Yeo Wool is wandering the forest, looking for Kang Chi. Wol Ryung appears. So Jung tells Kang Chi that his father is back and means to kill him. We get more of their conversation, as we watch Wol Ryung play cat and mouse: “My father? You said he died.” “He’s returned as a demon. He means to destroy anything to do with Seo Hwa. You’re her son. He’ll destroy you and anyone close to you.” Again So Jung begs him to run.
Yeo Wool falls, having twisted her ankle. Wol Ryung shows himself. She thinks, “Kang Chi, help me!” Kang Chi stops running and says her name. Did he hear her thoughts or did he smell her? Because he’s done that before. And after he stopped, he changed direction. Wol Ryung surveys her face. This time she tries to grab her weapon, but he grabs her wrist and stops her, his gaze never wavering. That creepy smile. Yeo Wool looks afraid.
Kang Chi’s looking around the forest for Yeo Wool. He yells her name. Wol Ryung tells her not to make a sound. She asks who he is and what he wants. He says he’s Wol Ryung. He asks her name and she identifies herself as Dam Yeo Wool, training instructor. Wol Ryung asks if she’s the daughter of Dam Pyung Joon. She blinks at him. I would have said ‘no.’ There is something not right about this guy and he knows your dad’s name. That’s where you say ‘no’ quickly. But her non-answer is his affirmative. Not good.
Wol Ryung wants to know how she knows Kang Chi. So I guess he doesn’t recognize her as the girl in the hanbok that his son was smiling at. She doesn’t answer but asks if Wol Ryung knows him. Wol Ryung says that he knows his father, the demi-god her father killed 20 years ago. Rut-roh! Your secret’s out, Pyung Joon! She’s seriously going to be more unhappy with her father.
When Yeo Wool is shocked, Wol Ryung asks her, “You didn’t know? Dam Pyung Joon killed Choi Kang Chi’s father.” Now how does Wol Ryung know this, that the man who killed him was Pyung Joon? He didn’t know Kang Chi was his son nor what happened to Seo Hwa. How does he know the man who killed him’s name?
She’s horrified that her father did this and Wol Ryung says, “So you didn’t know.” He leans in close to her face and asks her whether Kang Chi’s in the dark, too. Yeo Wool’s eyebrows twitch with mine, as I think, why does that matter to you? You’re dead inside and very evil. Why would it matter if your son knew the identity of who murdered you?
Yeo Wool uses this moment to grab her sword and jump backwards. She holds the blade to Wol Ryung’s throat. She demands to know who he is and how he dares say such things. The light from her blade is illuminating Wol Ryung’s face so that it’s almost glowing. Wol Ryung just smiles at her and stands up. He tells her that he should warn her. Weapons can’t hurt him. She goes to strike him, but he grabs her and turns the blade around so that it’s at her own throat. His eyes could burn holes in her skull.
Yeo Wool screams and Kang Chi hears it. He runs in its direction. We see the arm holding her sword drop and then we see Yeo Wool sink to her knees, clearly shaken. She’s unharmed. Kang Chi finally finds her. He says her name but she doesn’t respond. Even when he’s squatting in front of her, saying her name, she doesn’t react. Finally she looks at him. He takes her face in his hands. Desperately he asks her if she’s hurt. He starts looking at her to see if she’s hurt, since she’s saying nothing. She’s starting to gasp.
Kang Chi asks Yeo Wool what she saw. She just starts to cry and grabs him, to where they’re hugging. He’s crying, too, relieved that nothing happened to her. He holds her and pats her back to try and comfort her. Is Gon going to show up now? Kang Chi looks around the forest as she cries, guarding her.
Century House. Kwan Woong stares at the drawing of the turtle boat.
Flashback. Tae Seo tells him that Soon Shin is building ironclads. Kwan Woong wonders if Soon Shin can really do it. Tae Seo tells Kwan Woong that they're not built, so he’s not sure. But that’s where Kwan Woong’s bullion went. Kwan Woong want to know how he can be sure this isn’t false. Tae Seo could be giving him this as a fakeout. Tae Seo responds that he’s standing at a precipice, with no handholds, no steps, no way back. Even despite all that, he’s doing everything he can to help his sister while hanging on by his toes. His voice is indignantly angry. He’s hanging on however he can to save her, so Kwan Woong shouldn’t push him over the edge. Considering he tried to kill Kwan Woong not really long ago, this response rings very true. He practically spits out, “Don’t you dare accuse me. Understood?” I wonder who came up with that response, him or Soon Shin.
Looking at the plans, Kwan Woong wonders aloud if Tae Seo is telling the truth. I guess he was conferring with Ninja Soh, since he’s there too. Ninja Soh says that with what they know of the Navy, it would be impossible for them to build them at this point. So Ninja Soh thinks it’s a trick intended to trap Kwan Woong. Even though they think this, they’re going to try to find out for sure.
Forest. Kang Chi is wrapping Yeo Wool’s ankle, *with* her sock still on. He wants to know how she hurt herself. She thinks of Wol Ryung telling her that her father murdered Kang Chi’s father. She just says that something startled her. He scolds her for running into the woods at night. She says that he left and she was worried. Sternly he tells her that these woods are no place for a woman, even a fearless one. I can’t believe he just said that. Yeah, he added the fearless part, but why’s it okay for a man to be out there?
