Original subtitles

ALCHEMY OF SOULS PART 2

Throughout my life,

I spent most of my time on this tree alone.

So I wonder what it was

that made me wait for someone to come for me.

Because we made a promise.

You may not have remembered me,

but you remembered our promise to be together,

which is why you waited for me.

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

There.

Are you happy?

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

let us spend time together like any other couple

who have met after pining and longing for each other.

These chestnuts have already matured.

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

Sure.

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

-I did? -"I did"?

You even threw a knife at me.

-Like this? -Do not do it.

I bet I threw it like this.

All right.

I will pretend as if this is nothing more

than just another ordinary day together

and I will watch over you until the end.

We should make chestnut rice

since both you and Master Lee like it.

Master Lee?

He is currently at his hut in Danhyanggok.

He was the one who brought me here.

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

I told them I could not

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

I see you have decided to let him catch you.

Then you should go to Danhyanggok.

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

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

It is time

that I do my part.

What is it that you have to do with us?

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

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

However,

I cannot sit by and watch as one must be hunted

and the other must be the hunter.

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

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

Then will you follow my decision no matter what?

Then I want you two…

to have a wedding.

I shall be your witness.

I want you two to be officially married.

Let us get ready.

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

All right.

Listen, you two.

Is this a matriculation ceremony?

Oh, do you wish to be my pupil?

Will you drink chaste herb tea

and practice chastity starting today?

-No. -No way.

This is a wedding.

You should be facing each other.

Oh, right.

A wedding ceremony is how you announce your marriage

to the people around you.

But it is also to inform the skies.

"We have decided to be together."

"Therefore, no one can set us apart."

That is what the message is.

Now, Jang Uk of the Jang family and…

Come to think of it,

you have four names.

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

Then you lived as Mu-deok,

and now you are Jin Bu-yeon.

I never had a chance to live

with just one name.

Which name shall I call you by?

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

I would like to be called Cho Yeong.

Uk and Yeong.

Your name means "light."

And your name means "shadow."

Light and shadow.

It may be that you two

were fated to meet from the start.

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

It is a wedding drink.

If you drink that,

it means we are officially married.

Go on. Drink up.

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

You and I…

have liked each other for a long time.

I shall always stay by your side at this distance.

That is my promise.

I must be going crazy…

because of you.

I found another use for you.

After all, you are offering to substitute for her.

But this is my hand that you are holding,

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

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

You look pretty.

You told me to see you for who you were.

That is what I am trying to do.

I will also…

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

Sure, go ahead.

I plan to find my own room.

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

I hope…

that makes it easier for you to find me.

I will keep you warm and help you rest comfortably.

I just pine for you.

That is why I came to see you.

I liked you from the start.

I knew the moment I saw you.

You are my husband.

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

You have informed the skies through this ceremony,

so I wish you a long life together.

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

you two are the dearest.

I promised you

that I would bring you up here.

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

It is nice.

Now that I look at you like this,

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

but it also feels as if we met yesterday.

It feels strange.

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

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

Everything is clear to me now.

Deep down inside,

I recognized you from the start.

Just like when we first met.

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

I recognized you.

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

Jang Uk will have gone to find her

because of what she said at the Unanimous Assembly.

Why did you not stop her?

Jang Uk got rid of Jin Mu,

and Bu-yeon found the Jinyowon Plaque.

Regardless of anything,

the truth is that they both protected Jinyowon.

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

"She"?

I asked them how they first met each other here.

They said someone had opened the door to this place.

Do you really believe

that her soul remained in Jinyowon along with the ice stone

and was reborn as my daughter?

How is that even possible?

My existence is proof that it is possible.

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

She may have done the same.

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

What could be the reason that she chose to stay?

I am sure there is a good reason

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

It sounds like you know what that reason may be.

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

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

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

The fire bird is safe.

Jin Mu is dead.

Heo Yeom stocked this place with food and firewood

knowing I would come back here one day.

It will be enough to last you a month.

A month?

What is the matter? Is it too short?

I did not come hoping to spend a lifetime together.

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

That could last a month, two weeks,

or even just a few days.

But I decided not to keep count.

I am going to believe

that we will always have tomorrow.

How many of Naksu's memories have returned?

There is still

a memory she does not recall.

You said you were dying to know

how I felt at that last moment with you.

That moment will probably be

the very last memory that comes back to me.

When I recall that last memory…

I will give you a sign like this.

Then I will tell you what I remember.

