Original subtitles

They must not make the deal.

Stop Yi Sin-jeok.

Put a stop to it, right now!

This alphabet must never get presented to the world.

Contact Yi Sin-jeok immediately.

What?

The councilor has already entered the palace.

You must tell him no matter what it takes. Understood?

Lord Jang!

What is it?

I have an urgent message.

Councilor Yi!

Councilor Yi!

Excuse me.

Councilor Yi, a moment, please.

The Leader just gave an order to stop everything.

YI SIN-JEOK, THIRD STATE COUNCILOR

What do you mean?

Everything was the King's plan.

You should not agree to make the deal.

And all the officers were just ordered to report to work.

I just asked, what are you talking about?

What do you mean, it's the King's plan?

I don't know the details. I just heard this was urgent.

Your Majesty.

It's Chief State Councilor Hwang Hui and Third State Councilor Yi Sin-jeok.

Your Majesty.

We have told you about how the officials feel.

HWANG HUI

Have you made a decision?

KING SEJONG, YI DO

I stayed up all night

thinking about the matter.

I decided--

Your Majesty.

I have also

stayed up all night thinking about the matter.

I thought

about the reasons why the officials are against your alphabet.

I do not feel...

confident to persuade them...

What are you trying to say?

...and I do not think

there is any justification to persuade them.

That was my conclusion.

Therefore,

I will do my best to persuade the officials

so that they will show up to prepare for the civil service examination

which will be held soon.

Please grant your permission.

What happened?

I did just as you said. But what's going on?

I don't know the details, but he has another order for you.

Another order?

He told you to get the

the question for tomorrow's exam.

The question for the exam?

Why did Councilor Yi suddenly change his position?

What's the reason?

I don't understand what's going on either.

Why did he suddenly say that?

Secret Roots?

Is Secret Roots behind this?

Currently,

the interest of Secret Roots and scholar-officials are the same.

If the scholar-officials spoke up on behalf of Secret Roots,

or if Secret Roots spoke up on behalf of the scholar-officials,

there is no way to tell them apart.

Get on a horse, ride to Hamgil-do, and find Yi Bang-ji.

Why do you look for Master Yi?

We need his power.

Would he side with us?

Kang Chae-yun is on our side.

It's amazing enough that Yi Bang-ji took in a pupil.

He wouldn't normally do that.

I'm sure he is deeply attached to Kang Chae-yun.

That's why he sent his servant to him.

Tell him Kang Chae-yun is with us.

Then even if he doesn't join us,

he will still show up.

What's going on with Kang Chae-yun?

We're trying to find out in many ways to see if what he said is true.

So far, nothing seems weird.

Did you say...

his goal is to kill the king?

Yes. He said that in his own words.

Yi Do.

I was even willing to give up on Hall of Worthies

to distribute the alphabet!

What's wrong?

I made this decision at the cost of Gwangpyeong's life

in that last moment when he could have died.

I decided to distribute the alphabet

at the expense of giving up on my Hall of Worthies!

It was the ultimate move of my life!

But they have rejected the offer.

They didn't take it.

Why?

Why did they do this? What's the reason?

This is the question for tomorrow's examination.

We were about to get our deal.

Why did you stop me?

We could've shut down the Hall of Worthies

in return for the proclamation of the alphabet

to realize a prime minister-centered bureaucracy in this country.

That was the king's trick.

Trick?

It was his trick to distribute the alphabet.

Sir!

What makes scholar-officials who they are?

Why do you suddenly ask?

Answer me, Yi Sin-jeok.

What makes scholar-officials who they are?

Scholars who know Chinese characters and Confucianism became officials.

That's why they're scholar-officials.

Yes.

And they rose to the center of power

during Song Dynasty of China.

Scholars got to rule the country as officials

because they knew Confucianism.

The point was that they knew Chinese characters. That's why

we do not rule over the country

through heredity and bloodlines like the late Goryeo Dynasty.

Scholar-officials take exams

and prove their competence to run the Royal Court.

That is...

the ideal Joseon.

Yes, so what?