Yeo Wool doesn’t get mad him, but asks him, “So now I’m a woman?” Kang Chi says ‘duh’ and asks if he’s supposed to call her a man. She asks him again about seeing her as a woman. He laughs and then blusters, “What am I, blind?” Yes, you were for quite some time, Kang Chi. He says that yes, she’s, um, a woman. They have a little moment and then look away from each other, Kang Chi clearing his throat. A little uncomfortable and I’m struck by the fact that he still has his hands around her leg. Eventually he goes back to dressing her ankle and smiles to himself.
Kang Chi finishes and offers to help Yeo Wool up. Which means there’s a little skinship. And then he’s a little too firm with his yank, because she pretty much flies into his chest. And she hasn’t put her hair back up, either. Significant staring as they continue to hold hands. He’s looking at her lips. For a long time. And swallowing. And blinking furiously. Softly he says, “we should get back.” Her dad will worry. She reluctantly agrees, but he still doesn’t let her go. He’s looking at her lips again. He rumbles, “Right.” She echoes him. And then he walks off.
Yeo Wool just watches Kang Chi walk away. After a few steps he stops and turns around. He’s forgotten his weapon. He awkwardly picks it up and passes her boot to her before walking away again. Pretty darn funny. She laughs at him.
Century House. Tae Seo is walking with Eok Man and Ma Reum. I don’t know if that’s the best idea, if you’re trying to be a double agent, since Kwan Woong knows they’re allied with Kang Chi. Ma Reum remarks that it’s all changed but Kwan Woong doesn’t seem to care. Eok Man doesn’t get why Kwan Woong stole it in the first place, if he isn’t going to take care of it. Ma Reum nervously looks around and shushes him because the rats have ears. Ironic that Kwan Woong calls them rats. Tae Seo asks Ma Reum is he thinks he can get Century House back. Does he dare dream of the future? His eyes are glistening now and I’m thinking, don’t make me cry, Tae Seo!
“Son of Park Moo Sol of Century House, Park Tae Seo.” The emissary is telling Seo Hwa who Tae Seo. He’s a man of wit and insight. How does he know that? He escaped from jail and now he’s under Kwan Woong’s spell. Seo Hwa remarks that Tae Seo’s the right age, if ‘he’ lived. Is she talking about her son? She must not know that it’s Kang Chi. The emissary clarifies that she means her son. So she has told him everything.
Forest. Kang Chi and Yeo Wool are walking. She steps wrong and yelps. When Kang Chi asks if she can still walk, she says that she’s fine. Ah! It’s the piggyback moment! He squats down and tells her, with a smile, to hop on. She looks at him like he has two heads. She protests that she’s fine. He tells her not to be coy and to hop on. He is such a dork! Yeo Wool refuses: “I said no. This is weird.” He stands up and asks her, “Do you want me to carry you?” She’s shocked. He says that it’s her choice: in his *arms* or on his back. He phrased it better than I was thinking!
Yeo Wool continues to protest that it’s just a sprain. It’s not broken. She can walk. So Kang Chi just picks her up, in a very manly fashion. She’s staring at him, shocked. Staring moment and then he says, “Carrying it is.” She tells him to put her down. He refuses. She complains that it’s a long way for him to carry her. Nope. He’ll wear himself out. He hisses at her to stop talking. All this from a wisp of a girl? He tells her to stop talking and being coy, and let him take care of her.
And then Kang Chi’s a dork again because he frowns and asks her, “Isn’t that like Women’s Basic Training?” Not wanting to totally prove him right, she mutters that she just feels bad about him having to carry her. He tells her he could carry her all night. Aw. She’ll just have to put up with it. What I would love to have happen is eventually he gets tired and then makes her get on his back. But this is really sweet, too.
Yeo Wool stops protesting and Kang Chi smiles and tells her that she’s being a good girl. Me, I would get mad, but Yeo Wool doesn’t. Or at least some humiliating point in the future I would tell him that he’s being a good boy. As they walk, Yeo Wool tells Kang Chi thank you. He just smiles and grunts his yes.
Oops! Here’s Gon with a bunch of the student in tow. And Kang Chi’s carrying Yeo Wool. Gon sees them and his face gets livid. Yeo Wool sputters Gon’s name and his mouth twitches as he tries not to explode. Then he steps aside and we see that Pyung Joon is right behind them. So part of his expression is not so much because they’re together but that Pyung Joon is going to see Kang Chi carrying Yeo Wool. They’re both freaked now. Yeo Wool better really play up the sprained ankle is all I’m saying. To say that Pyung Joon looks like he’s about to blow his top is not an exaggeration.
They’re back at the Training Camp. Pyung Joon storms into his office, with Yeo Wool right behind him. Aw, girl! I told you to play up that twisted ankle! He lays into her: “Are you deaf? Behave, I said! And you’re running around at night?!” Wow, I’m really surprised he hasn’t popped a blood vessel. Yeo Wool repeats that she sprained her ankle. He yells that she’s engaged to Tae Seo. Which has anything to do with the sprained ankle? Yeo Wool yells, “So you said! You never asked me!” And then he hides behind the law, that it requires him to do so. Really?
