Original subtitles

It was a place of mystery.

A place no one dared to approach.

Only the guardian spirits of the mountain

could sometimes be seen at this place.

It was called

the Garden of the Moonlight.

And there,

a protector of Mount Jiri

had lived for over a thousand years.

Wol-ryeong.

Wol-ryeong, where are you?

It's me, So-jeong.

Hey, Wol-ryeong.

Oh, no. Not again.

We're here. Let's get to it.

Hurry up. Get off.

What are you doing?

I'm a very busy man.

Well...

Gosh.

I said hurry up!

My lady.

Seo-hwa.

Are you all right? Are you hurt?

Hey!

How dare you?

What did you just say?

You've got to be kidding me.

Look at this traitor's son.

Still putting on airs, I see.

Hey, that's enough!

That's enough from you!

"You this, you that."

Watch that mouth of yours.

-Let go of him right now. -What?

-How could you be so ungrateful? -What?

Who has supported your family all this time?

-It's His Lordship. -I don't believe this.

How could you forget that overnight?

My goodness.

That's how it is!

My lord.

-Are you okay? -For goodness' sake.

Hey!

Open up. It's Officer Jang.

Hello, Officer Jang.

What took you so long?

Here you go.

I've done my job. I'm off.

Not yet.

Have a drink, relax for a while.

I wish I could,

but I have to attend my mother's memorial service.

I'll come here next time.

All right.

Well, good luck.

-Move out. -Yes, sir.

Come on.

What are you guys doing? Move it along.

What is this place?

What do you mean?

Have you never seen the House of Pleasure?

What? The House of Pleasure?

Like a courtesan house?

Seo-hwa.

When it comes to this dance, Madam Cheon is the best in the world,

in the whole wide world!

The new lord likes you so much.

Just one look at you and his jaw will drop.

Not just his jaw.

His pants, too--

Quiet.

Watch your language, girls.

Madam. It's me, Jang-soe.

What is it?

Well...

Madam, it's...

I won't go.

So what if you don't want to?

You've been sold into service. You prefer death?

I'd rather die.

To die would be much better than to enter that gate.

Look.

The new lord is here, so I don't have time for this.

Let's just get on with it, shall we?

Well, come on.

Unhand me. Let go.

I said I won't go.

You heard her.

Get your hands off her.

What's all the commotion?

Madam.

Who are they?

The children of Lord Yoon and their servant.

He was beheaded for treason.

Treason?

Then they're the brats of the traitor.

Watch it.

Our father was framed.

He is not a traitor.

It is no concern of mine.

You've been sold into service.

Now that you are here,

you are at the whim of this house.

I refuse.

You have no choice.

I refuse to go in.

I will never become

a filthy courtesan.

"Filthy"?

I see.

Jang-soe.

Yes, madam.

Strip her.

What are you...

My lady!

Stop that!

Seo-hwa.

Seo-hwa.

Stop! What do you think you're doing?

-Seo-hwa. -My lady.

-You... How dare you... -My lady.

Stop that! How dare you?

My lady.

-My lady. -Seo-hwa.

Seo-hwa.

Seo-hwa.

Seo-hwa.

Bind her.

-My lady. -Seo-hwa.

Stop!

Stop that!

-Seo-hwa! -My lady!

Seo-hwa.

My lady!

Put them in the storehouse.

She stays there until I say otherwise.

She will get not a bite of food

nor a drop of water. Got it?

-Yes, madam. -Yes, madam.

-My lady. -Seo-hwa.

-My lady. -Seo-hwa.

-Seo-hwa. -My lady.

-My lady. -Seo-hwa.

Seo-hwa.

Get in.

Open up! Open this door!

Seo-hwa!

How did this happen?

My lady.

Wait.

What is the meaning of this?

-What is this-- -Look.

Do you know what this tree is called?

It's the Tree of Shame.

She uses it to break the will

of so-called ladies like you.

The Tree of Shame?

Look. Just leave your pride here

as a noble lady.

At dawn, bow to her

and tell her you were wrong.

Before the real shame comes. Okay?

Goodness.

Wait.

Wait!

Darn it.

But...

How could you do this to a person?

Let me go.

Please.

Please!

No.

I've sworn not to interfere with their business.

I can’t.

Help me.

Help me.

Help me.

Father...

Listen!

The traitor, Yoon Gi-su, has been sentenced to death.

Father!

Gwan-ung,

how could you do this to me?

You're my old friend.

We may have been friends,

but you've been looking down on me all these years.

Now, you can see

just how wrong you were.

Let go of me.

Father.

Father!

Seo-hwa.

Don't take it too hard.

