Original subtitles

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

CHILD ACTORS AND ANIMALS WERE FILMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAFETY GUIDELINES

What happened here?

Is he dead?

Yes.

Your Majesty.

Who would do such a thing?

I am not sure, Your Majesty.

I came by in the morning with basin water for washing his face…

There is no sign of an outsider breaking in.

Then, who would dare to do such a thing?

It reeks the same as the prince's chambers.

Make way.

No, this cannot be…

No…

This cannot be!

Get rid of this!

I refuse to accept this.

I refuse…

Wake up, my dear child.

Mother is here.

Please, wake up.

Open your eyes!

Do not just dawdle!

Do something! Bring him back to life now!

The Eight-foot-tall Ghost…

The Eight-foot-tall Ghost will return.

Just open your eyes!

Goodness. Goodness me.

What in the world?

You…

How long have you been up there?

Were you that worried about Yeo-ri?

Enough for you to stand guard even before the morning dew sets?

That creature should not be taken lightly.

I assumed as much when that remarkable child

came looking for her grandmother's shamanic implements.

He must be quite formidable.

I hear…

you are most renowned for your Restorative Offering Rituals.

Did Yeo-ri tell you that?

We are dealing with an Eight-foot-tall Ghost.

I can fend him off briefly with my powers, but eradicating him will be difficult.

Can you

guide that wicked spirit to the afterlife?

Do you ask because you truly do not know?

What?

There is only one way you can lift the grudge of such a mighty evil spirit

and guide it to the afterlife.

The enchanted pearl of a dragon.

Or what an Imugi like yourself holds deep in his body…

the luminous pearl.

There is no other way to lift the grudge of an evil spirit.

MIRROR OF THE SUN, MOON, AND STARS

Be gone.

Thus, if you wish to truly guide that ghost to the afterlife,

you have only one option.

You must

sacrifice yourself.

As you say,

you may briefly be able to fend it off with the luminous pearl,

but that has its limits.

The luminous pearl in your belly must be fully drained

and you must sacrifice yourself

for that mighty Eight-foot-tall Ghost to be guided to the afterlife.

What do you say?

Would you like to try?

You quack monk…

It appears you are hell-bent on dying.

You want me to drain my luminous pearl

and kill myself to capture some measly Eight-foot-tall Ghost?

Are you planning to leave?

Yes.

If I wait any longer, I might never be able to save Lord Yoon Gap.

I have my grandma's implements now. I need to confront him again.

What?

What do you want?

You are still unfit to accept a patron deity.

What happened to all that boasting about great offerings?

Offerings…

Then, are you granting my request now?

I shall decide after I see the offering first.

I actually finished making it a while ago.

I have not been able to bring it up because you have been

so cold to me recently.

I genuinely put a lot of care and effort into making it.

With heartfelt care, I braided thread by thread with prayer.

I did.

Are you really going to become my patron deity?

Can you really defeat the Eight-foot-tall Ghost and save His Lord?

Fine.

I shall do that for you.

Thus,

prepare for the ceremony.

- Ceremony? - Since I am trapped in this human body,

a proper descent ritual will not be possible,

but some semblance of it should be observed.

Yes, you are right. The ceremony is important.

We need a ritual meal and what else?

Hold on.

Bring my son back to life.

My son!

I trusted you,

but you failed to protect my son in the end.

How could you let him die?

Your Grace.

I shall rip you apart piece by piece, limb from limb.

I shall rip you apart!

Your Grace!

Your lowly servant failed to protect His Highness!

Please end my life!

Most certainly.

I shall gladly end it for you.

I shall kill you

so you may…

accompany my dear son on the road to the afterlife!

If such a thing were possible,

I would gladly die a hundred times over.

However, should we not first avenge

the tragic death of our beloved prince?

Avenge his death?

There is a powerful sorcerer in the palace

and I helplessly fell victim to them.

We must find that scoundrel!

If we fail to do so,

even Your Grace will be in grave danger!

My dear son…

died because of that damn sorcerer?

Yes, Your Grace.

There must be someone new in the king's vicinity.

I am certain they must be the sorcerer.

Then, the king…

Surely, at the end of the day, that random sorcerer is the one to blame.

If that sorcerer did not leave the Warrior Deity so battered,

he would not have gone after Prince Yeongin.

But who is this sorcerer anyway?

As a disciple, I welcome you as my patron deity.

I shall serve you with reverence.

I, the Imugi Gangcheori,

shall accept you as my disciple

and become your steadfast benefactor.

Your hand.

When did you have time to prepare such a thing?