Immediately she goes to the elephant in the room. “Is this about Kang Chi? I was told that you killed Kang Chi’s father. Did you? Is that why you’re so hard on him? So distant?” Pyung Joon doesn’t deny it but asks if Kang Chi knows. She says he doesn’t know anything. Pyung Joon wants to know who told her. Before she answers, she wants to know why he did it. Pyung Joon sighs. It was a long time ago. He won’t say. She protests and he shuts her down, telling her that they’re done talking and to leave. Then he walks away.
Flashback. Wol Ryung has Yeo Wool’s blade at her throat. “I thought as much.” He tells her that she’s attacking an innocent, just like her father. How is he innocent? He’s killed at least three people and is planning on killing his own son. Yeo Wool is certain that her father wouldn’t attack an innocent man. Wol Ryung sputters, “And a god? If he were innocent?” She whispers, ‘never.’ Wol Ryung says that what he’s said is all true.
Yeo Wool is now in her room. She shakes her head and doesn’t want to believe it. Even though Pyung Joon just told her that he did kill Kang Chi’s father. She feels bad for poor Kang Chi.
Kang Chi sits in his room. He sighs and looks up at the ceiling.
Pyung Joon’s study. Gon has entered. Pyung Joon has sent for him. He wants Gon to keep Yeo Wool away from Kang Chi. Gon looks at Pyung Joon, disconcerted by the request.
Gon is now telling Yeo Wool that she’s confined to her quarters. She can’t believe it. And neither can I. She tells Gon to get out of her way so she can go talk to her dad. Gon steps into her path and tells her she can’t. She yells for him to move. Calmly, he tells her that guards will be posted at her door. If she leaves her room, Gon and her guards will take her punishment. At least her dad knows what would really hurt her. She can’t believe her father said that. Gon says that Pyung Joon is serious about it. He asks her, please, for once, just follow orders. Yeo Wool sighs. She asks where Kang Chi is. Gon clenches his jaw and doesn’t answer.
Feet walking sneakily. We see Tae Seo standing in a room. The feet walk closer. As they enter the room, Tae Seo turns and says, "Who’s there!" And is quickly shushed by Kang Chi, who’s dressed just in black. Alarmed, Tae Seo starts to ask what Kang Chi is doing there, but stops when he sees Kang Chi carrying a sword. Again Kang Chi signals for him to stop talking. Tae Seo gets what’s going on.
Coldly, Tae Seo asks Kang Chi what he wants. Kang Chi wants to ask him something, murder on his breath. He steps forward and asks Tae Seo if he stole Soon Shin’s plans for the ironclads. Tae Seo innocently asks what ironclads are. Kang Chi clarifies that it’s the warships the admiral is building. Or didn’t he know?
They exchange a look and Tae Seo looks down at Kang Chi’s sword. “Tae Seo, did you betray us?” Tae Seo retorts that he’ll do what he has to in order to protect Chung Jo, since she’s all he has left now. Kang Chi declares, “So you’re a traitor.” Tae Seo spits ‘know your enemy and yourself…’ Kang Chi’s puzzled. Tae Seo finishes, with a sneer: ‘and victory is assured.’ Then he spins around and grabs a candlestick. Dramatic fighting. Then Kwan Woong steps into the room and says, “that’s enough.” It wasn’t Kang Chi but Ninja Soh! Tae Seo acts surprised. I’m surprised. I thought maybe it was a set up with someone overhearing their conversation. I forgot that Ninja Soh could do this. It’s weird, though, that Ninja Soh kept shushing him.
Ninja Soh sheaths his sword and declares that Tae Seo isn’t lying. He’s sure of it. Tae Seo demands to know what’s going on. Kwan Woong sneers that he just wanted to make sure that Tae Seo’s allegiance was real. Tae Seo sneers that he’s *not* with Kwan Woong. He’s with his sister. He goes against his conscience for her, not him. This is a good plan. And Tae Seo’s selling it!
Kwan Woong sneers, “Conscience? Who needs that?” Conscience relies on justice and goodness. It’s a sham that gets in the way. All that matters is what you get. Kwan Woong tells him that he and his sister’s old lives are gone; he’s like the rest of them now. Now, that’s an interesting statement. I though Kwan Woong considers himself noble. In this state, how is he like the rest of ‘us’? He chuckles arrogantly and leaves, with Ninja Soh behind him. After they’re gone, Tae Seo finally lets out the breath he was holding.
So Jung’s House. Evidently Kang Chi (since no one else really knows where So Jung lives) has carried him up the stairs and put him to bed. So Jung wakes to find a bucket of water at his side. Kang Chi is sleeping sitting up at his feet. So Jung wakes him. Kang Chi asks how he is and if he can get up. Kang Chi’s brought some of Gong Dal’s special tincture of red ginseng. Kang Chi doesn’t quite remember it’s full name, but it’s supposed to cure what ails you.
So Jung is not happy to see Kang Chi. Even though he probably just saved your life. Why didn’t Kang Chi run away like he told him to? Kang Chi’s irritated; the thought that he would leave a hurt man. So Jung tells him that there’s no time for debate. His father is looking to kill him. Kang Chi is skeptical. God or not, there’s such a thing as feelings. What kind of father kills his son? The kind that’s become an emotionless demon, that kind.