After we send your precious daughter off to a courtesan house,

I'll call on her myself.

I wonder

what it's like to call on a noble lady

who's been used.

Cho Gwan-ung...

You!

Father!

Here, drink.

Congratulations.

It's been too long...

Oh, you!

My lord, if I may.

It's you, Madam Cheon.

Come in.

Congratulations, my lord.

You've been promoted to the fifth rank.

News travels fast.

How did you find out so soon?

In fact, I've caught a traitor.

Lord Yoon, I believe.

You knew that, too?

You've been here together as friends

a couple of times.

In the past, yes.

But what can you do?

A friend is one thing, my country another.

Even if he was my friend,

I would never side with a traitor.

How could I?

I suppose not.

But it broke my heart

all the same.

So, here I am.

I made a promise to him before he died.

Which is?

His daughter.

I promised him

that if she's sold to a courtesan house, I would be her first customer.

I see.

So I would like to be her first.

How long will it be before she's ready?

She needs to be properly trained, of course, my lord.

It would take at least three or four months.

I see.

But unfortunately,

I'm a busy man now, as you know.

So...

let's say, five days.

Surely that's enough time to get her ready.

-But, my lord-- -I said five days, Madam Cheon.

Okay?

I'll be waiting.

Come here.

Shall I take another look at it?

You two.

Do you know what this tree is called?

It's the Tree of Shame.

This is too harsh.

Hey!

-Stupid girl. -Stupid girl.

She uses it to break the will

of so-called ladies like you.

This will not break me.

It won't.

I will

never sell my body.

Never.

Help. Don't help.

Help. Don't help.

Help. Don't help.

Help. Don't help.

She's a piece of work, all right.

Three days and not a drop of water.

What are you going to do?

His Lordship's deadline

is in a few days

I won't.

I'm not

going to sell

my body.

There you are.

I've been looking all over for you.

-So-jeong. -Come on.

This is a human's concern.

But she's so young.

It's been three days.

Young or not, cruel or not,

it's her fate.

You shouldn't interfere.

Did you forget your vow already?

I just want to help that pathetic girl.

You swore never to interfere with humans again.

Just this once. What's the harm?

There's no such thing as "just this once."

One time turns into two times,

and then three.

Don't try to meddle with humans and their destiny.

There is a line you shouldn't cross.

Wasn't that supposed to be your fate too?

A line I shouldn't have crossed?

All I want to do is help one helpless girl.

My lady, can you hear me?

Dam-i.

Dam-i, is that you?

Yes, my lady. It's me.

You're alive.

You were burning up all night.

I thought you were going to die.

I was so worried all night long.

Where am I?

The House of Pleasure, of course.

The madam must have had a change of heart.

She suddenly wanted to let you in.

So...

Move.

My lady.

I said I'd never set foot in this house.

Move.

I won't stay here for another minute.

And then what will you do?

Once you're sold off,

you're a courtesan, whether you like it or not.

Whether you like it or not,

you'll sell drinks, laughter, and your body.

I prefer the Tree of Shame.

I'd rather die there.

My lady.

-Seo-hwa. -Yun.

You're alive?

Yun.

One last time.

Do you still refuse to become a courtesan?

Answer wisely.

Your little brother's life

is in your hands.

Seo-hwa, don't worry about me.

I don't care what happens to me.

Don't ever give in.

So, what will you do?

Seo-hwa.

What's your answer?

Beat him.

-Yes, madam. -Yes, madam.

My lord.

My lady.

Stop.

Stop it.

Let him go.

I will...

do what you ask.

Just...

spare my brother.

Seo-hwa!

My lady.

Haengrang.

Yes, madam.

Clean her up.

Yes, madam.

Seo-hwa.

Seo-hwa.

HUA

Wow, what a sight.

She is a beauty.

But...

What a shame.

Master Cho of all people.

Who?

Master Cho?

Cho Gwan-ung, that bastard.

She'll be serving him tonight.

My goodness. What?

The same Master Cho who betrayed our late lord?

Yes. Him.

Our father wasn't enough, so now he's after Seo-hwa.

No. That scum.

There's something I need you to do.

Me? What is it?

Oh, goodness!

What if I get caught?

I know. You'll be risking your life.

And I'm sorry about that.

But you're the only one that can do it.

What can I do?

We've got to stop Cho Gwan-ung from violating her.

You're right.

Please, Dam-i.

Save my sister.

Please. I'm counting on you, Dam-i.

Gosh, you are so pretty.

So, what if we're beautiful?

We're mere courtesans.

If they demand drinks, we pour drinks.

If they want us, we give them our body.

How can Madam Cheon make her serve him when she's not even trained?

