Original subtitles

Hand over Jeong Gi-jun.

Wouldn't that...

be enough for you to build your trust?

Then as the head of the official faction, Secret Roots,

you could...

pursue the realization of the chancellor system at the Royal Court.

So take that Haerye and stop the alphabet.

And then,

I will...

lead Secret Roots

to carry on Lord Sambong's will.

Do you want power?

If the desire...

to create a good country

according to my thoughts and convictions is wanting power,

then I guess I do.

Because the king already knows that I'm a member of Secret Roots,

I cannot achieve fame and prestige as a scholar anymore.

But I also don't wish to surrender just as the king wants.

What do you want?

Give me a list of names of all members of Secret Roots.

Then make an announcement to everyone that I became the new leader,

and hand me the letter of Secret Roots.

If I do that,

you'll give me the Haerye?

Although the king

didn't set an exact date,

he already announced to make a proclamation.

And he won't make the proclamation without Haerye.

Haerye will serve as the best weapon to stop the proclamation.

I will help you acquire that immediately.

You can do whatever you want...

according to your conviction.

However, do that as Jeong Gi-jun,

not as the Leader of Secret Roots.

When do you want the answer by?

We haven't much time.

I want you to answer me in two days.

I will be staying at an inn in Mapo.

Let me know.

I will wait for you.

Why did you choose Yi Sin-jeok over Sim Jong-su?

Yes, Councilor Yi is an elder,

so he won't have a big impact on the young members of Secret Roots.

Isn't Sim Jong-su a better bet to get Secret Roots moving?

That might be true.

But Sim Jong-su...

does not have as much diplomacy as Yi Sin-jeok.

Diplomacy?

Political influence.

All current members of the Royal Court

may each have their own faults,

but none of them are foolish.

They are all very fearsome.

And if he rose to become one of the three state councilors,

it means that

he has reached the pinnacle of those fearsome men.

Yi Sin-jeok is rather greedy for a scholar,

but he is even better than Lord Hwang Hui

when it comes to winning people over to his side.

He would even con people if things don't work out.

Of course, he is better.

If that's what you think of him,

why did you ask him?

If I had left out people for this and that reason,

do you think Lord Hwang Hui would have survived?

A king's job

isn't to leave out people like him.

It's to control them so that their talent can be used for the people's sake.

And this is the point in time

when we need Yi Sin-jeok's cunning ways more than ever.

He has to find out...

a way to hand Jeong Gi-jun over to us

no matter what he does.

Your Majesty, sometimes you seem more...

Even more cunning

than my father?

The commandant wouldn't say that.

Yes, Your Majesty.

That's what I meant.

My heart is pretty much like hell.

Did you think I would be a saint?

For some things, the process is more important.

And for some things, the result is more important.

For making the alphabet,

the process was more important.

But in distributing it,

what's important is the result.

We must win...

to distribute the alphabet.

We can only begin this after we win.

We must win

to begin this work for the people.

Yi Sin-jeok...

cannot let me down.

He must do this.

Hand over Jeong Gi-jun.

Wouldn't that...

be enough for you to build your trust?

The one who betrayed Secret Roots...

is you.

I didn't pledge my loyalty to this group, power, or you.

It was the chancellor system, the great cause.

I am the beginning and the root of Joseon.

I am a scholar of Joseon.

This is...

my path.

It's him.

I heard two women and two warriors crossed the river

on this boat yesterday.

Oh, those four.

Yes, the four people from yesterday.

They went to Daeseongsan Mountain.

Daeseongsan Mountain?

Yes. Daeseongsan Mountain.

They went to a place called the Rabbit Rock.

It was really tough to bring the boat to the shore.

Please take us there too.

-Again? -How much do you want?

We'll pay you a lot.

Okay, then. Hop in.

Report this immediately to the commandant and wait at the palace.

We'll contact you as soon as we find their location.

Okay. Be careful.

Okay. Let's go.