So Jung tells him to watch out or die. Kang Chi retorts that So Jung told him he couldn’t die. Apparently demigods can kill each other. Kang Chi wasn’t planning on that answer, but stoically he declares that this means he can kill his father, too. So Jung grouses about how he’s frustrating. He won’t stand a chance against Wol Ryung. Why not? So Jung wants to know why he would start a fight he can’t win. Because he dared… to lay his hands where they don’t belong. He knows what Yeo Wool saw in the forest. So Jung sighs.
Kang Chi declares that he won’t be stopped and he needs a safe place to go. So Jung starts to protest. Kang Chi tells him not to worry, since he knows who his father is. After all, there’s the saying, ‘know your enemy and yourself…’ Ah, Moo Sol must have taught them that. Good looking out, Tae Seo, that you weren’t really fighting the real Kang Chi. So Jung sighs, ‘And victory is assured.’ Kang Chi scoffs at that answer. “I know you. I know me. We’ll be enemies or friends. Am I right?” I guess Kang Chi wasn’t quite paying attention.
Switches to Tae Seo laughing, “Right. That’s what you would have said.” He laughs again. Aw. He knows his brother.
Kang Chi leaves So Jung’s house, telling him to get some rest. Wol Ryung’s in the distance, watching. How does he not sense Wol Ryung’s there? As he walks, he hears the rustle of the bushes from Wol Ryung’s running and stops. Nothing’s behind him. He sighs in relief and start to go again, but there’s a flash through the bushes. He turns behind him again. Slowly he creeps toward where there was rustling. Wol Ryung’s standing there out of view.
Wol Ryung growls and his eyes go red. Kang Chi sees it and glares back at him. He goes to move towards Wol Ryung when vines wrap themselves around his legs. How is this fair? Wol Ryung’s a demon but he still can control the forest? Kang Chi fights to get free and you can see that it’s a struggle for Wol Ryung.
The vines are creeping up Kang Chi’s body, I guess you need to start carrying a sword, or at least a knife. He continues to struggle against them. Wol Ryung’s eyes go back to normal. There’s a moment where he looks at Kang Chi and then he runs off. Kang Chi’s able to get free of the vines, now, and stares at them shocked that his father was able to do that.
Kang Chi returns to the training camp, yelling for Yeo Wool. The students are practicing in the courtyard. He runs up to Song and asks him where she is. In the training hall? Her quarters? He *really* needs to see her. Gon approaches and asks Kang Chi why he needs to see her. Kang Chi excitedly runs over to Gon, grabbing his arms and sputtering about these vines that were all over him and is was creepy! Gon’s like, ‘what?’ Kang Chi says forget it. He’ll just tell Yeo Wool. Deadpan, Gon tells him that she’s been confined to quarters. Kang Chi is shocked.
Yeo Wool is incredibly bored. She’s sitting across from an elegantly dress woman who declares that she is there to serve her. And to also instruct her. Instruct her? In what? Embroidery. Or Sewing. Ah!!!! Yeo Wool has my reaction. But first, she needs proper attire. It’s a hanbok.
Yeo Wool, huffing, steps out of her room and orders the guard to tell her father that she needs to see him immediately! She’s brought to his study where he’s nonchalantly looking at a book. What does she need? She slams the table and blurts out: “Sewing? You want me to sew?!” Without looking up at her, he tells her she’s engaged now and sewing is women’s work.
“Remember the sword’s heft, you said.” This gets Pyung Joon to look at Yeo Wool. “Train to help others, you said.” He tells her to be a woman, lay down arms and be a wife. It’s his will. He slams his book shut and starts to leave.
“Only if it’s Kang Chi!” This gets Pyung Joon to stop. What was that? Yeo Wool declares that either she lives with Kang Chi (meaning married) or not at all. Does that mean she’ll never get married or she’ll stop herself from living? She dares say that to her father? What father would give his daughter to a demon? Her mouth drops.
Pyung Joon yells, “Suppose he learns that I killed his father, what then?” You’re giving Kang Chi too little credit, dude. “If he wants revenge, what then?” I’d talk him out of it, is what I would have said, but Yeo Wool says nothing. Please, Pyung Joon asks, don’t ask him to spill innocent blood again. How does that even make sense? Either he’s a demon or he’s innocent blood. It’s not both! Pyung Joon leaves and Yeo Wool sinks to her knees.
Kang Chi’s talking with Gon. He doesn’t see how confining a perfectly healthy woman makes any sense. It’s stupid. Stupid or not, Gon tells him that it’s his fault. He wants to know what he did. Gon tell him that he forced Pyung Joon’s hand with his “carrying on.” He’s got a very irritated look on his face, like he really wants to punch Kang Chi. Gon tells him that he’s not to go near Yeo Wool. Gon’s starting to grit his teeth.
Kang Chi looks at Gon and tells him that they can’t lock up her heart. Aw. Gon barely reacts. He says it again: they can’t chain her heart. This gets a reaction as Gon tells him to watch his mouth. He can’t believe the gall of Kang Chi. Kang Chi declares that they should banish him, if they have to, but don’t punish Yeo Wool. Gon scoffs at him that he shouldn’t worry, that’s coming for him. He throws something at Kang Chi’s chest. It’s black and has bells on it. He tells him to put it on.