But you know who we're dealing with.

None other than Cho Gwan-ung, that hot-tempered jerk.

If he doesn't get what he wants, who knows what will happen?

Even she has to give him his way.

-Right? -That mouth of yours.

Enough chatter.

Both of you, out.

What do they mean? Cho Gwan-ung?

I will be with him?

Is that it?

No one is to blame here.

You're just unlucky.

Goodness.

No.

Cho Gwan-ung?

Cho Gwan-ung?

My lady.

It's me.

Dam-i, how did you get in here?

What are you doing?

There's no time. His Lordship is waiting outside.

Undress, hurry.

Do you hear me?

Put on my clothes and run away.

What are you saying?

Run away?

What about you?

What will happen to you?

I'll just get lashed a few times,

but that's not the case for you.

You can't let your greatest enemy have you.

Dam-i.

You have to survive.

Survive and clear your father's name.

Survive.

So you can take your revenge against Cho Gwan-ung.

Dam-i.

Survive.

And come back for me.

So, don't die.

Don't die in vain.

All right?

Dam-i.

My lady.

Your customer will be here soon.

He'll want your service.

Be ready.

Look at me.

I said, look at me.

Oh, no. Who is this?

Where is she?

Tell me!

I don't know.

She just told me to change clothes.

You want a beating, is that it?

It's true, madam. I don't know anything.

She just told me to wear her clothes and wait here.

You little...

Madam, Master Cho is here.

Go tell Jang-soe to capture Seo-hwa.

Tell him to do it quietly and quickly, so that Master Cho doesn't find out.

Yes, madam.

And you, Dam-i.

Tonight, you serve His Lordship.

Yes, madam.

What?

Madam, that's not right.

How could I...

Madam, I'm sorry.

Have mercy.

This is my fault.

If you want to live, keep your mouth shut and do what you need to do.

If he realizes it's you,

I'll kill you myself.

Understood?

Oh, goodness. Madam.

Why are you just standing there?

Go find Seo-hwa. Hurry!

What's going on?

The forest is disturbed.

I've been waiting long enough.

My apologies.

It's just that the child is nervous.

Nervous? I don't bite.

May I ask you a favor?

Put out the light.

What for?

I can't let her know that it's you.

She may be a courtesan now,

but you did kill her father after all.

If she sees you,

she might harm herself.

You're right. If she bites her tongue to kill herself

even before the fun begins, that would be bad.

Fair enough.

Happy?

Bring her in.

I'll leave you alone.

Not a word from you until he's finished,

if you value your life and Seo-hwa's.

Remember that.

That's it.

Struggle all you want. I like it.

-My lady. -Keep fighting me.

You're mine now.

I will call on you

many times from now on

until every part of your body is mine.

I will continue to call on you over and over.

My lady!

Are you okay, Seo-hwa?

Dam-i.

There's no time. Come on.

We have to go. Here.

You have to survive.

Don't die in vain.

Okay.

Let's go.

Here.

-There. -Get them!

Let's go.

Come on. Did you hear that?

She needs to endure it.

If she does,

all of us, including Seo-hwa, may live.

Seo-hwa.

Seo-hwa.

Go.

Yun, go on ahead.

What do you mean?

I can't go without you.

I can't.

I'd rather die with you than go alone.

Who said anything about dying?

I'll hide, so you should run.

If we stay together, we'll both get killed.

So...

I'm saying that we should separate for better chances of survival.

No!

I can't leave you here and go by myself.

Please, listen to me.

If we're captured,

we can't clear our father's name.

Think of Dam-i's sacrifice.

Seo-hwa.

So,

go now.

But...

It's the only way to save me. Please.

Go.

Please?

Go!

Survive.

Wherever you are, I'll find you.

No matter what, survive.

Okay, go now.

Go!

Dam-i, I'm sorry.

I think this is it for me.

But we saved Jeong-yun,

so please forgive me.

Please...

help me.

Help...

me.

Which way?

There.

What are these? Fireflies?

They're not fireflies.

If they aren't fireflies,

what are they?

Could they be spirits?

-Spirits? -Spirits?

Who's there?

Are you a human?

If you are, answer me.

What's that?

Is it a tiger? A wolf?

Neither.

If it's neither a tiger nor a wolf,

then what is it?

What are you?

A man?

A demon?

Leave this forest.

You there! Stand aside!

Leave this forest!

It's a gumiho!

Madam Cheon! Where is she?

Where is Madam Cheon?

-You wench! -My lord!

What's the meaning of this?

How dare you deceive me?

How dare you try to fool me with a dirty servant girl?

Where is Seo-hwa?

