Original subtitles

Im Onguk's Guide to Sores, lost in the Imjin War.

Is it truly lost?

Has no one ever seen it?

[Episode 38]

Mine's better, right?

Look at that.

Win, win!

Wow!

Stop it.

- Huh? What's that? - Wha..?

What is it?

It's a body!

A body...

A body!

Move, stand aside.

- He washed up? - Yes, sir.

- Let's see. - Sir...

Don't be shocked.

The corpse...

What's this?

He's been disemboweled.

After death, from the look of it.

Butcher's work. Who would do this?

How is the patient?

He may not revive.

Doctor Yun won't give up,

but he's comatose.

Well? Get some restoratives. Move!

Doctor, please.

Doctor, he's gone.

Silence.

He's not dead yet. Not yet.

His bladder point...

Sharp-round needles, I need sharp-rounds...

Doctor, doctor...

Doctor...

What is this?

Doctor Baek.

The patient stopped breathing.

Taeju.

It's too late.

Stop. You did all you could.

Doctor Yun.

No, he can make it.

I know he can.

He can make it.

Taeju.

I know how hard this is.

But it's part of what we do. Sometimes we lose them.

I don't what to hear that.

You could have saved him.

He died because of me.

No, that's not true.

Nothing could have saved him.

A toxic abscess is beyond us.

Doctor.

Hurry, come quick.

Please hurry.

What is it?

Come quick.

It's one of our patients.

Come on, let's go.

I said I'm done.

- No. - You're not better yet.

You can't go.

The boil is deep. It must be removed or you'll die.

Like that other guy?

I'm better off without you.

His complications were rare.

It was a 50-50 chance...

You call those good odds?

Suppose I'm in the unlucky 50 percent?

That's not what I meant.

Enough 'unlucky' talk.

Think positive, see? Positive.

Right, think positively.

- Think positively... - Relax.

Try to relax.

My lord.

Doctor Baek.

Where are they going?

They heard about the abscess and tetanus deaths.

They're scared.

And the peoples surgery? What about there?

Huh? Cut me open?

It's the only option.

It's surgery or death.

Oh, no, not me. I'll take the herbs.

Right, me, too. Hacking people open, I heard about that.

That's for animals.

Not for people.

Listen, all of you.

You're wrong. We have to operate.

Not on me. I'll take the herbs.

And me. You kidding? Cutting into me?

Let's go, c'mon.

Don't go. Please wait.

Don't just... don't...

I swear.

They're all gone.

This is bad.

They're all running scared.

They don't understand surgery.

It scares them.

I don't blame them.

Cutting into someone?

What kind of medicine is that?

Is that any way for a friend of Kwanghyon's to talk?

Huh?

...Owie...

You all right?

What? Knock it off. Quit faking.

A boil. On my tushy.

What?

What? Why didn't you say anything?

What if they cut it off?

I'm scared.

What?

I think it burst.

It hurts. A lot.

This will do it.

- This way. - Bend over.

Well, now, twelve patients today alone?

At this rate we'll have none left.

Since Doctor Baek reopened the surgical college...

...we've lost more than we've saved.

Wouldn't you agree?

I would.

I can barely work for all the patient complaints.

Is that so?

You exaggerate.

We've saved dozens of lives at the surgical college...

...and the people's surgery.

We couldn't treat sequestra and abscesses without surgery.

But at what cost?

We lose lives to toxemia and tetanus.

But those were brought on by malnutrition from the famine.

We can't blame it all on surgery.

Ah, well said.

It's not the surgery.

Ahem.

Be that is at may, it is a major weakness.

It's true.

Try as we might,

there's a 50% chance of tetanus or toxemia.

80% of illness after surgery.

Why should they trust us?

We have to find basic preventative measures.

True, well said.

Doctor Baek is right again.

Basic measures.

Easy to say, harder to find.

And something you haven't been able to do.

Pssh, tough guy. Baby got an owie?

It really hurts.

You ever get a tush boil? If not, you don't know.

Even when I squat to take a... ouch!

There. Buck up.

Herbs should do the rest.

Yeah? You don't gotta cut into me?

It's a minor abscess.

A slight lump that will come to a head.

Herbs will be fine.

Yeah?