What do you want to say?

Don't you get it?

Letters and power cannot be separated.

The ruling classes of all countries

within China's power have been established in that way.

However,

if his alphabet gets distributed,

those roots will get shaken.

The king wants to shake the foundation.

Do you think he won't ask for anything in exchange for shutting down

his beloved Hall of Worthies?

He would have made sure the offices are dedicated

solely to a swift distribution of the alphabet

and the civil service examination could be taken in his alphabet.

This will shake the foundation of the state bureaucracy itself.

Everyone gets the power of literacy, the public order will collapse

and the country will be in a chaos.

"Look at Phags-pa! No one will use the alphabet!

A world where everyone knows how to read and write?

That's like saying the sun will rise from the west!"

Didn't you say that yourself?

This alphabet will make the sun rise from the west.

If Secret Roots...

No, if Jeong Gi-jun wanted to honor Jeong Do-jeon's will,

he has to be after the Hall of Worthies.

So why did he

let go of this opportunity?

What is he after?

Does he have another goal?

Your Majesty.

He might be just showing off his power.

Mu-hyul.

When you're in a sword fight,

what happens when your fatal blow fails to take down your enemy?

They will come back...

with a strong counterattack.

Right.

When your fatal blow fails, it becomes a matter of life and death.

And my fatal blow missed them.

What could it be?

What kind of a counterattack...

will they come up with?

Alphabet that can make the sun rise from the west?

Yes, what do you mean, Leader?

This alphabet can make an impossible delusion

become a reality.

Is that alphabet that great?

What is it like?

Show us.

No one should learn this alphabet. Even if one person learns this,

it can spread like a disease.

Oh, fine. Sounds great.

Let's say everyone knows how to read and write.

But will it turn them into officials?

Joseon is a country of Neo-Confucianism and scholar-officials.

How can they deal with state affairs just by learning that alphabet?

People who learn this alphabet

will grow far away from Chinese characters.

Once they grow far away from Chinese characters,

they will grow far away from Neo-Confucianism.

That may not happen immediately,

but who knows how things will be in a couple hundred years?

Those who do not know any Chinese characters,

Neo-Confucianism, or the three bonds and five principles

may one day become officials.

That's not all.

If you know how to read, you will begin to enjoy reading.

If you enjoy reading, you'll be awakened. Once you're awoken,

you will learn the joy in writing.

Leader. What do you--

Also,

people will want to show themselves

once they find the joy in writing.

That's how power gets transferred.

Do you not get it?

Yi Do is

handing the power over to all the people.

Yi Do is...

onto something that irresponsible.

Do people say Yi Do loves the people?

Nonsense.

The king and officials take responsibility when they do something wrong.

What will happen if the people do something wrong?

Will you change all the people

just because they are responsible for it?

You're over-exaggerating and jumping to conclusions.

Even if that does happen,

you and I won't live for 50 or 100 more years.

Even if that happens, it'll be centuries from now.

Are you suggesting that...

Joseon and Neo-Confucianism can disappear in centuries from now?

Did you lose the grasp of reality because you've been away for too long?

What is with you?

The scholar-officials will lose their power...

in a world where everyone knows how to read.

If the scholar-officials lose their power,

it means Neo-Confucianism cannot lead Joseon.

If Neo-Confucianism cannot lead Joseon,

it means...

Joseon will go under.

The alphabet...

must be stopped.

Then...

are you putting the stop on the alphabet

before the idealism of the chancellor system?

It's not a matter of priorities.

This is a matter of life and death!

Your Majesty.

Do you believe

they have found out what the alphabet is?

If so,

I'm not sure what will happen from now on.

How can they call themselves scholar-officials?

They can't even see beyond their nose, and they want to lead Joseon?

How can such clueless men

dare to lead Joseon as scholars of Neo-Confucianism?

But these are the people that you must lead and guide.

Many members of Secret Roots are

only with us because our great cause is in line with their benefit.

And if stopping the alphabet is a priority over establishing the chancellor system--

Don't you get it either?

Pardon?