Bring me Seo-hwa!

Courtesans are available only after the formal training.

If you want Seo-hwa,

come back when she's trained.

Then you may have your way with her.

You must have a death wish.

That's the only explanation.

Will you calm down

when I'm dead?

What did you just say?

Get my sword.

Bring me my sword from the room!

My lord, spare her.

She has done nothing wrong.

Seo-hwa is to blame for running off.

-What? -Not another word.

We got her all prepared,

but she slipped away.

Seo-hwa is to blame for running off.

Madam Cheon has done nothing wrong.

She ran off?

Seo-hwa, that wench?

Look the other way.

She'll be killed

if it's reported.

She's a naive, young girl.

Give her a chance, my lord.

I will make sure that she returns.

You there.

My lord.

Report the runaway slaves.

Send men out to find them.

Yes, my lord.

Seo-hwa.

Who are you?

Are you the runaway slave from the House of Pleasure?

What did you say?

Who got caught?

Seo-hwa's little brother.

Bounty hunters caught him this morning.

They're going to hang him.

Dam-i!

Dam-i!

My lord.

My lord.

My lord.

My lord.

My lord.

Dam-i.

Dam-i.

I'll ask you one last time.

Where did Seo-hwa go?

What a pity.

It's a pity that I couldn't kill you myself

before I die.

-Hang him. -Yes, my lord.

Dam-i.

Thank you.

I won't forget what you did, even in my death.

My lord.

-Dam-i. -My lord.

What do you mean? What did you see in the forest?

A gumiho, madam.

What? A gumiho?

I don't understand. Out of nowhere, you say?

A gumiho really appeared out of nowhere.

At first, I thought they were fireflies or something.

The lights were floating about around us.

Then that evil creature suddenly appeared!

Oh, dear.

Are you sure it was really a gumiho?

Yes!

It had nine tails, so I'm sure.

I thought I'd never see you again.

That's absurd.

You come to me with a silly story like this?

We have a number of witnesses.

Too many for it to be a hallucination.

And Seo-hwa? What about her?

I'm thinking she was taken by the gumiho.

Oh, no.

Apparently, gumihos love eating human liver.

That's disgusting.

Madam.

It's...

Oh, goodness.

What will we do?

That poor child.

What a poor child.

You're awake?

Who are you?

You slept all day. I was worried.

How are you feeling?

I asked who you are.

I'm Koo Wol-ryeong.

Don't worry.

I chased them all away.

No one can harm you here.

No one can tie you to a tree

or threaten you.

Dam Pyeong-jun at your service.

Do you know why I formed a search group?

I heard a gumiho was seen in the forest.

Whatever it is,

we can't have an abomination

disturbing the peace, don't you think?

Of course, sir.

I'll search the entire forest and find it.

Are you sure you saw it?

Yes. We saw it with our own eyes.

Then you can show us the way.

Follow me.

I remember exactly where I saw it.

-Move out. -Yes, sir.

I believe that's Dam Pyeong-jun.

That's not good.

Wol-ryeong, where are you?

Wol-ryeong!

What is it, So-jeong?

Hey.

You said you'd be gone for at least a month.

Yes, well, there are soldiers coming.

Listen. Who's the girl?

Yoon Seo-hwa.

Yoon Seo-hwa?

The girl who was tied to the tree.

Don't you remember?

You really went and did it?

She ran into my forest first.

She asked for my help, so--

You've got to send her away.

She's on the run.

They'll kill her if she's caught.

Whether she lives or dies, it's her fate.

It's none of your concern.

How many times do I have to say it?

It's my concern now.

Since when is a human's fate your concern?

Since I fell in love.

So what do you care...

What?

So,

how does one find the Gu Family Book?

Why do you suddenly want the Gu Family Book?

You're not...

Yes. I want to become human.

Find that creature called a gumiho.

We found it!

And find the body of Seo-hwa as well.

It was a place of mystery.

A place no one dared approach.

Only the guardian spirits of the mountain

could sometimes be seen at this place.

The Garden of the Moonlight

was where their tragic tale began.

What's that?

You want to become human?

Yes.

You want to...

Do you really?

Yes. I want to be human.

It's the first time

I've felt like this in a thousand years.

Despite being a gumiho, you wanted to win her heart.

-So you lied to her, -Wol-ryeong!

-tricked her, -Seo-hwa.

-and confused her. -Wol-ryeong!

Why did you do that? I loved you.

I loved you so dearly.

He's not a monster.

My baby isn't a monster.

Kang for river and chi for abandoned. So it's Kang-chi.

"Kang-chi."

Choi Kang-chi.

Subtitle translation by Jin-young Song