When you were preparing the ritual meal,

I trekked down to the market to buy it.

Do you like it?

Well, it's not bad.

My hair will not go up just yet.

I will start wearing it up after you save His Lord

from the Eight-foot-tall Ghost and leave his body.

Do as you wish.

That being said,

even if Yoon Gap's soul fails to return to this body,

you will remain my disciple regardless.

What are you talking about?

You heard me.

Even if I leave this body,

there is no guarantee his soul will return.

You must be aware of this as well.

Well, that is true.

Furthermore,

even if you successfully save his soul and bring him back to life,

nothing will change until I ascend as a dragon.

Even if you ardently hold him in your heart,

I will never…

let you go.

I know.

So, you just focus on catching that Eight-foot-tall Ghost.

Sure.

If you accept me as your patron deity,

I will gladly…

destroy that Eight-foot-tall Ghost.

Your Majesty.

I remain beyond stunned by Prince Yeongin's passing.

I implore you to pause the morning court assembly

and properly observe traditional funeral rites.

You may do so.

Be sure to properly follow the customs with the utmost care.

Furthermore, the chief royal secretary will pay condolences…

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, are you all right?

Chief State Councillor.

I must be suffering from severe fatigue.

How could I fall asleep like that after summoning you?

You do not need to hide such things in my presence.

Ever since the late king passed away in such a manner,

Your Majesty

has painstakingly hidden your emotions,

time and time again.

It led you to become a remarkable king,

but it only broke my old heart and pained me so.

I am well aware Your Majesty cherished

His Highness, Prince Yeongin.

The whole world…

whispered about him being a threat to my position…

but I simply pitied that poor boy who lost his father at a young age.

He may have lost his way and committed distasteful acts as he grew up,

but despite all that,

I never once desired

for him to meet his end like this.

Your Majesty.

Could a ghost truly be behind all this?

Your Majesty, that is simply preposterous.

What ghost?

Yes. I am aware.

It is preposterous beyond words.

Yeo-ri.

Here you go.

Unfortunately, we have a long journey ahead of us and--

It is caragana.

It will be very handy one day.

Be sure to take care of it.

Here.

I will use this someday?

How in the world…

You must not be lazy with the watering.

Water it when the topsoil dries.

Also…

What? What do you want?

I just wanted to look at your face.

I hope you continue your dull existence by your lonesome self unscathed,

for hundreds, thousands of years to come.

- What did you say? - Go on now.

The sun sets early in the mountains, you should get going.

Off you go.

It is His Excellency. Lord Choi Won-u is here!

Your Excellency.

Your Excellency!

Your Excellency, it has been five years.

Thank you for making the long journey.

My, my.

Why have you all gathered as if I were some great man?

You are much too humble.

Every scholar throughout the land holds you in high esteem.

I am only here because the nation has experienced a great loss.

I do not wish to cause a commotion.

Please go home now.

Let me know when the crowd outside disperses.

There is someplace I need to go secretly.

Stop by somewhere before the funeral?

You must be severely fatigued.

The capital is just past there.

We should try the capital gates first.

We can look for another way in if we run into trouble there.

The five desires and seven emotions arise

from the five sensory organs of the human body.

If I never see her, I will feel no emotion or desire.

What are you doing?

Has our stay at the temple led you to chant?

I was wondering why such devious humans commit such crimes.

I was reflecting as your patron deity.

Yes, I see.

So, what have you found out?

My stay in this human body has given me insight.

The human body itself being the source of sin is the issue.

Sight, taste, hearing, and touch.

All of them bring forth desire.

That is why so many sins are committed.

See, even now, this touch

makes me feel something--

Hey!

Stop!

Stop, I say!

Stop moving! Stop!

See. I told you to go easy on the yakgwa.

The yakgwa is not to blame.

How could anyone not get sick in such a shaky palanquin?

With such terrible motion sickness,

you should have just stayed home.

Why did you insist on following him to the capital?

It has been a while since I have visited the capital.

What was that?

Do you think I do not know?

You are here to see Yoon Gap or whatever his name is.

I already looked into him.

He was born a bastard and only holds a minor government post.

He is a mere examiner or something.

It is not like I wanted to marry him or anything.

I just wanted to see his face.

Seeing a handsome face will not hurt anyone.

Get inside. Go.

Wait,

that is my palanquin…

He says, "Shush."

Excuse me.

What are you planning to do in there exactly?

Can you give me some space?

You are choking me here.

Did you not see a man and maiden pass through here?

Let him know I have seen no such thing.

Hear that?

She's not seen anyone like that.