It will be…

my last love letter to you.

In the past, I could not understand

why Master Seo Gyeong kept his love letter unsent

despite having written it.

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

That love letter was for Jin Seol-ran.

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

Heo Yeom also got me new bedding.

Maybe it is in storage.

Jin Seol-ran?

What is this barrier? Did you create it?

That is the fire bird.

The fire bird will dry out the world.

I hoped that something so tragic would never happen.

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

The fire bird

is going to escape?

I just showed you

what is going to happen to this world.

I foresaw this happening a very long time ago.

You are able to see the future?

Who are you?

A priestess?

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

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

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

and making this world burn.

I am not capable of stopping what will happen.

It can only be stopped by the man

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

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

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

Cast the shadow aside

and step out into the world?

Does that mean

you are Jin Bu-yeon?

That is right.

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

Jin Bu-yeon attracted your shadow,

used it,

and will make it disappear.

The world I foresaw will come no matter what.

And when it does,

tragic events will occur.

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

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

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

Jin Bu-yeon attracted your shadow,

used it,

and will make it disappear.

Did you meet…

Jin Bu-yeon?

Yes.

I ended up seeing something

that is inevitable.

According to Jin Mu's plan,

we must first take the fire bird out of Jinyowon.

Then we must confiscate the Jinyowon Plaque

by gathering another Unanimous Assembly.

We need to keep Songrim out of it,

but how will we justify it?

We must use Jang Uk as our justification.

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

That is right.

When should we gather the Unanimous Assembly?

Are you all right?

Forget about the Unanimous Assembly and the Jinyowon Plaque.

We have no time to waste.

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

We must do it now!

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

I do not know why,

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

He absorbed the energy of one of the eunuchs.

A soul shifter is in the palace?

Then His Majesty is in danger.

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

but I think that soul shifter

is someone you know, Your Royal Highness.

Someone I know?

Who?

It is me, Your Royal Highness.

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

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

It is me.

Your long-time master

and Gwanju of Cheonbugwan,

Jin Mu.

Jin Mu?

How can you be Jin Mu?

I shifted into another body when I was in Gwido.

You shifted your soul?

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

His Majesty saved you?

I came back to help the King and the Unanimous Assembly

achieve their goal.

Shut your mouth!

His Majesty would never see eye to eye with you.

Jin Mu is telling the truth.

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

Your Majesty.

Jin Mu, did you say you wish to take away

the Crown Prince's Gold Plaque?

Yes, Your Majesty.

His Royal Highness stabbed me in the back,

so I should return the favor.

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

You are no longer the heir to the throne.

Keep him locked up in here until I say otherwise.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, you are being fooled by him.

Your Majesty!

Jin Mu.

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

I am merely picking up where I left off.

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

Is Young Lady Bu-yeon

also not here?

Is she with Young Master Jang?

Lady Jin.

What is going on between them?

I cannot tell you anything right now.

Time will solve everything,

so please have patience and wait.

Does that mean you know where they are?

Maidservant Kim.

My mother still has not fully recovered

after helping Young Master Seo.

She needs to rest, so please go back home.

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

What?

What do you think you are doing?

How dare you attempt to enter Jinyowon without my permission!

Apologies, Lady Jin.

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

Open the door to Jinyowon.

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

for the lake's rite?

The royal family has approved it,

so all you need to do is open that door.

I cannot do that.

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

Have you forgotten about the Jinyowon Plaque?

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

so we shall confiscate the plaque.

Give us the plaque.

This is ridiculous.

I cannot let you do that.

Enough!

I told you we have no time.

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

Ho-gyeong.

Your brother has shifted souls.

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

that you are so proud of.

Jin Cho-yeon!

Open that door.

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

Mother…

Open the door.

Do it now!

He is a soul shifter.

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

Hurry and open the door!

Quickly go to Songrim and ask them for help.

Hurry.

Mother!

Mother, are you all right?

Is that the fire bird's egg?

-What is that sound? -What is that?

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

We must leave now.

Ho-gyeong.

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

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

Mother.

Your wound is deep.

We cannot let them take the fire bird.

Go to Songrim right now and ask them for help.

Jin Cho-yeon! Go now!

Hurry!

Yes, Mother.

Jinyowon…

is collapsing.

No.

No…

Lady Jin.

Lady Jin, are you all right?

Please take me inside Jinyowon.

If Jinyowon collapses,

all the relics inside will escape.

I must use my divine powers to keep them there.

Hold onto me.