Kang Chi wants to know why he has to put the black fabric on. Gon twitches and responds, “Because I say so.” Classic parent-to-child line! It’s a belt. Kang Chi ties it on and asks if it’s okay like that. Gon suddenly pulls out his sword and swings at Kang Chi. It’s so fast a surprised Kang Chi doesn’t move. Kang Chi looks down at the belt. One of the bells falls to the floor. He looks back up at Gon as Gon sheaths his sword.
Kang Chi wants to know what all that was. Gon sternly says ‘nine left.’ Hunh? For three days, Kang Chi is supposed to leave the bells on. Ignoring Kang Chi asking what will happen if he doesn’t wear the belt, Gon continues. When the last bell falls, he leaves forever.
Kang Chi laughs in disbelief. Is he the master now? Who is Gon to tell him to leave? Gon sighs. It’s not like this side of Kang Chi is new. Stop being so angry at him for the trouble that Yeo Wool is in. It’s because her dad’s got a guilty conscience. I actually don’t think that Pyung Joon’s told Gon why they need to be separated. He’s just relying on Gon to think it’s solely because of what’s happening in their relationship. What’s Gon going to do when he finds out Pyung Joon’s real reason?
Gon partially pulls out his sword to show that it’s engraved with plum blossoms. He says, “One of the Four Pillars. Keeper of the Plum Blossoms.” Although why plum blossoms for the pillar of attack? What? Kang Chi looks closer at the sword. Gon’s one of the Four Pillars?! Gon repeats that he has three days and then Kang Chi’s gone. He turns and walks off leaving an astonished Kang Chi behind him. He can’t even speak, he’s so shocked.
Fists slam a table. Yeo Wool is now in a hanbok. She screams that “This is dumb!” Her teacher frowns and puts the sewing craft on the table. Yeo Wool can’t sew with words; she needs to use her hands. Yeo Wool stares at her, flabbergast.
Kang Chi is in the kitchen with Gong Dal. Gong Dal’s making some sort of dough ball while Kang Chi’s still reacting to what he’s just been told. He lets out a grunt and slaps a wall. Kang Chi thinks it’s completely stupid that Gon’s one of the “oo-la-la” Four Pillars. Since when is Gon that good? Their standards must be slipping. Gong Dal tells him not to underestimate Gon because his swordsmanship rivals Pyung Joon’s.
Kang Chi snorts since Gon just runs after Yeo Wool like a puppy. From behind him, Gon cuts off another bell. What? What for? With a smug look on his face, Gon says ‘8 to go’ and walks away. Kang Chi yells after him that he’s a cheater for sneaking up on him. Gong Dal laughs and says that you need rules to cheat. So this is totally arbitrary? If I were Kang Chi, I would just sit up on that balcony counting beans, not talk to anyone, and go to bed when it was time until those 3 days were over.
Gong Dal snorts that at this rate, Kang Chi’s not even going to last a day. Kang Chi grimaces as Gong Dal holds out one of the balls, telling him that they’re a fresh batch of red ginseng pills. He should try one to keep up his strength. Kang Chi grimaces and says no, thank you. He hears footsteps behind him. Yelling, he spins around, holding out a spoon to defend himself. It’s not Gon. It’s Song. Song asks him if something’s wrong. Handing Song the spoon, he pats Song’s shoulder and tells him ‘no’ and leaves. Song turns to Gong Dal and asks if they’ve started the Bell-o-Rama. Gong Dal laughs yes and Song mutters that Kang Chi should start packing. How is Gong Dal so nonchalant about this? Isn’t this guy going to be your successor? Gong Dal tells Song that they’ll have to wait and see. I guess he thinks that Kang Chi’s going to surprise them.
Kang Chi’s out in the courtyard grimacing with pain, rushing for the bathroom. Gon bursts out and cuts off a bell. Seven to go. Kang Chi mutters, turd, before using the outhouse.
Kang Chi goes to the water bowl and splashes water on his face. Through his legs. Six to go. How is this fair?! This time he runs up behind Gon and tries to grab his shoulder. Gon quickly pins him uncomfortably. Kang Chi stomps on his foot, which get Gon to let him go. He goes to punch Gon and instead Gon jabs him in the stomach with the hilt of his sword. Gon goes to draw his sword but Kang Chi catches his hand. They quickly look at each other. Gon looks a little shocked Kang Chi did that. Kang Chi slams the sword back in its hilt. Gon spins around him. Orienting himself, Kang Chi goes to face Gon again. Gon sighs as if to say ‘this guy!’ and holds up his sword. Kang Chi laughs and mutters.
Kang Chi grabs for the sword and Gon pulls it away. He tries again. No luck. The third time, he loses his balance and Gon lies on his back. He actually looks like he’s enjoying this. He pulls his sword while twirling away and another bell is gone. Kang Chi is super frustrated. Resolutely, Gon says ‘five’ and walks off, but it looks like he has a smile on his face. After grunting after him, Kang Chi covers up the belt with his hands.