When Gae-pai and Yeon-du learned the alphabet in just two days,

why were you so surprised?

-It's because-- -When we teach children,

why do we make them learn the Thousand-Character Classic

then move onto the Elementary Learning and Precious Mirror for Enlightening Heart

before they learn to write?

Because those without knowledge should never write.

Alphabet is...

a weapon.

What will happen if the ignorant begin to write whatever they want?

You can kill or save people with writings.

Alphabet is something that scary.

However,

this alphabet that Yi Do made...

can be learned within two days even if you do not have any knowledge.

Yes.

When you saw Gae-pai and Yeon-du,

you were frightened instinctively.

Yi Do is

trying to introduce something that scary to the world.

And yet,

how can the so-called scholar-officials not have any idea?

He must have lost touch with the reality because he's been away for too long.

This alphabet is nothing. How can we lose power because of that?

If you look far into the future, he isn't wrong.

What?

We can lead the people

because we know Chinese characters, just as the Leader said.

-So? -We're in power because we can read.

That's how we can be in the upper class.

However,

if common people, servants, and even untouchables learn the alphabet,

it means we will have to share the power that we have had.

Don't you know what power is?

It's called power...

because it has the strength to change something.

If only we can establish the chancellor system,

we can resolve the problem with the alphabet however we want.

There's no reason to be like fools

and give up on our benefits just to stop the alphabet.

People who hesitate to rise to power can never have that power.

And they will instead suffer from it.

You know very well that Lord Sambong established Secret Roots

to keep

the scholar-officials in power.

The deal was called off? What do you mean?

It looks like

Secret Roots found out about the alphabet.

Alphabet?

The deal was really called off because of the alphabet?

They probably knew...

what will happen when His Majesty's alphabet gets distributed.

They probably thought

the people will take away their power.

How can their power be taken away just because we learn some letters?

Think about it.

We can't become noblemen or scholar-officials with the alphabet.

The lower class is still lower class even if they learned how to read.

It looks like the scholar-officials don't feel that way.

That's why

they'll try to stop the distribution.

His Majesty also said

that this won't be the end.

ROYAL ACADEMY

Was everything all right at the examination?

Yes.

I did not receive any reports.

Chief State Councilor Hwang Hui is here.

A total of 17,025 people

have taken the lower civil service examination.

These are the answers we have selected among them.

Your Majesty, please decide on the first place.

I am not sure which family he is from,

but he is highly learned

and has excellent insight.

I am very glad to see...

such a talent like this in Joseon.

All right. I choose him

as the first place.

The first place.

Seo-yong.

You have written very well.

So,

which family are you from?

I am...

Goodness!

I am a slave from Banchon,

Seo-yong.

What?

-Banchon? -Banchon?

-Goodness. -What?

What is this?

A slave?

What?

Who did you say you were?

A slave from Banchon,

Seo-yong.

A slave?

What?

I had learned to read and write,

but I had no future.

However,

I heard Your Majesty is making alphabet

to make a world where everyone knows how to read and write.

That's why I applied.

I have shown

everything I've got to you.

I can now die without any regrets.

How absurd!

Goodness.

This was it.

Jeong Gi-jun.

This is the biggest case ever since Joseon was established.

How did a slave break into the examination?

And what's more? He became the first place!

Even when Jang Yeong-sil was promoted as a second deputy commander,

everyone spoke up and said, "How can a slave become

a second deputy commander? We beg your kindness, Your Majesty!"

Then everyone shouted out, "Please, Your Majesty!"

The entire palace was in a huge uproar.

Exactly.

It does feel kind of bad to hear

that a slave became the first place.

Exactly.

I had to work so hard to get here because of my mother's will.

And I even have to compete against a slave now?

His Majesty also said

that this won't be the end.

Alphabet.

Is making the alphabet

such a big deal?

It looked like the scholars are about to protest.

Tell me about it.

How absurd! A slave?

What will happen to Joseon?

The law states that common people may apply to take the exam

and a few among them passed

like Yun Sang, the assistant master of the Royal Academy,

but none of them was the first place.