I will take you inside.

My lord.

-Young Master Park. -Are you all right?

The mages of the Unanimous Assembly took the fire bird.

Jinyowon is going to collapse.

I will check on Jinyowon.

Go and follow the mages who took the fire bird.

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

so I shall go with Young Master Park.

My mother is severely injured.

Please help her, Lord Park.

All right.

Uncle.

Where is Lady Jin?

She went inside to keep the relics from escaping.

Maidservant Kim went in there with her.

Maidservant Kim?

Maidservant Kim is inside Jinyowon?

Maidservant Kim!

Maidservant Kim, are you in there?

Lord Park, I am in here!

The relics are escaping!

If it collapses,

all the other dangerous relics will escape as well!

I must seal the door.

Maidservant Kim, hurry up and leave.

If you do not, you will die.

What?

The relics are starting to escape.

I must seal the door!

What about you?

Maidservant Kim!

It is going to collapse soon!

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

No!

I cannot seal the door. Maidservant Kim is still…

My wife is still in there.

My lord!

Seal…

the door.

Maidservant Kim!

We cannot let this place collapse.

So please…

seal the door.

I understand.

My lord.

I will be all right.

So seal the door.

Hurry!

My lord! It is about to collapse!

Even if you decide to seal that door,

I know how heartbreaking it will be for you,

so it does not upset me so much.

I do not mind it.

Yeon…

Yeon…

Lord Park Jin.

Do not fall into despair.

You still have a chance to save her.

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

Your Majesty…

is this what you

and the Unanimous Assembly both want?

I told you.

Everyone wants to share the power of the ice stone.

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

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

and used wisely through common consent.

So you plan to awaken

the dangerous fire bird just to achieve that?

The lake's rite will bring us rain

and help us get the ice stone.

Then we will seal it back.

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

Does that not matter to you?

All things require sacrifice.

Worrying about insignificant things

only prevents us from achieving what we want.

Do you not wish

to save Maidservant Kim?

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

Evil…

always does what it wants without ever stopping.

But why is it that virtue

always needs to prove itself over and over again?

Yes.

I do wish to save her.

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

I would lose my sanity.

But even so,

I will…

stop you from getting what you want.

Not a single one of you

has the right to laugh at me…

and call me…

a hypocrite.

Stop right now…

or I will break the barrier of the fire bird.

This place is going to burn down.

We need to leave.

He fought against the representatives of eight families

and still made it this far.

He really was a highly skilled mage.

What a waste.

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

But he willingly chose death,

so there is nothing we can do.

Lord Park!

-Lord Park! -Lord Park!

-Lady Jin! -Lord Park!

Lord Park!

Uk.

Uk…

Uk, Jin is…

Jin is…

-Lady Jin! -Lord Park!

Last night,

the fire bird was taken from Jinyowon.

Lady Jin and Maidservant Kim went inside Jinyowon

in an attempt to stop the relics from escaping…

and passed away.

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

so we could not collect their bodies.

Because of that…

their coffins are empty.

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

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

and he passed away there.

The place completely burned down.

The only thing we found there was his sword.

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

I narrowly escaped when the fire broke out.

My father, the King of this country,

is with the Unanimous Assembly.

This all happened

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

I would barge into Cheonbugwan right this instant,

but they have the fire bird.

We cannot make rash decisions.

If people find out that the fire bird got out,

there will be extreme chaos.

Let us quietly hold their funerals.

Then we must stop them from waking the fire bird.

The fire bird will awaken.

I was told that

it is going to happen no matter what.

However…

these three did not pass away.

If the disaster created by human greed was foreseen,

the will to stop it can become a variable…

and change the outcome.

Jin will be all right.

Do not cry too much.

All right.

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

Not only did they take the fire bird,

but I also failed to stop all the relics…

from escaping Jinyowon.

You put your life at risk and did your best.

Was it Bu-yeon who entered Jinyowon…

while it was collapsing?

Yes.

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

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

While she entered Jinyowon and stopped it from collapsing,

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

I could not find the fire bird.

But fortunately, I was able to save Jin.

Does that mean Naksu no longer lives

in that body?

She left the body,

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

It took you so long to find each other again.

But you were not even given a full day together.

The yin-and-yang jade

is shared by couples in order to stay together.

So we can no longer…

be sharing this.

When I recall that last memory…

I will give you a sign like this.

I guess we were…

never fated to recognize each other at first sight.

My birth led to your father's death.

