Mrs. Dam.
And speaking of Pyung Joon , he went way too far this week with his reaction. Yes, his daughter stayed out all night with Kang Chi. But they were just looking at lanterns. She did neglect his escorting Chung Jo home, which is part of why they ended up out all night. She could have told him what happened: that they were together, but then Kang Chi left and she waited for him to come back. That’s *really* what happened. But his proclamations: way over the top. And I think it’s going to have reverberations down the line that he’s not going to like. Already Yeo Wool’s in danger because of his pronouncement. If he hadn’t forbidden Kang Chi from patrolling with Gon, Kang Chi probably would have told Gon about seeing Wol Ryung before running off to see So Jung. And most likely, he would have told Yeo Wool, but because of Pyung Joon ’s edict, they’re avoiding each other.
And what’s with his decision to make her be a lady? That’s totally stupid, since she’s a gifted fighter, “one of his best warriors.” She’s also a good teacher; not all fighters are. It’s completely way beyond reasonable, since it’s making her into someone she’s not and denying her doing things that she loves. Plus, what was he thinking she was going to be like when she *got* married? He probably was avoiding thinking about it, but did he really think that she would immediately be content to just hang out, cooking and cleaning the house? I see her continuing to be a fighter when she ends up married to Kang Chi, because that’s one of the things that he loves about her, and if he refused, she’d beat him up and then ignore him.
Plus, I really think this is going to cause issues between Pyung Joon and Gon. Gon might not even be aware of it, but I think that Pyung Joon broke his trust some with his pronouncement that she would marry Tae Seo. Not only did he not consider the guy that’s taken care of her all these years, who would be able to in the future, and is his second in command, but he’s giving her away to someone she doesn’t love. Two slaps in the face. He’s not worthy and Pyung Joon doesn’t care about how the woman he loves feels. According to Yeo Wool, he’s always done everything that Pyung Joon ’s asked without question. I think that Gon’s going to start questioning and hesitating. He’s not going to give his unwavering support anymore, because it basically was stomped and spit upon.
I wonder what he was going to say to Yeo Wool when he entered her room. How was he going to comfort her? And how is Gong Dal going to get Pyung Joon to see reason and be reasonable?
I love the idea that Gong Dal is training Kang Chi to be his replacement and not just at the camp. I really think that he sees that Kang Chi could be the next Pillar and is working on getting him there. Gong Dal is the typical wise old man and I love that he is. I love that type of character, because they know what they’re talking about and have ‘permission’ to be brash and impolite. I love how he’s poking Kang Chi into realizing his feelings for Yeo Wool. I also wonder if he saw Kang Chi take the bracelet off, that’s how he knew to ask.
Kang Chi without the bracelet! I love that he’s learning to control the beast within and that it’s tied to Yeo Wool. It makes sense, because in a lot of ways, his identity *is* tied to her. After becoming a gumiho, she’s the person who reminded him who he *is* and she keeps reminding him that he’s *him* whenever Kang Chi starts doubting himself. And even gh’d out, he knows that she doesn’t see him as a monster, but as himself. She doesn’t have an unrealistic view of him, either, because she doesn’t hold back in acknowledging his mistakes, but she loves him anyway. I think this wouldn’t be as much of the case if he didn’t know, subconsciously, that she loves him, but because he does, it makes her support all the more powerful. But I love that he tested it out himself and it didn’t just happen on accident. I love that he’s fighting to be a man and doing things that make that happen.
I am sad that Kim is dead, because he had become Kang Chi’s friend and now Kang Chi’s alone again, particularly since he can’t hang out with Yeo Wool and Gon anymore. When is Jin Song going to step up and tell the jerk and his friends to shut up? And when will the jerk be given a name so I can stop calling him the jerk?!
And speaking of jerks, Kwan Woong is just skeevy. Chung Jo is rude and tells him that she’s going to hold his cold dead heart in her hands and he’s turned on. I am very happy that he’s got two women gunning for him: Chung Jo and Seo Hwa. (Yay, that I don’t have to call her the veiled lady anymore since they’ve officially confirmed that it’s her.) I wonder when he’s going to figure out who Seo Hwa is. It’s probably when she’s planned for him to do so. Because she’s got some long term strategy going. Little things she does says Kwan Woong is very much the fly being lured into the spider’s web.
I wonder why Seo Hwa wanted to speak with Soo Ryun. I also wonder about why she was unnerved when she realized that Soo Ryun is the woman she knew all those years ago. And is she planning on dressing up as a giseang some point in the future?
I’m loving Chung Jo’s transformation. And I’m loving seeing Wol Sun get hers. Kwan Woong kicking her out at Bluebird’s request. Awesome. I am a little worried about how she’s going to retaliate, though. She might not seeing as Bluebird is Kwan Woong’s pet and he would kill her if she did something to his pet. And it will be interesting to see the reaction to Chung Jo’s conversation with Kwan Woong where she told him she was going to kill him and he liked it.
I wonder how things are going to play out when Seo Hwa is revealed, since Chung Jo’s path and hers were so similar and it was done by the same man. And will Chung Jo be trained as Soo Ryun’s Pillar successor? That would be interesting. I do hope that she doesn’t become an impediment to Kang Chi and Yeo Wool’s relationship down the road. I have a feeling she’s going to tell him one day that she just sees him as a Kang Chi and not a monster. I just hope when she does, he’s already in a really good place with Yeo Wool that he says, ‘thank you,’ and that’s about it.
Wol Ryung and So Jung. That was really sad, seeing no emotional reaction to Seo Hwa’s name. I know I’ve said this before, but I really hope that she can redeem him, when she reveals himself, because I really want that smiling man back. The book that talked about the Book of Nine. So Jung said that according to that book, Wol Ryung would be cursed to be a demon for a 1,000 years. But is that because he didn’t complete the trial, to where it’s inevitable, or is it because his heart was broken and since he doesn’t know how to be human, that’s his reaction? Would he have been condemned if Seo Hwa hadn’t betrayed him? I’m inclined to think that it’s not inevitable but because of his broken heart that he’s now so murderously evil.
What are his plans, anyway? He’s stalking his son, which is creepy. That malevolent smile. And right now he’s got his fingers on Yeo Wool’s chin. Is this going to be a Skywalker situation, where the son is going to be able to redeem the father? I hope so.
I’m wondering how this confrontation with Wol Ryung’s going to play out. I already know that Kang Chi’s going to get there in time to save Yeo Wool, but I’m hoping that Gon and the jerk are there so the jerk can see the monster and Kang Chi. He’s one of the loudest against Kang Chi, so that would go a long way towards their groveling moment.
There was that question about who killed Kim, that hadn’t really been answered in my mind. I do wonder if perhaps he was put there by Kwan Woong, because his color was a lot bluer than the other bodies and why would Wol Ryung toss him into a tree after he was finished?
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