Yeo Wool is sewing. After poking herself – probably not the first time – she throws down her fabric and declares that it’s hopeless. She tells the teacher that this sewing is not for her. The needle pokes up wherever. The teacher replies that she knows the sword. A needle is smaller. Yeo Wool protests that she’s practiced the sword for years that it’s like her own arm. Her teacher purses her lips and says that she should approach the needle like a sword, even swishing it like a sword for emphasis. Yeo Wool whines that there’s no form or moves to sewing. Setting down her needlework, her teacher tells her that nothing happens overnight. She needs to keep at it, stitch-by-stitch, until she succeeds. Yeo Wool starts again and promptly pokes herself.
Kang Chi is walking, holding two of the bells in his hand. He sighs. Dude, I’m telling you, go count your beans. Suddenly he spins around to fend off an attack. Nothing’s there. He mutters to himself about how long he’ll have to keep it up. Gon told you, 3 days. Kang Chi’s actually outside the camp.
Kang Chi stops and remembers the vines from his encounter with Wol Ryung. He decides he’s going to practice that move. Walking over to a vine, he puts his hand out and mutters, ‘grow, grow.’ Nothing happens. He was sure they were climbing. He stops and looks at his bracelet. He takes it off and closes his eyes. A strong wind blows. His eyes turn green but that’s it. He tries again. This time it works. He laughs in astonishment that it worked.
Wol Ryung walks from around a bush and watches Kang Chi. His eyes soften and he notices one of the flowers on the bush. He reaches for it but then stops. The red eyes come out and he makes the flower, the entire bush, die. Then he glares back at Kang Chi.
The Village. One of Bong Chool’s men is telling him that people are saying that Kang Chi is the son of a demi-god that was killed 20 years ago. They’re saying he’s behind all the murders in the forest. At that point, Bong Chool yells loudly. He's not going to put up with that kind of talk. If Kang Chi were the son of a demon, Bong Chool’d be dead a long time ago. When his lackey protests, Bong Chool screams, “Talk THIS!” which makes everyone in the surrounding vicinity jump. He yells out to the crowd that if there’s any gossip about Kang Chi on his street, they’ll end up in the ocean. He’s emphatic. Bong Chool wants to know who started the rumor. Who do you think? Who hates Kang Chi more than anyone? And tried to have you killed?
Soon Shin’s Fort. He’s receiving a report from the magistrate. Not a puppet of Kwan Woong’s at all. The man says he’s heard disturbing news: about 20 years before, there was a gumiho in the area. Pyung Joon worked three months before he was able to dispatch it. And? They’ve learned he had a son: Kang Chi. Soon Shin is concerned at this statement. The magistrate continues: People are saying that the mountain deaths were done by Kang Chi. Immediately, Soon Shin calls the idea absurd and wants to know who’s saying such a thing. And, yes, I was right, it’s Jo Kwan Woong of Century House.
Century House. Flashback. Kwan Woong snarks that he should hand Kang Chi over before he’s accused of harboring a murderer. Isn’t Kwan Woong harboring an escaped criminal, someone who’s supposed to be beheaded? The he that he’s talking to is Soon Shin. Kwan Woong says to hand him over so they can start an investigation, after all, if Kang Chi *is* a man, he’s got nothing to fear. Soon Shin correctly points out that it’s absurd to place an innocent man under investigation. When is someone going to see Wol Ryung and Kang Chi together so that this rumor can be laid to rest?
Kwan Woong reminds Soon Shin about the letter. If Kang Chi is the murderer or if he’s hiding the murderer, Soon Shin’s going down. Soon Shin asks if Kwan Woong’s threatening him. Kwan Woong says that the good people of the area are in danger, with three already dead.
Back to the report. The magistrate tells Soon Shin that it would be best for everyone if Kang Chi came in. To put the people at ease, of course.
Century House. Kwan Woong says, probably to Ninja Soh, that they’ll now see if Soon Shin runs to help Kang Chi like last time. Then he sneers. Oh, he’s talking to Tae Seo. Interesting. He’s really bought their lie, if he’s confiding in Tae Seo. Tae Seo asks Kwan Woong what he has against Soon Shin. Soon Shin will never side with him, so he needs him gone. Wonder what that means for his alliance with the Japanese? Tae Seo just looks at him.
From outside, Ninja Soh announces that “he” is here. Kwan Woong dismisses Tae Seo. Tae Seo nods and leaves, but not before he comes face to face with Pil Mok, who smiles at him. Kwan Woong’s all smiles for Pil Mok. Tae Seo pauses to look at them Ninja Soh glares for him to go, so he walks away.
Training Camp. Pyung Joon, Gong Dal, Gon and Soo Ryun sit at Pyung Joon’s war table. Pyung Joon declares, “This won’t do. The Commander’s letter has ensnared him.” Simple solution, Pyung Joon. Catch the thing in the forest so people won’t be able to say it’s Kang Chi. But of course, he’s not going to do that. Gong Dal asks Pyung Joon if Soon Shin said anything to him about it. No, but he’s worried for Kang Chi, Pyung Joon can tell. So why are you being such a butthead to him, Pyung Joon? Do you think Soon Shin’s going to be “happy” when you kick him out? It will be nothing to what happened last time, because this time it will all be on you. Soo Ryun suggests that they work on an alternate strategy. One mistake won’t just hurt Soon Shin. The whole navy will be at risk.