Then you killed me to avenge him.

You are right.

Judging by the fate that we share…

we probably should not have met.

But…

fate was not what brought us…

to recognize each other at first sight.

We…

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

We embraced the shadows that came with it…

and chose to love each other.

So now…

there is only one reply I can give you

in our last moment together.

I love you.

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

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

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

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

and finally abandon this weak, ill body.

People could show up to hinder our plan,

so please gather all the guards protecting Daeho Fortress

and have them protect Cheonbugwan.

I will send my army to Cheonbugwan.

I want you to safely awaken the fire bird

and bring me the ice stone.

Your Royal Highness,

please stop the King from mobilizing his army.

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

Use this.

This was left for you by the late king.

This country does not need a king

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

It needs a king who wishes to stop it.

I already stole your King's Star.

Now I will even be using your Gold Plaque.

Jang Uk.

Have you really never dreamed of becoming the most powerful person

in this world?

I have already climbed

to the very peak of this world with the person…

I made that promise with.

That is…

more than enough for me.

While we perform the lake's rite,

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

Jang Uk and Songrim might come to stop us.

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

You saw Park Jin.

He could not do anything despite his strength and power.

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

Jang Uk and Songrim will become helpless.

Awakening the fire bird is dangerous.

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

we will instantly be reduced to ashes.

If the fire bird fails to fly after being disturbed

and its energy of fire bursts…

all of Daeho Fortress will burn.

They will not be able to do anything…

fearing that the fire bird might awaken.

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

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

If the awakening of the fire bird is inevitable,

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

so we can change the outcome.

At the place where the energy of the sky

reached the ground and created a huge form of energy,

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

In order to do that,

I must awaken the fire bird.

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

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

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

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

During that time?

Have the guards protecting Daeho Fortress headed to Cheonbugwan?

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

Good.

Is it not time yet?

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

The guards will not be going anywhere.

I…

withdrew the order you gave, Your Majesty.

What is that?

Is that not a Gold Plaque?

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

The man born under the King's Star.

The King's Star?

The man born under the King's Star

will stop what is happening at Cheonbugwan.

Father.

It is time you step down from the throne…

that kept you anxious all your life.

What…

Relics that will ignite the fire bird's energy

are placed all over the canal.

We must find and destroy them all.

-Let us hurry. -Yes, my lady.

Songrim forces have entered Cheonbugwan.

It is not time yet, but let us begin.

It is dangerous to rush it.

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

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

That is better than burning to death.

Count me out.

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

Now…

I want all of you to wake the fire bird!

Jin Mu is right.

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

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

Jang Uk. What are you doing?

I am helping you all awaken the fire bird.

Jang Uk, stop!

If the energy of fire explodes, it will kill us all!

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

I am sorry, but I cannot allow that.

Jang Uk.

Do you plan to kill everyone in the Unanimous Assembly?

Is this not the kind of world you wanted?

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

to gain and wield even greater power.

Jang Uk.

You were right, Jang Uk.

In a world where those with strength gain greater power,

the weak will just perish.

Jin Bu-yeon safely arrived at Cheonbugwan.

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

All right.

Take this to Jin Bu-yeon and tell her

that I will be waiting at Lake Gyeongcheondaeho.

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

Is the fire bird safe?

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

And the fire bird is safe.

She will awaken it atop the constellation basin.

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

from going to Lake Gyeongcheondaeho.

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

Now she will wake the fire bird

and send it to the King's Star.

I heard that

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

But right now, there are only six of us.

No, there are seven.

There is one more person…

who was always beside Uk.

Now she will wake the fire bird

and send it to Uk at Lake Gyeongcheondaeho.

-How beautiful. -What is that?

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

Look at that.

The fire bird is awake.

Jang Uk did it.

The fire bird

has disappeared.

-Jin Bu-yeon. -Shaman.

Bu-yeon.

To the light that has saved the world,

I shall now return your shadow.

A light that embraces a shadow

will never be lost in darkness.

1 YEAR LATER

Peekaboo.

How lovely.

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

Peekaboo.

How lovely.

Peekaboo.

-How lovely. -How lovely.

What are Dan and Gang doing here again?

Oh, dear.

My goodness.

There we go.

Are you Gang or Dan?

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

They always ask you to babysit for them

and go on dates.

What about us?

We are newlyweds too.

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

Stop babysitting for them.

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

It is just for a while.

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

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

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

Your young master still comes first, right?

He will forever be your number one.