Have you already forgotten

His Majesty's royal command to never step foot in the capital?

You show up this soon after your exile?

Hence, we did not enter the capital grounds.

What?

Right. He has a point.

There was not a single reason for us to flee with such urgency.

He forbade us from entering the capital.

Why would you scold us for being outside the capital?

Yes, why would you?

Then are you saying you never planned to enter the capital?

Yes. Well… That is basically right.

Then, you two should follow me.

To where? Are you trying to drag us far away again?

Are you?

Someone is urgently looking for you.

Pardon?

DO NOT ENTER

Can you tell us now?

What happened?

We were exiled.

Should we be stepping foot into the palace like this?

Follow me.

Where are we…

Do not tell me the prince who resided here passed away.

How did you know that?

I had a vision of him a while ago.

You are correct.

He was discovered here dead three days ago.

But something is not right.

If it was an unnatural death,

the grudge of his soul should linger at the site of his death.

But I do not sense anything.

A talisman.

There is something here.

You…

Were you the one who did that to Prince Yeongin?

No, I am not the one.

It is not you?

Then, why did you run away?

I thought you would suspect me like this.

- What did you say? - Yes.

I did indeed come here because I abhorred the scoundrel

who trampled my flesh and blood.

However, I did not do it.

I did not forget my promise to you.

Get off me!

The Eight-foot-tall Ghost did this?

He showed up here?

Damn it.

No wonder it reeks.

Why are you two here?

What are exiles doing inside the palace?

Did you do this?

Did you dare to defy the king's command

and bring those two into the palace?

Yes, Your Majesty.

I did bring them here.

I know I have committed a deadly sin,

but I believed that was the right thing to do for your sake.

What did you say?!

I am responsible.

Queen.

I asked the clerk officer to bring those two back to the palace.

Hence, do not punish him

and punish me, instead.

Queen.

He is a military officer under the king's command.

How could you defy the law

and issue him a personal command?

It is because…

I cannot lose him.

I cannot lose

neither the prince…

nor Your Majesty.

I cannot stand idly by

to witness another tragic death

like the one that befell Prince Yeongin!

Your Majesty can continue to be a sage king who upholds the law.

I shall…

become an immoral woman who partakes in heretical ceremonies.

If this becomes a blemish on your flawless reign,

you only need to banish me.

Even with such risks…

I must protect the two of you.

Thus, Your Majesty…

Please…

Stop it! Stop!

Listen! By chance, did His Lordship send you?

My goodness. Please let me see him.

I will explain everything to him!

Please let me see him.

My lordship.

My lordship…

My lordship?

My lordship…

My lordship.

Oh, my lordship.

My lordship, please…

I was not behind what happened to Prince Yeongin.

The Warrior Deity desired it,

so I had no other choice.

My lordship--

My lordship!

My lordship, you have heard how Prince Yeongin died, have you not?

Going forward, the Warrior Deity

will stop all this possession nonsense

and just end his life, clean and simple.

Then, your lordship can reap the benefits without lifting a finger.

So please, your lordship.

Please just give me one more chance. Please. Your lordship!

Your lordship?

Your lordship!

Oh! My goodness!

He grants you one month.

If the prince does not die by then,

you shall be torn, limb from limb.

Yes.

I understand.

Yes, my lordship.

She discovered this

at His Highness's quarters.

This was written with the ashes from a brazier.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Last time at Mount Bugak,

the sacred cord burned into charcoal

and the evil stench also had a smoky quality…

I believe the Eight-foot-tall Ghost is an ember ghost.

"Ember ghost"? As in the ghost of fire?

Yes, Your Majesty.

It moves through fire

and I witnessed it burn itself with fire.

The eight-foot-tall Ghost seems to be a spirit that burned to death.

By chance, do you suspect anyone who would hold such a grudge

against the royal bloodline?

I must know what sort of ghost it is and the grudge it possesses

to properly guide it to the afterlife.

I do not know.

I cannot even fathom a suspicion at this moment.

Ow!

Hold it!

It is not hot at all.

Lift it up.

I cannot touch it because the ember ghost and I are clashing elements.

Like this?

The handwriting is crude, but the spiritual energy is formidable.

That damn Eight-foot-tall Ghost…

It has yet to fully recover.

It appears it has not been the same since I stabbed him last time.

How can you tell all that from a single talisman?

How frustrating you are.

Think about it.

He devours members of the royal bloodlines to grow his power.

He requires an offering,

but is not strong enough to make it happen.

Hence, he utilizes this lock-opening talisman

to devour that rascal prince in one slurp.