Hey. Why are you getting in?

I have to get my revenge too.

He killed my brother!

I will get your revenge.

I'm the incarnation of revenge.

You can go back home and give your brother a memorial ceremony.

I'm sure he can use some food.

-But still... -People like you will die in no time

if they get involved in this.

We'll set off.

Go!

Do you see anything?

Nothing other than the warriors.

It's the same over here.

We have to find a way to get out.

We must finish our mission

no matter what we do.

What? Daeseongsan Mountain?

Yes, the Rabbit Rock. Chae-yun and Cho-tak have already gone.

Is this reliable information?

Yes, I'm certain.

They asked you to be ready to send out forces

as soon as Chae-yun contacts us.

Okay. You two get moving with Group A of the Royal Guards

to make sure you get in contact with Chae-yun as soon as possible.

-Yes. -Yes.

They finally found their location?

Yes, they said they would contact us

when they find the exact location.

Chae-yun.

You must find So-i.

You must.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I will

come back and write it.

You have to leave tomorrow, so go and get ready.

Goodness. I told you to come back and write this. What are you doing?

Your Majesty.

You promised...

-to Kang Chae-yun that-- -Yes.

Once we are done with this, you can leave with that impudent man.

I won't be able to give you a lot of money,

but I will give you enough

for you to get a house.

Goodness.

I hope he won't starve you.

Your Majesty.

So-i.

I thank you, and...

I am sorry.

I do wish for you to stay with me,

but only after you leave,

I think I could finally breathe again.

Isn't that the case for you too?

You have to live...

every single day in happiness

with Chae-yun.

Promise me.

Your Majesty.

I will make sure...

I keep my promise.

I am sure there is a way.

There has to be. No matter what.

Goodness.

Why did you bring her?

She got into danger...

because of me.

Someone was...

after her.

A kid couldn't be in much danger.

You can't bring a kid right now--

Leave them.

KAREUPEYI

It's better to have Yeon-du here

than Gae-pai going out to see her.

I'm glad you brought her.

As you all know,

last time, I have made myself clear.

I said I would accept

Secret Roots as a faction and acknowledge them,

and them to see me at the Royal Court's yard

until the day before the proclamation.

ROYAL COURT'S YARD: THE YARD OF GEUNJEONGJEON HALL

However, thus far,

I have not seen anyone come forward.

That is why

I want to make the last proposal.

The alphabet will be proclaimed on September 10th,

as all of the people are watching.

Your Majesty.

Ministry of Personnel.

Establish office for Vulgate Publication and for Hangul Publication.

Ministry of Rites. Come up with a proposal to include this alphabet

as a part of the civil service examination.

Your Majesty. This is impossible.

Yes. This cannot happen.

Your Majesty.

-You cannot do that. -You cannot do that.

What's with you all?

Didn't I say clearly...

that this was a proposal?

What's Joseon like?

Is this a country that follows everything the king says...

whenever he dogmatically pushes a plan ahead?

Joseon is under the system

of prime minister-centered bureaucracy.

Then the State Council

can decide to accept the proposal that I just made or not.

Just as I said,

when Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Rites

come up with plans,

the three state councilors should thoroughly discuss the plans

and come to a decision.

I will issue a Royal Edict

according to your decision.

From now, the most decisive factor in distributing the alphabet will be...

the decision of the three state councilors.

Your Majesty, even so, you cannot do that.

If you insist on distributing the alphabet--

Look!

His Majesty just gave an order for the three state councilors

to discuss and come to a decision.

That means you can wait for our decision as the Deputy Chief Counselor.

Is this...

your answer to my question yesterday?

I haven't made my decision yet.

It only means that I will try.

Your Majesty.

Do you think the three state councilors will approve of this?

Who knows?

It's all up to luck at this point.

You two, work hard to persuade at least one more person.

-Yes. -Yes.

If you hurry to finish the Dictionary of Proper Korean Pronunciations,

it will help persuade the scholar-officials.