Goodness, do not be jealous.

What a relief.

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

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

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

Only once in a while.

-Goodness. -What is the matter?

Maybe it is the honey biscuits I ate earlier.

Is it…

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

Nothing is for sure yet.

I have high expectations for you.

Next time, I hope you have twin girls.

Does that mean you are disappointed that Gang and Dan are sons?

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

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

Uk told me not to dream of having a daughter

since they are planning to give birth to one.

Did you say they are at North Fortress?

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

But I do not know when they will return.

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

Right.

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

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

Jeongjingak is recruiting new mages,

and she promised Yul to interview them.

Jeongjingak is recruiting mages through interviews?

Seo Yul is now in charge of Jeongjingak,

which was established by Master Seo Gyeong.

He made that decision as the new leader of Jeongjingak.

QUALIFICATIONS ANYONE WITH PASSION AND DETERMINATION

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

Then all sorts of people will apply.

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

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

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

will most likely not apply out of pride.

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

than for us to train children from prestigious families.

But not everyone has the power to cast spells.

I am not recruiting just anyone.

I will pick people with good energy and potential.

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

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

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

she could even outshine her own husband, Jang Uk.

She has the potential to outshine Jang Uk?

They are my first pupils.

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

Seo Yul has always been fixated on being the best,

even when he used to train at Jeongjingak.

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

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

So they must have something special.

I heard that she also secretly takes part

in interviewing potential wives for His Majesty the King.

She interviews them?

Master Heo.

Why are you staring at Young Lady Heo?

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

A queen?

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

and he promised to grant me a wish in return.

Married couples are one both in body and spirit,

so if the wife takes part in choosing the queen,

I can ask them to pick my granddaughter.

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

What?

Who?

A young man once came with a broken arm.

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

Is that so?

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

He is as handsome as Young Master Seo.

Really?

I had no idea Yun-ok was seeing someone.

I am so proud of her.

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

I shall ask her to interview that man.

Picking a wife for His Majesty is more urgent.

He focuses only on taking care of political affairs,

and he frequently invites Master Lee to the palace.

Rumors say that His Majesty

even may have appointed Master Lee as his master.

What?

Does that mean he is practicing chastity?

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

But then what about his successor?

Did you not hear the rumor?

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

Yes, they say that his son is Jang Uk.

No wonder Jang Uk was always so extraordinary.

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

I knew there was something special about him.

Should I also try practicing chastity?

Cut the nonsense.

Those men are unbelievable.

His Majesty should quickly get married

so that people stop saying he cut off his libido.

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

That is surely

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

to adopt a turtle as my son.

-I am the King. -Exactly.

That is why you should quickly find yourself a wife.

But Jin Bu-yeon promised

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

When will those two be back?

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

How many relics escaped Jinyowon when it collapsed?

A total of 31 escaped,

and they have captured 12 as of now.

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

and a dangerous pipe that lures children.

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

and a crying frog that spreads plagues are especially dangerous.

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

Jang Uk will likely use that

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

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

I will tell him to drop by the palace

since Your Majesty misses him dearly.

This is the pottery that holds Gwiseo.

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

All right.

I am relieved that you stopped many relics from escaping.

If the swarm of mosquitoes that causes earthquakes had escaped,

it would have been very dangerous.

I was able to live that day thanks to her.

Do you

no longer feel agony whenever you see her?

Like you said,

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

and she chose that girl to protect that body

as she left this world,

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

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

and takes the appearance of that person.

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

and eats your parents alive!

So…

always be careful where you throw away your nail clippings.

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

There is a gigantic tree in Danhyanggok,

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

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

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

-Really? -Is that true?

Do they show up there often?

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

They are a married couple.

He is a bright light that protects the world,

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

Darling.

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

For eternity.

-For eternity? -You promised.

Right.

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

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

No, wait.

It is not that I am tired of doing it.

You were once a mage who mastered Chisu.

So I am merely telling you to challenge yourself.

There is no need, for I possess divine powers.

You want me to train again?

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

Gosh, back when you were my master,

did you not always scold me for being lazy?

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

-What? -Be grateful and treat her well.

All right, fine.

So did you find the creature you were looking for?

-Did you see it? -Yes.

I saw it.

It is in the west of the forest.

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

A cat?

Hey, I thought you said it was a cat?

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

It is as big as an elephant.

That is going to be

one cute cat.

Stay close to me.

Here it comes.

Go and take care of it.

Subtitle translation by: Joy Lee