Someone…

must have offered the prince up to him.

To the Eight-foot-tall Ghost.

Do you mean to say

someone inside the palace is assisting it?

Finally, you are beginning to understand.

Who… would partake in such a heinous act?

That is not the only issue.

The Eight-foot-tall Ghost had possessed the young prince

and slowly drove him insane.

Up until now, he enjoyed the pain its drawn-out torment inflicted.

However, it was different this time.

It killed without hesitation.

To heal the internal injury we inflicted on Mount Bugak?

Yes, that is correct.

And it will continue to do so.

If you cannot stop it, you will die instantly.

You…

and your son.

This is a nation built on Confucian principles

and I am its king.

Thus,

I cannot approve of heretical ceremonies.

However, it appears there was human intervention involved here.

As the king,

I say this now

despite all the beliefs and convictions I have upheld until now.

Do you truly believe you can stop that evil spirit?

I cannot guarantee anything.

However,

I must also stop this Eight-foot-tall Ghost

in order to save someone.

Yoon Gap shall be reinstated as an examiner

and stay close to my side to carry out my secret orders.

Furthermore, Yeo-ri shall be stationed

at the Royal Couturier as the royal eyeglass artisan

and make eyeglasses under my command.

Your Grace.

You must be in an unbelievable state of grief.

When I heard the news…

I, too, found myself overwhelmed with sorrow

as the earth disappeared beneath my feet.

Do you know…

what provides me with the greatest anguish right now?

I gave birth to him…

but I did not show him any love.

No.

I actually showed him scorn.

Your Grace.

I never once embraced him.

I never once…

said his name with any affection.

That…

That…

pains me so much.

My lord.

I just saw Yoon Gap inside the palace.

What are you talking about?

You said he was exiled from the capital recently.

It appears His Majesty summoned him once more.

I saw him step out of the royal library just now.

That damn scoundrel…

I do…

not remember anything.

He claimed ignorance,

but the look in his eyes told a different story.

Why did the king summon him again?

Get rid of that this instant!

It is good for you.

My goodness.

Gap, drink up. My goodness! Gap.

- Oh, gosh. - Do not come any closer.

I clearly told you I did not want it.

Do you know how much this cost? How could you refuse this?

I had to ask around to find a skilled physician

and I even had to travel across the mountain pass to procure it.

You said it was made with cow brain, snake tail, and dried centipede.

How do you expect me to drink that?

I can tell I will not like it from the smell. You drink it.

It's long been proven bitter medicine is good for the body.

He said you'd regain your sanity if you'd just drink this.

My goodness…

Were you not kicked out of the palace because of that amnesia-insanity business?

I cannot bear to feel the way I did ever again.

Now drink up.

You spoiled brat…

Yeo-ri.

- Yes? - Grab him.

- Yes, ma'am. - How dare you!

Do not take another step.

Even you will not be exempt from my whirlwinds--

Goodness, there you go again about those darn whirlwinds.

You are hilarious.

How dare you speak that way to your patron deity?

Goodness gracious.

Now, he is even talking some nonsense about patron deities.

Yeo-ri, he needs to drink this now.

- Yes, ma'am. - Forget it!

Down it goes.

Goodness. I cannot believe you.

What a waste! What are we going to do?

Yeo-ri, I am going to heat up another batch. Hold on to him.

Yes, ma'am.

I cannot live here anymore.

I must move out.

What happened to enjoying her decent cooking skills?

You could have just held your breath and drank it.

Did you need to throw such a fit?

There is snake tail in there.

The snake is like a cousin to an Imugi.

How could I consume such a thing?

What can we do?

It seems she spent the little money she had to procure it.

Let me see.

What now?

Starting now, you better stay at least ten steps away from me.

What was that about?

That hurt…

What is wrong with me?

Whenever I am around her,

I feel something surging deep inside.

Maybe I want to devour her whole?

What in the world is wrong with me?

Seriously.

He acted like I had the plague.

Earlier, he acted like…

My goodness. No.

I was merely confused.

I mistook him for Lord Yoon Gap.

Right. That is what happened.

Exactly what happened.

How long do you plan to stay here?

Am I not allowed to be here?

But the king gave me permission.

That is not what I am asking.

As long as you are here,

that troublemaker examiner will continue to hover nearby.

Do not mind him.

He lies there because he is comfortable there.

How could I not mind him?

Here he comes.

How are you always lying down or leaning on something?

What if his body really ends up with bedsores?

It is because I used to live freely without a physical body,

but now I am stuck in this clunky human body.

Do you even know how heavy this human body is?