And a slaved dared to take the exam,

then became the first place too.

This is unacceptable!

This happened because His Majesty has previously given Jang Yeong-sil, a slave,

a promotion to a second deputy commander.

JEONG IN-JI, CHIEF SCHOLAR

This matter is not something to discuss in loud voices.

Quiet down.

How will you deal with this incident?

The slave, Seo-yong, will be punished according to the state law.

Royal Investigation Bureau shall send him to a labor field in Tamna immediately.

Councilor Yi.

Why aren't you answering me?

Yes. I will take care of this immediately.

Also, nothing good will come from discussing this.

We will say that a crazy slave has broken into the examination.

Do you all understand?

-Yes. -Yes.

What on earth is your plan,

Jeong Gi-jun?

Chief Scholar Jeong. What do you mean?

The second place of this exam will become the first place?

It's the decision of the State Council.

Also,

Seo-yong the slave will be sent to a labor field in Tamna.

You should all keep your mouth shut regarding this matter.

Goodness.

Are they trying to bury their heads in the sand?

Everyone in the palace already knows about Seo-yong the slave.

How will you calm down the anger

of scholar-officials and scholars?

How will you take care of the discipline of the state

that was ruined by that slave?

This is a matter of justice.

After His Majesty had said he is making the alphabet,

even a slave dared to step up

to humiliate the Royal Court.

This is a warning

that His Majesty's alphabet

can give a slave an office

and can turn a slave into a chief state councilor.

This alphabet...

must not get distributed!

Your Majesty.

We'll send Seo-yong the slave to a labor field in Tamna immediately

and make sure this case does not get any bigger.

This case

will be quieted down very soon.

Please do not worry.

This isn't the end.

I'm sure

they won't stop right here.

Jeong Gi-jun.

How far will you take this?

How dare you!

I told you to copy these books,

not to learn from them.

Master, I didn't do that.

Do you also wish

to humiliate the scholar-officials like Seo-yong?

No. Seo-yong has gone completely crazy.

How dare you!

My goodness.

Goodness, I am so sorry.

Master, please.

Do you also wish to humiliate the noblemen

by reading these books just as Seo-yong did?

-Master, no. -Master, please.

Master, please spare us.

Did you dare to have such a rebellious thought

as you went in and out of the Royal Academy

just because you were slaves who worked there?

Neo-Confucianism is...

not something that was meant for lowly slaves to learn!

Cho-tak.

You've seen eyes like those before, right?

We've seen eyes like those in battlefields.

When someone goes crazy after all of his comrades die,

they get that look.

You're right.

He has those eyes.

So what if slaves know how to read a little?

Does that...

make the noblemen that angry?

Do you think...

Secret Roots wanted to bring about such chaos?

This case made all of the scholars and scholar-officials angry--

This isn't anger.

They're frightened.

They probably believe...

that they are filled with rage.

But this case broke out...

because those who thought only they could read and write...

and remain in power...

instinctively became frightened.

Do you mean...

that this will not be the end of it?

Then is it impossible...

to distribute your alphabet?

I need to come up with another plan.

But...

I do need some time to get ready.

What do you think about this case?

Joseon has come to an end.

This is unacceptable. This just cannot happen.

Are you ready?

Of course.

I was going to take action

even without your order.

Goodness, this is scary.

It's as if they will start a war.

What if there comes a day

when everyone knows how to read and write...

That's impossible.

If that day comes...

If so,

do you really think

slaves can become the first place of the exam?

The law says slaves can't take the exam, so that's impossible.

But I guess common people can.

If such a day comes, smart ones will want to take the examination.

Then more commoners would pass the exams compared to now.

Then is this really that big?

What is it?

I'm sorry.

Did we really feel that murderous spirit

from that scholar?

Why is a scholar giving off...

You two can go back first.

I'll be right there.

Are you ready?

-Yes. -Yes.

Why are you following us?

What do you mean?

I wasn't following you.

I was just on my way.

ROYAL ACADEMY

Get out of the way!

I saw the scholar who killed Seo-yong the slave.