I'm gonna live.

No surgery for me.

Listen to you.

You'd think your mom came back from the dead.

It feels like I did... owie...

- Jabong. - Huh?

Surgery scares you that much?

- Huh? - Does it?

I trust you, see. Really a lot.

But surgery, that's a scary thing.

I mean, suppose I die, right?

Kinda creepy is all...

Is everything all right here?

Is it the same with you?

Listening to Jabong, it's natural that people are scared.

Tetanus and toxemia are lethal.

And all we have are herbs and medicines.

But we can't stop operating.

It's the only treatment for tumors and boils.

But I can't keep asking patients to risk their lives.

If we can't prevent infection...

...we're not treating people...

...we're killing them.

It can't be...

Can it?

This is it?

This is the best you've got?

Yes, Your Highness.

Treasury funds are restricted, due to the famine.

Yes, I know that.

But this won't do. It's dull and lifeless.

It won't do at all.

It's a special day.

Your Highness, please.

I thought you were over all this.

It's not for me.

Pardon?

I wanted to give the best.

Then Apprentice...

I mean, it's for Doctor Baek?

All these girly colors?

Are you kidding? Would he wear this?

What is it with you two?

I'm not the old Sukhwi.

I'm over that.

This is different.

Pardon? The date?

Yes, the date for Doctor Baek and Jinyong's wedding.

The seers gave me the most auspicious dates.

Your Highness.

They can't do it all themselves.

You know as well as I that people need a push.

So I'll do it.

You, yourself?

Hm, see this?

They're a match made in heaven.

This day... this one...

There are no bad days.

She's not like the rest of us.

Talk about lucky.

Will they be all right?

Hm? With what?

I'm worried.

Doctor Baek is no longer a commoner.

But they're still so different. And Jinyong's clan...

You think Jinyong cares about all that?

And if she doesn't want him...

...I'll take him.

He and I can run off together.

Pardon?

Your Highness.

Just, you know, for example.

Still, keep an eye on them.

Jinyong's foster father Lord Yi will have different ideas.

It won't be easy.

It won't? Really?

Yes.

Ugh.

My lord.

Oh.

My lord.

What did you find out?

It's not as easy as we thought.

Jinyong's time in service was years ago.

So you didn't get anything?

It was a long time ago.

It's not easy to find anyone...

You can't even do that?

There's no one to count on with Officer Kang gone.

You're telling me.

I ran the clinic and now I'm you're errand boy...

What?

Nothing, my lord.

But why are you looking into this?

You used to forbid us to mention it.

Needs must, as they say.

Pardon?

Jinyong is his only weakness.

Hurt her and we hurt him.

Astragalus.

And wolfsbane, gentian and siler roots.

But astragalus increases defensive energies...

...interrupting normal body functions.

No, it's not enough.

I won't find it this way.

What's that?

Sick leave?

Yes. I'm afraid I need a rest.

I see. It's true you've been running ragged since you got back.

But it's a problem.

It's not easy running the surgical college without you.

We'll treat the critical patients first.

Doctor Yun and the others can treat the rest.

I won't be gone long.

Three or four days at the most.

Fine.

Welcome. How many? Two? This way.

It's not often you ask me to make something.

I've missed your cooking.

May I take this?

Hm? Oil?

Oh, sure.

Now what's going on?

Taking time off and all.

Nothing. Just a few days leave.

To go where?

I know, wherever you want, huh?

There. Done.

Here. Per request, boiled beef and sauce stored in oil.

Thank you, master.

I'll see you in a few days.

Sure, sure.

There you go.

- Mind how you go. - Okay.

- Goodbye, sir. - Off you go.

What brings you...?

I wonder...

La-de-da, de-da-da.

Make it up fresh for when Kwanghyon comes.

There's no help for Doctor Baek, none at all.

How so?

How not so?

Him a fancy-shmancy doctor, only the best.

The best oils for him.

Now he's Lord Ooolala.

Full of himself, that's what he is.

Now see here. Listen to you.

Kwanghyon's not like that.

Oh, he isn't?

He's human, isn't he?

People stand, they want to sit. Sit, they want to lie down.

Famine everywhere and he's eating fancy foods.

He's not like that!