Are you making a talismanic iron net?

You think you could trap that Eight--

Your Grace.

I have heard

that you have not eaten anything in days.

It is milk porridge.

Please try having a bite.

Milk porridge?

Is there a mother in this world

who could eat that

after burying her child?

His Majesty personally requested for them to make it for you.

Please try to have a bite

for the sake of his sincerity.

I told you I do not want it!

Forgive me…

My stomach is a bit upset.

Please excuse me.

Your Grace, are you all right?

It seems…

the queen was not all right.

No.

Her face was sickly pale.

It seems she is suffering from an ailment.

The queen always had a weak constitution.

She was like that when she was pregnant with the prince.

Her morning sickness was needlessly severe

and she had to be bedridden because of her history of miscarriages.

Your Grace.

Could she be…

It seems the queen is experiencing some bodily changes.

Look into it.

The Eight-foot-tall Ghost will come to harm the prince

on the upcoming day of the Fire Horse?

How can you be so sure?

The Eight-foot-tall Ghost is an ember ghost.

It will move on the day when the energy of fire is strong.

He also attacked Prince Yeongin

when fire energy was strong,

the night of the Fire Rooster.

I have prepared

a means of defense to stop it for His Highness's palace,

but if we fail to capture it,

the core issue will not be resolved.

How can I…

help you?

Please let all of the palace know

the prince will be in the royal library until late into the night.

It will be easier to catch it

with a talismanic iron net at the library than his chambers.

I shall lure the Eight-foot-tall Ghost there.

Perhaps, we should consider seeking out a more experienced shaman.

One with a proper patron deity, not a greenhorn like you.

We cannot do that.

The shaman will only focus on expelling the ghost.

Doing so

may lead His Lord's soul to the afterlife as well.

I might lose my chance to save him forever.

I am sure the king would be thrilled to know how dark your heart is.

Take it.

Grandma told me that the crescent blade possessed divine powers.

It may not look like much,

but she used it to guide countless spirits to the afterlife.

I have heard

that the luminous pearl inside an Imugi,

though not as powerful as a dragon's enchanted pearl,

possesses immense power.

I saw it with my own two eyes at Mount Bugak.

Even that mighty Eight-foot-tall Ghost

became powerless in the presence of this luminous pearl.

I will hold it captive with this talismanic iron net.

Then, you can use the power of the luminous pearl

to stab it with that crescent blade.

BONFIRE

I hear the prince always spends his nights in the royal library.

Place it there discreetly.

The prince shall be…

offered to the Warrior Deity tonight.

If someone suspicious approaches the library tonight,

just watch them from afar.

You must capture them

when they leave the library grounds.

BONFIRE

It is the hour of the rat that you specified.

HOUR OF THE RAT: 11 PM TO 1 AM

Yes, Your Majesty.

The Eight-foot-tall Ghost should appear soon.

Should an issue arise,

you just need to do what I said earlier.

Pick me up.

What?

There is no eunuch here.

And I cannot ask Father to pick me up.

Why would I pick you up?

As if standing guard for your sake was not enough,

now you want me to be your parent?

Your Highness, let me.

Come here.

Your Highness.

Do you see that over there?

If the Eight-foot-tall Ghost appears,

it will mistake your undershirt by that jade water bowl for you

and head over there.

I will, then, capture him

with that big net up there.

There is nothing to be afraid of.

I did not ask because I was scared. Do you think I am a baby?

Unbelievable.

Of course. Forgive me.

I mean it.

That ghost…

I know him well.

That ghost is not scary.

He is sad.

He is sad?

Yes.

I do not know why,

but he was sad.

Very sad.

Sad… How?

It is here.

Has the ghost come?

Gangcheori, now.

Do it!

Gangcheori!

Damn it…

As you say,

you may briefly be able to fend it off with the luminous pearl,

but that has its limits.

The luminous pearl in your belly must be fully drained

for that mighty Eight-foot-tall Ghost to be guided…

Shut up.

Damn quack monk.

Is Gangcheori's luminous pearl not enough?

No.

The talismanic iron net is being torn.

Did you find out who that sorcerer is?

Are you all right?

That brat must be the one. She must be.

- Who are you even looking for? - My younger brother.

He is an Imugi. There really was another one.

Is that you, Gangcheori?

That girl, Yeo-ri. I think I might want to devour her…

See if you feel the same thing about any other human.

What are you going to do with that cursed thing?

The queen has been sowed with the king's seed.

The Warrior Deity will have fresh prey.

What about the queen? Is the queen all right?

Subtitle translation by: Justin S. Kim