I must arrest him. Please move.

-Move! -The country of Joseon is...

a country of Neo-Confucianism.

The scholar-officials of this land are

taught to become excellent officials

who support and lead this country.

Also, we're told it is the most idealistic to have scholar-officials

and that only those who qualify may become officials.

However, what has Joseon become today?

We have gone against the Chinese and created an alphabet

so that everyone will be able to read and write.

This shakes the foundation of Joseon,

Neo-Confucianism and the bureaucratic system.

Stop!

Therefore, I, Park Se-myung,

have killed Seo-yong the slave

who dared to take the state exam

on behalf of all scholar-officials and scholars of Joseon.

-What? -And I will give my life

for the right path and justice for Joseon.

Prosper eternally, Joseon!

Hey, come back down!

My goodness.

Goodness.

Does it enrage...

such a young scholar to know that everyone can learn to read and write?

Even to the point...

that he'll throw away his life?

That's right.

Their power comes only from reading and writing.

It's like an autopsy for me

and sword for you, Royal Guard Kang.

Garion is known as Garion

because he's good at conducting autopsies.

That's all I have.

I'm sure the letters mean much more for the noblemen.

Do not let them find out

what our alphabet is like.

If they find out what it is,

I don't know what kind of trouble that might bring

to the distribution.

My father has

also put his life on the line.

He's putting out much more than his life

compared to us.

Just like

how you bet your life...

on killing the king,

I bet my life on making letters.

The people can also have power if they learn to read.

It won't give them rice,

but they'll learn how to make more rice than now.

It won't turn them into noblemen,

but they won't get harrassed blindly like they do now.

When you broke out of jail,

I stood up against my father to save you.

That's when everything began for me!

And it will all be over...

when I make the alphabet.

Was this...

such a huge deal?

For the alphabet that His Majesty made

to come out to the world.

Dam.

Did you know this from the beginning?

At first,

I didn't.

When His Majesty said

he would make letters that are easy to learn,

I didn't know if it was possible,

but I was just glad.

Just the thought...

made me so happy.

But His Majesty...

really made those letters.

As I saw his alphabet actually getting finished,

I began to get anxious.

This alphabet...

was much easier

than anything that I have imagined.

It made my heart full,

but on the other hand, it made me feel anxious.

We lowly people are thrilled...

to just think about the possibility.

It's something great and comfortable for the lowly people.

Would the upper class like this?

I had no idea that this was so complicated.

I just thought he could distribute it...

for us to use after he finished making them.

But they're already killing people and making a huge scene

even before it got distributed.

It'll be hard...

for the alphabet to get distributed in a legitimate way now.

It's probably Secret Roots.

They're probably behind this.

This will only end...

after we catch Secret Roots and Jeong Gi-jun.

No one knows where he is...

or what he looks like.

Lord Jo Mal-saeng...

only remembers what he looked like when he was around 20.

Lord Jo Mal-saeng.

But there was a master warrior...

that even made Mu-hyul back down.

Yi Bang-ji.

The best warrior in Joseon. Jeong Do-jeon's bodyguard.

Anyway, Ttolbok.

About...

that wish you have.

Yes, my wish?

After I get Jeong Gi-jun.

Okay?

I'll tell you after I get him. Okay?

Mu-hyul went after Yi Bang-ji after he disappeared,

but he suffered a great loss and returned.

Master Yi. Master Yi is the key.

SOMEWHERE IN NORTHERN HAMGIL-DO

You're Yoon Pyeong's minion.

Where is he?

The Leader has given an order.

So,

I came to tell you that.

I'm not a part of Secret Roots.

If you call that an order again,

you'll die.

-Master Yi. -If you...

call me your master again,

you will die as well.

I thought we weren't going to meet again.

Both Jeong Gi-jun

and you.

I will tell you the Leader's message.

The Leader

wishes to work with you.

Nonsense.

Did you send me someone last time to tell me this?

Get out of here.

Kang Chae-yun.

You know him, don't you?

Kang Chae-yun is with Secret Roots.

Yi Bang-ji?