What the..?

You going to ladle me to death?

So what if he likes a good meal?

Think of everything he's been through.

Let him feast.

I notice you haven't been going hungry.

Who are you to point fingers?

What?

I can't believe... You're one to talk...

Chef Oh!

So he shows up and you stop liking me?

Yea, go ahead.

I'm just that type of person, full of greed...

...so why don't you just live with Baek Kwanghyon?

I see it all now. Gimme that.

I'll do it.

Now, now, why are..?

I said I'd do it, out!

Fine, then I'll go.

Wait, I'm...

Why? Why do I do it?

I'm such an idiot.

What's wrong with me?

Pardon me. I hope you're all right.

You're the monk that deals with the dead?

Yes, I am.

Your head isn't shaved...

My calling is... different.

Start tomorrow. There's a lo to do.

Yes.

The Surgical College...

Surgical College.

Master, master.

Master.

Hm?

What's with the half-wit routine?

You sick?

Old fart, it's too cold to go out.

At your age, too... tsk-tsk-tsk...

Kayong.

Hm?

I think he's...

I think he's come to Joseon.

Huh?

He who? Which 'he' exactly?

Hang on.

Master, not...

Not the crazy guy sent off?

Yes. Choi Hyong Kwi.

No.

I think he's here.

What?

- Find out. - Sir.

- Hello. - Oh, it's you.

What now?

What brings an inquisitor to the police bureau?

Ah, well...

That was no ordinary corpse.

Unordinary? How so?

This...

A first for you, too?

Wait, is this...

...evisceration?

Yes. But not just that.

See there?

It's not helter-skelter.

This is very precise.

Step-by-step...

This is a dissection.

Exactly.

The dissection of a madman.

But it's not the first time it's happened.

What?

The coroner says it's happened more than once.

A lot more.

But who...

Who would do such a thing?

Surgical College Logbook.

They can't treat a simple boil?

It's easy...

'Back tumor too deep to operate.'

'Throat tumor too far advanced...'

'Leg carbuncles beyond us...'

Yak-yak, blah-blah...

Let's show them just how stupid they are.

Shall we?

Always something.

Every day, it never stops.

My thoughts exactly. We should hurry.

It's been three months.

Why isn't he getting better?

Please be patient, Your Majesty.

For how long?

The Crown Prince's face is getting worse.

Doesn't that mean it's serious?

Not at all. His Highness will be fine.

I'll change his medicine.

Nurse, a decoction bugbane and canker root.

Yes, doctor.

Medicine, medicine.

Another decoction?

How many is this?

Sire.

- Sire. - My lord.

My little boy is suffering and what do you do?

Sire.

You think changing his medicine will help?

You have to find a way to save my son.

But, Sire, the lumps are in a sensitive and dangerous area.

Enough. That's enough.

I've heard enough.

I don't believe you can help my boy.

Not anymore.

Sire.

Sire.

The Crown Prince?

Yes.

It's quite progressed.

He has a pronounced lump on his face.

If it's that far along, herbs aren't likely to help.

True.

Which is why the royal physician was stymied.

Then shouldn't it be removed?

His skin will reek of pus at this point.

But this is the Crown Prince.

The Royals won't allow surgery, must less Her Majesty.

My lord.

Kayong said it was around here.

Is that it?

Kwanghyon.

Kwanghyon.

He's gone.

Ugh.

Has he been drinking?

What are you..?

Kwanghyon.

What is it, why are you...?

What is it? Are you sick?

No, it's nothing.

Nothing? With that fever?

Let me see that arm.

No, no.

Necrotic boils.

But why? How did it get this far?

Did you do it on purpose?

Tell me. What have you done?

Fatty foods and liquor only make it worse.

Are you trying to make the boils worse?

It's the only way.

What?

I know how to stop tetanus and toxemia.

But I won't try it on patients till I'm sure.

So...

So you tried it on your own body?

By making yourself worse?

Look. If I operate now, there will be complications.

But if I wait a little longer, my method may very well work.

Baek Kwanghyon.

Have you lost your mind?

Suppose you die?

How could you be so stupid?

Jinyong.

No.

We're operating now.

Let's go to the clinic.

No. I can't.

This isn't medicine.