Yeo Wool goes to her window and stretches. Kang Chi just happens to be walking by. She stares at the moon. He smiles because he gets to see her. Then he walks closer, so she notices him. She’s really happy to see him, which makes Kang Chi happy, too. Kang Chi asks if she’s still confined to quarters. She whines yes and shows him her hands. There are bandages on multiple fingers. She whines about having to sew. He croons that it must hurt, “poor baby.” I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic, but if he’s not, he’s being *really* familiar with her, calling her baby. Yeo Wool says that needle pricks are worse than any sword wound and she’ll never be good at sewing.
Kang Chi says that he’s still glad. Yeo Wool wants to know why. Because she won’t go running off into the woods alone again, that she won’t feel the need to save the world. Aw, he gets his girl. Too bad her dad doesn’t. She starts to complain and he adds that she won’t be in danger, because of him. Theoretically. Because if Wol Ryung wanted to, he could sneak in and kill any one of them, what with his super speed.
Kang Chi’s being super sweet. Yeo Wool tsks at him and says that she still doesn’t like it. She whines that she’s dying. He walks over to her window and holds out a sprig. She can’t tell what it is, a weed? He says to look again. The little blue lights come and it blooms into a beautiful violet flower. That kind of matches the ones on her hanbok. She’s sufficiently surprised.
Yeo Wool asks Kang Chi how he did it. He says he has no idea. She doesn’t believe it. He says that he just looks at it and tells it to grow and it grows. And because he has to have his bracelet off to do it, he’s not wearing his bracelet at the moment. And this time, his eyes stayed normal. Yeo Wool raves, impressed, calling him awesome.
Gently, Kang Chi offers Yeo Wool the flower. She slowly takes it and their fingers touch. Significant staring! Kang Chi looks like he’s thinking: I’ve totally fallen in love with this girl. But she’s engaged to my brother. His face gets sad. She tells him thank you, he smiles at her and grunts his yes. Then they just smile at each other.
Pan to his hands and I was right. He’s not wearing his bracelet. I think this is going to come in handy later if that investigation that Kwan Woong’s pushing for happens.
Chung Jo is wandering around woodenly. Gob Dan runs up and asks if she was able to see Tae Seo. Unfortunately, no, he’d already left. Gob Dan asks about Kang Chi. Is he gone, too? Chung Jo just looks at her. Soo Ryun approaches and asks Chung Jo if she did what she came for. Chung Jo thanks Soo Ryun for bringing her along. Soo Ryun motions for them to go.
Chung Jo gets to witness Kang Chi giving Yeo Wool the flower and them smiling at each other. Returning to her room, she picks up that jar of salve and looks at it, fighting back tears. She throws it to the ground, smashing it.
In her room, Yeo Wool has put the flower in a vase and just looks at it, her head resting on her hands. Then she remembers what Wol Ryung said, that her father killed his father, and Pyung Joon yelling at her about the possibility of Kang Chi wanting revenge when he finds out. She says, “What then? What about us, Kang Chi?” Does she mean after he finds out, or after he kills her father?
Kang Chi bursts into the kitchen and plops the sack of beans down in front of Gong Dal. He’s been running because he’s panting now. He’s counted every last one of the beans! Gong Dal is ecstatic. So how many beans? 13,786! Gong Dal has him repeat himself. Gong Dal cackles gleefully and declares, “You didn’t!” Kang Chi doesn’t understand, because he agrees, he didn’t think he could get through it. He’s so happy he could burst.
Kang Chi asks if he’s right about the beans. He says, “Wrong.” Kang Chi tries to adjust his count a little. Gong Dal declares, “Not even close!” Kang Chi won’t believe him. He became one with beans, he was so focused. Gong Dal shouts that he was one with the wrong beans. Kang Chi is confused and asks if this is one of those Zen unanswerable things. Heh! Gong Dal yells, “Whoever heard of an unanswerable question?!”
Kang Chi begs Gong Dal for a hint. Gong Dal sticks out his broomstick. He asks Kang Chi what it is. A broom? Gong Dal tells him to grab a hold of it. Every time Kang Chi goes for it, Gong Dal pushes it away. He asks Kang Chi why he can’t grab the broom. Kang Chi whines that Gong Dal is faster than he is. Gong Dal says Wrong. Kang Chi is perplexed. Gong Dal declares, “In grabbing just the broom, you fail.” Blinks from Kang Chi. Finally he asks what that even means. Gong Dal waxes, “Who knows? What does it mean? What matters is one’s true nature, see? Gong Dal leaves him as Kang Chi’s brain almost explodes.“True what now? Come again? Grab hold, he says. So I do. And I can’t because I am? I knew it was Zen master stuff!"
Flashback to the Pillars Meeting. Gong Dal asks Pyung Joon what he’s going to do. Pyung Joon declares that if Kang Chi endangers Soon Shin, he may have to be sacrificed. And you won’t cry at all, will you, Pyung Joon. Gon reacts in his way, like he can’t believe that they’re considering that. Gong Dal’s face reads the same. Gong Dal stops smiling. This is not the path he though things were going to take.
A full moon. Wol Ryung’s standing on the outside of the camp, watching Kang Chi, who’s still trying to figure out how grabbing the stick stops him from grabbing the stick. Should he not grab hold? How does he grab it, then?
As Wol Ryung goes to leave, Kang Chi sense his presence. He calls out, “Who’s there? Who are you?”