Yes.

The former bodyguard of Jeong Do-jeon.

That Yi Bang-ji.

How do you know him?

He was my teacher.

What?

You were Yi Bang-ji's pupil?

Yes.

What kind of a coincidence is this?

No.

It's an ill-fated relationship.

Do you think Yi Bang-ji is a part of Secret Roots?

He's your teacher. You would know better.

I do not know much.

I only found out that he was Jeong Do-jeon's bodyguard

after I recently heard that from Lord Jo Mal-saeng.

I just know that he got involved in something

on the night of the Rebellion of 1398

and couldn't protect Jeong Do-jeon.

He's nowhere to be found after that.

I don't know if he joined the Secret Roots or not.

Regardless, Yi Bang-ji is still a rebel who was a part of Sambong's party,

who survived the Rebellion of 1398.

It's only natural for him to go off the grid.

That killer named Yoon Pyeong who killed the scholars.

He uses Master Yi's skills.

-What? -What do you think that means?

That means he knows Jeong Gi-jun.

So?

If I can meet him,

I can ask him about Jeong Gi-jun.

Do you know where he is?

To be honest, he recently sent me someone.

We'll have a way to find Master Yi...

if we track his identity tag.

However, I need to find out

what his relationship with Secret Roots is.

If he was deeply involved with Secret Roots,

it would hurt us more

for me to meet him.

So please tell me.

Everything you know

about Master Yi

and the Secret Roots of the past.

He seemed surprised

to hear Kang Chae-yun's name,

but he didn't come with me.

He will.

Yi Bang-ji will

definitely come.

You probably know that

King Taejong attacked Nam Eun's house

in which the rebel Jeong Do-jeon was staying,

and killed everyone there on the night of the Rebellion of 1398.

Yes.

But I heard

that Master Yi, his bodyguard,

wasn't there.

Do you know the reason?

There was this woman.

She was a woman who Yi Bang-ji loved,

and was also Jeong Do-jeon's woman.

He was in love...

with his master's woman?

Something like that.

The biggest problem for King Taejong...

in attacking Jeong Do-jeon that night was

Yi Bang-ji, the best warrior in Joseon.

Therefore,

he had to make sure Yi was elsewhere.

They abducted the woman

and told Yi Bang-ji about it.

When he heard the news,

he left Jeong Do-jeon...

to save the woman.

Drop the sword, Yi Bang-ji.

Stay right here

until everything is over.

If so, she won't get hurt.

You have to go.

Go save Lord Sambong.

Go!

No!

So? What happened?

That woman

died in Yi Bang-ji's arms.

The last words she left him were...

asking him to go

and save Sambong.

Yi Bang-ji ran over

to save Sambong, but things were already over.

He couldn't save his master, Jeong Do-jeon,

nor the woman that he loved.

From what I know,

he went underground because of that guilt.

I see.

How do you know so much in detail?

What do you think I did...

on the night of the Rebellion of 1398?

Back then, I was a young warrior.

That night was

my first battle.

That's why

you know more than Lord Jo Mal-saeng.

Lord Jo said...

Master Yi disappeared all of a sudden,

and that he doesn't know...

why he left or where he is.

Lord Jo said that?

Yes.

That's impossible.

The person

in charge of holding the woman hostage to hold back Yi Bang-ji

was Lord Jo.

It was Lord Jo.

Master Yi had such a history?

Is he living that life because he felt guilty

for failing to protect Jeong Do-jeon?

Then

what's his connection with Secret Roots?

Hey.

Where are you going?

Are you leaving us again? Did you write another letter?

I can't let you go. Don't go!

Goodness, stop making a fuss.

Commandant Mu-hyul already knows.

I have to go find someone,

so I'll be away for a few days.

Who are you looking for?

Yi Bang-ji.

My master.

Goodness.

It's been forever.

What brings you here this late?

He's here.

He's here? Who's here?

You must have forgotten because you gave the order long time ago.

A guy who pours drinks on the tombs and cries his heart out

finally came.

BANCHON

Who are you?