If I can't stop infection, I can't help people.

I won't risk losing 50% of my patients.

Kwanghyon.

Just a little longer and I'll have the answer.

I've come this far.

I can't stop now.

No, Kwanghyon.

I'm all right. Don't worry. I'll be fine.

I was sure before I started.

Kwanghyon.

I'm fine. Really, Jinyong.

Jinyong.

Head Eunuch, how may I help you?

I come on the King's orders.

His Majesty?

Come on, it's just my arm after all.

Listen to me. Or I'll hurt this one, too.

Kwanghyon.

What is it?

His... His... His Maje...

Well?

My lord, what's happening?

Oh, no, this is bad, this is really bad.

Like a lightning bolt.

You, you...

What is it?

Where is he?

Where is the chief physician?

My lord, how could this happen?

Baek Kwanghyon will be treating His Highness?

His Majesty said he was worried.

Pardon?

Pssh.

No, I won't have it.

I'm still the chief physician.

Baek Kwanhyon is just a clinic hack.

Yes, so you say.

You know what happens if we lose the Crown Prince?

What now? Tell me that?

How is he?

His Highness is worse than I feared.

I expected some swelling and pus.

But seeing the blood on his gums and lips...

...his treatment has failed to stop it spreading.

What?

So there's nothing you can do?

Not even your surgery?

Sire...

Tell me. Will surgery help?

Can you save my boy?

Sire.

You can't. Not Baek Kwanghyon.

What?

Jinyong.

Doctor Baek can't treat anyone now.

His body won't take it.

Won't take it?

Jinyong, is Doctor Baek ill?

No, not at all.

I can do it.

Kwanghyon.

There's nothing wrong with me.

I can treat His Highness.

Doctor Baek.

- Kwanghyon. - No.

Not in your condition.

I'm fine.

We can ease the pain and I can go on.

That's not the problem.

It's not the pain.

Your arm needs treatment.

She's right. In your condition...

No, it's not critical yet.

We can treat my arm after I help His Highness.

- Look here. - Kwanghyon.

I'll see His Highness around 4 o'clock.

Then you and the nurse...

...can work on my arm.

I wanted to test further.

But with His Highness at risk,

I can't delay.

First I'll treat His Highness.

Then we'll see if we can stop any infection in my wounds.

When we're sure, we'll use the same treatment on the prince.

But I can't...

No, you can.

I trust you above all others.

I know you can do it.

I won't have it.

Cut into the prince?

My lord, please reconsider.

What if something goes wrong?

Should I just do nothing?

We've tried everything.

You've seen what good it's done.

My lord.

I still won't have it.

I absolutely forbid it.

Your Majesty.

Did you forget how your father died?

He had the same thing and a doctor's foolishness cost him his life.

Now you want to try something even more dangerous?

Yet he saved the Qing Empress with surgery.

This may save my boy's life.

Please stop.

How can you compare her to the prince?

He is your heir apparent.

I don't trust him.

What kind of doctor cuts open his patients?

It's butchery.

I won't have it. I forbid it.

Your Majesty.

Well?

Her Majesty forbade it but the King insisted.

And?

What's the verdict?

They're going ahead with it.

What?

My lord.

Moron.

I knew you'd say that.

You're a first for me.

Brilliant or a fool, I can't tell.

It was the only way.

You...

Tell me this.

Why go this far?

To be a success?

To treat the prince, the king, the whole royal house?

Is that it?

You think so?

Yes, you're right.

I want to succeed. To treat the prince, the king.

The whole royal house.

I want to do it for the clinic, master.

Our people are terrified of surgery.

It's natural. Being cut open is scary. Why shouldn't they be?

But that will change if I treat a royal.

The people follow the royal house.

Treating His Highness will allay their fears.

And that's why?

Yes, master, that's why.

This treatment must work. For the good of our people.

I'll make it work.

You're crazy. Off your rocker.

But it's a good crazy.

Very good indeed.

Master.

You all right?

I'll survive.

I can reduce the pain.

You'll be sore.

Thank you, Jinyong.

Get any worse and you'll answer to me.

Relax.

I wouldn't risk it, you're too scary.

Oh? Doctor Baek is treating His Highness?

Yes.