Something makes Gong Dal stand up and look out toward the courtyard.
Tae Seo’s outside Kwan Woong’s office, wondering what’s going on inside. He turns to find Pil Mok and one of Seo Hwa’s bodyguards. Pil Mok greets him as Lord Tae Seo.
Kang Chi’s left the camp, after that presence. There’s a noise and when Kang Chi turns, Wol Ryung is there. The wind blows while they have a staring contest. Kang Chi asks who he is. As an answer, his eye (since the other one is hidden by his hair) blazes the beastly red and he growls. Kang Chi starts and braces himself.
Tae Seo sits in Seo Hwa’s room. She’s behind the gauzy curtain. She asks him what brings him there so late. In Korean. Is he wondering about her? Tae Seo is expressionless. She remarks, “I see” and then “that it’s just as well, since she’s wondering about him. Ominous horns as she begins to take off her hat. We’re finally going to get to see her face! Seo Hwa’s men seem a little shocked that she is revealing her face.
The full moon comes from behind a cloud and Wol Ryung’s face is illuminated. Even though Kang Chi knows, he asks, “Who are you?” Wol Ryung asks if he’s Choi Kang Chi. Kang Chi repeats his question. Wol Ryung smiles ever so slightly and says, “I am Gu Wol Ryung.”
Thoughts
So Kang Chi finally knows the man he’s kept on seeing is his father. A gumiho and a demon, now. And probably the thing responsible for draining those three people in the woods. And is supposed to be trying to kill him.
I really struggled with Pyung Joon this week. Over so many things.
Why, if he considers Wol Ryung to be a true innocent that he killed, is he so dead set on Kang Chi being a demon? And not right for his daughter? Where is the logic? And if Wol Ryung, who attacked and killed a bunch of your men while defending his wife, was a true innocent, why has Pyung Joon been so ready to just kill Kang Chi when he’s not even as violent. Even the scene where Yeo Wool stood up to him, Kang Chi wasn’t the aggressor. He just wanted to see Yeo Wool. Pyung Joon was certainly quick to decide to end his life. Seriously, Soon Shin needs to come rebuke Pyung Joon again! Particularly after Pyung Joon’s so ready to sacrifice Kang Chi if necessary.
And how does he not see that he is being the king of over-reacting fathers?!! I understand him worrying about Kang Chi wanting revenge, but everything that Kang Chi’s ever said indicates that would *not* be his reaction. He doesn’t even want to hear their story, for Pete’s sake, because they threw him away. Why would he get worked up over someone killing him?
And the way he’s treating Yeo Wool is ridiculous. Not only is he forcing her to give up things that define her as a person and are things that she loves, but he’s forcing her to do things that she hates, that she’s never been expected to do until now. And what’s with his declaration that it’s woman’s work? Did Yeo Wool suddenly become a girl? Because fighting and teaching men fighting is considered men’s work. He has no problem with a woman, Soo Ryun, being one of the Four Pillars and strategizing with them. After all, that’s what she’s there for.. Someone truly chauvinistic, who thought roles were determined by gender, wouldn’t let her do that.
I noticed that Gon stopped randomly slicing off bells after their meeting. He didn’t seem like he felt too good about Pyung Joon’s declaration that they just might have to sacrifice Kang Chi. That also really ticks me off, because Kang Chi would die to protect any one of them and Pyung Joon is able to just throw him away like that. He is really out of control.
He's also really ticking me off because at every turn, he keeps having rules that apply to everyone but himself, when Yeo Wool brings them up, he shuts her down with stupid reasons like, ‘because I say so,’ and ‘I can do this because the law says I can!’ And I totally believe that he made up the crap about him and Moo Sol agreeing that they would marry. If that was true, Moo Sol would have told Tae Seo, or at least there wouldn’t be teasing about him finding a girl.
A episode with crappy fathers all around.
And Tae Seo was awesome, especially how he caught onto the ruse that was Kang Chi and played his part to the hilt. I think the only reason why Kwan Woong has lasted as long as he has and is as powerful as he is, is not because he’s smarter than everyone else, because he’s shown himself to be so full of himself and then his judgment is pathetic. I think that he’s where he is today because he has no conscience nor any sense of honor. There are no boundaries he won’t cross and he does not fight fair.
I’m not liking how Kwan Woong’s setting Kang Chi up, but I have a feeling Kang Chi’s ability to control himself without the bracelet’s going to come in handy. And once again, Pyung Joon will be proven wrong in his opinion about him.
Will Wol Ryung tell Kang Chi that Pyung Joon is the one who ‘killed’ him all those years ago? Hmmm.
The one bright spot, besides the Bell-o-Rama stuff, is the developments in the relationship between Kang Chi and Yeo Wool. Now that Kang Chi’s figured out that he likes her, they are *really* getting familiar. It’s almost a little uncomfortable, because I don’t want them getting into trouble any more. That scene where he was holding her close and just staring at her lips, that one was killing me! And the one with the flower – so sweet. I’m going to want to punch Chung Jo if she tries to mess things up because she’s jealous. But at least it was her and not someone else who saw their exchange; I was really worried *someone* would see it.
I just wanted to be reminded of my next episode to download, and I was. Great work dear👍
ReplyDeleteI just couldn't stop till I reached the end, including your thoughts as well 😄