You don't look like you belong here. What do you want?

Hey, old man.

Goodness.

Look who's here.

It's been forever.

What are these guys doing here?

-Get rid of them. -You still have a sharp tongue.

I'm the Leader of Secret Roots.

I basically raised you. You know that.

Yes, sure.

I used to call you "uncle."

Let's go in and talk.

You're here to talk.

Get rid of him.

Don't get him killed.

Put your sword back in.

If you don't, he might kill us all.

All right, now.

Let's go.

What's behind that wall?

Are you keeping a beast?

I knew it, Yi Bang-ji.

You still have your game.

You can feel everything, can't you?

Do you want a cup of tea?

-Or maybe a drink? -Forget it.

Let's get to the point.

What do you mean that Kang Chae-yun is with Secret Roots?

It's as you've heard.

It means Kang Chae-yun agrees with the objective of Secret Roots.

Jeong Gi-jun.

Are you talking nonsense because you trust what's behind that wall?

Give me a real answer.

Kang Chae-yun, that pupil of yours.

I thought

I could let him not live his life in vain like you did.

The most meaningless life for swordsmen is getting involved...

-with men in power. -It's the most cowardly.

Leaving the world behind

despite having all that talent and knowledge.

Isn't that the most cowardly life?

Like yours.

No matter what kind of Joseon or political system you make,

someone will take it away

and someone will get it taken away.

Some people get trampled on,

and some trample them.

People in power talk about their great cause,

but it's all the same.

In the end,

it's all bullshit.

That's not something that a traitor who abandoned his master...

because he fell in love with his master's woman could say.

Hey, so what, then?

When will you come back?

I have to go there to find out.

I'll be back in three to four days even if I don't find him.

I'm getting kind of hungry as I'm about to leave. Do we have food?

Hey, that pig ate everything. We don't have anything around.

I'm sure Ms. Anseong is asleep too.

Should I go wake her?

No, don't. I'll stop by Garion's place

to get some beef jerky.

Anyway, take care of Bak-po.

Don't worry about it. Hey, Chae-yun.

Be careful.

Yi Bang-ji.

If you hadn't left,

because you were smitten with that woman,

Sambong could have escaped.

Only if he escaped Lord Nam Eun's place,

he could have gathered strength again to turn the table around.

You have...

changed history.

You have ruined...

the history of Joseon.

I have no excuse to make.

I even knelt down before you

and asked you to kill me.

But you wanted to make a deal.

Yoon Pyeong.

You wanted me to turn him into a killer.

And I did just that.

Then, isn't our deal over?

Do you actually believe

you can atone for your sin over such a petty deal, Yi Bang-ji?

What do you want?

Take Kang Chae-yun's side.

Be a part of Secret Roots.

Did Chae-yun really...

become a member of Secret Roots?

Does he know that...

-you're Jeong Gi-jun? -Not yet.

And

he's not a member of Secret Roots. Not yet.

Do not let him know, and do not get him involved.

He might seem strong and tough on the outside,

but he's weak kid.

He's not the type that should get involved...

with politics.

"With politics"?

Kang Chae-yun is already aiming his sword at the palace.

Didn't he already get involved?

We have the same objective. That means we're together.

What are you talking about?

The palace?

You really don't know?

Kang Chae-yun

has been training for decades to get his revenge.

You really don't know who he was after, Yi Bang-ji.

He's after Yi Do.

Kang Chae-yun is here to kill the king.

Hey.

Garion.

My goodness. What brings you here at this hour?

I have to go on a long journey,

but I got kind of hungry.

Do you have beef jerky or something?

It doesn't have to be beef. If you have any pork jerky, give me some.

Yes, of course. I do have some.

Do you want to come in for a second?

-Okay. -Yes.

Come in. Come inside.

Goodness. You have a guest.

He's this guy I used to know. He stopped by after a long time.

-My goodness. -Hey.

You should at least greet him.

This is Master Kang Chae-yun, a royal guard.

Hello.

I'm Kang, a royal guard who works in the palace.

Subtitle translation by Eun-sook Yoon