He comes back sporting wings.

Now look at him go.

Is everything ready?

- Yes, my lord. - Yes, my lord.

See that every medicine is readily available.

My lord.

It's the Crown Prince.

Use care and more care, don't forget.

Yes, of course, my lord.

My lord.

Two doses of agrimony and orange peel.

Is the heartleaf ready?

Here.

Here. I'll take it.

No, let me.

I'll lug stuff, you use your head.

We're in this together.

Your brains, my brawn.

Fair enough.

Anything else? Chop-chop.

And you. More?

The doctor for His Royal Highness.

Welcome.

See to it.

My lord.

What is all this?

You send a doctor to the palace without my permission?

It was the King's decision.

You should have stopped it.

Doctor Baek is a clinic quack.

Him, treating the Prince?

He's my patient.

Now look here.

You look.

You should have helped him before we were called in.

He was your responsibility.

What?

He's laughing at you, that's what.

It's unheard of.

What?

Who's laughing at who?

You done?

My lord, I was just...

They'll be sorry.

All of them.

My lord.

Do you think that scares anyone?

After all, you're the one that looks frightened.

What?

You... How dare you...

Try to control yourself.

You... Who are you?

How dare you...

The frightened dog barks loudest.

It's all over your face.

Don't let them see.

Keep it to yourself. Understand?

He's under.

First we cleanse with salt water.

After the operation, clean it with the angelica decoction.

You're sure the decoction will prevent infection?

Here's where we find out.

We'll use the salt water and experiment on me.

What was that again?

Do you have any idea who I am?

Chief Physician, Yi Myonghwan.

Everyone knows that.

Could I come to Joseon and not know?

Try not to be scared.

I'm here now.

Your luck's about to change.

What?

You...

Baek Kwanghyon.

Wha..?

He's bound to fail, my lord.

He still doesn't know the secret.

What?

My lord.

It's time to start.

Be careful.

It's the Crown Prince.

There. We got the root.

We need to clean and close the wound.

Now to stop the bleeding.

Okay.

Here.

It's not enough.

We need more than we thought.

Yes, sir.

I'll get it.

Ma'am.

Jinyong, how is he?

We did it.

Hah, that's Baek all right. I knew it.

You need coagulant?

Yes, please hurry.

Oh? So the operation is over?

Yes, Sire.

The surgery went smoothly.

He's bound to fail, my lord.

He still doesn't know the secret.

My lord.

Let's go. I have to see for myself.

Now to close the wound.

Allow me.

Would you?

Now for your arm.

You should sit.

Are you all right?

Wait... why is this...?

What is it?

He... He won't stop bleeding.

What?

Come look. The bleeding won't stop.

No.

Agrimony. Quick.

- Go! - Doctor.

Agrimony, draconis and bedstraw. Move.

Ma'am.

My lord.

Oh, hello.

What is all this?

Trouble.

They can't stop the bleeding.

What? The bleeding won't stop?

Yes.

The bleeding won't stop.

If he gets to the root...

...he'll cut an artery.

An artery about which he is completely ignorant.

How...? He did he know?

It's no use. The agrimony, the draconis, nothing.

Orchid and ginseng.

Doctor Baek.

Well? Get it.

Right.

No.

Baek Kwanghyon...

'Baek Kwanghyon.'

Shall we see just how good you really are?

We have to stop it.

We have to stop the bleeding.

Kwanghyon.

Translated by D. Bannon Subtitles provided by MBC

Look here, have you lost your senses?

You have to trust me. I know he can do this.

You can't possibly know.

You can't stop the bleeding?

The Prince isn't out of danger?

He'll kill the Prince. He'll kill him.

Doctor Baek, what now? Is there nothing more we can do?

But he can. Baek can do it.

He spent 3 years practicing.

That's why I'm proud to call him sir.

You read Saam's Acupuncture Treatise?

You're burning up.

Can you go on?

Prepare the anesthesia.

I'm going to save his arm.

Listen, So Kayong.

You get in trouble, come find me, all right?

- Huh? - Huh?

- Is he hitting on me? - Huh?

What are you looking at?

Did you miss me that much?

What are you up to?

What else?

I hear you have another student.

A certain... Baek Kwanghyon?