Yes.

We will do our best.

Good.

Your Majesty.

I have finished writing the introduction.

Good.

I wrote about the reason for creating the alphabet,

its advantages, and the principles of the world that are included in it.

Okay. I see.

Have you finished writing the introduction?

I haven't.

"Our spoken language is different from that of China,

so they do not match.

That is why when the ignorant people...

wish to communicate their thoughts,

they have no means to do so.

Therefore, I..."

I couldn't write anything else after that.

Why is it so difficult to write this?

Goodness.

Then Your Majesty,

why don't you postpone the proclamation for a few days?

Do I have to postpone this just because I didn't write the introduction?

You know why. We don't have the Jejahae.

JEJAHAE: THE FIRST PART OF HAERYE

I will not postpone the proclamation ceremony for any reason.

The dissemination has failed.

We have to keep this going while we're at it.

However, Your Majesty,

if we just read the introduction and not Jejahae,

how can we call that a proclamation ceremony for the alphabet?

Should I look through the papers

to create a summarized version of Jejahae?

Don't.

We cannot write the complete Jejahae before the proclamation without So-i.

She is the only person who knows

the entire process since the beginning of the alphabet's creation.

I understand that you are waiting for her.

But...

if she does not come back until the day of the proclamation...

So-i.

I told you to not write it.

Your Majesty.

Why not?

Finish the dissemination, then come back and write it.

However, Your Majesty,

if anything is to happen--

You are the only one who knows the order of everything,

like where the first sound, geu, came from

or where the middle sound, yeo, came from.

I have explained everything to you in every single step,

but I don't remember it all.

No.

I didn't need to.

I haven't written it down anywhere in case it gets leaked out.

Therefore, you are the only one...

who knows the Jejahae of our alphabet.

Your Majesty, that's why...

I will write it down now.

No.

I won't accept that.

If I...

-do not come back-- -You will come back.

I will do what I must in the palace.

You must finish your work,

and make sure...

you come back safely.

You must be here to see

the proclamation of the alphabet with your own two eyes.

Do you understand?

Yes, Your Majesty.

I will make sure

I come back and write this.

So-i

will come.

Your Majesty.

We must

do our work.

You should

continue to persuade Choi Man-ri to the end.

Yes.

Councilor Hwang, what do you think?

His Majesty said he will get this approved by the three state councilors.

We must discuss this.

We should.

However,

I believe both what His Majesty said

and what the officials said have good points.

In that case,

how will you come to a decision?

I think it's reasonable to agree with the side that is more determined.

What do you think?

Well.

I don't know.

What I personally think isn't important when I am here as a state councilor.

I believe it's my duty to come to a decision

after finding out how other officials feel.

I wonder what Councilor Yi thinks.

He will do the same.

He'll try to consider many officials' opinions.

However,

I believe he is not personally

against this.

Goodness, Man-ri.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION

Grab a drink with me today.

Don't try to persuade me.

I will stand against this until the end

even if it means I must resign.

Even if distributing the alphabet

is a big and inevitable movement in history,

someone should be able to stand against this just as I do.

This will prove that this land of Joseon is a country where you can debate

and discuss different opinions.

Do you...

have to do this?

However,

I won't lead on the scholars,

or control their actions.

The proclamation will soon take place.

You should come forward to His Majesty.

You can just trust and follow me.

Yes.

Is there anyone out there?

Yes, my lord.

Contact Gyeon Jeok-hui

to find out

where Second Counselor Sim Jong-su is staying.

Yes.

What? He will follow the decision of the three state councilors?

Yes. And the proclamation day has been decided as September 10th.

We don't have much time.

He has decided to push this ahead.

What will Yi Sin-jeok do?

Did he decide to side with the King already?

Are there any members of Secret Roots that came forward to him yet?

No, there aren't any yet.

I'm relieved

that none of our members have fallen into his sweet talk.

What he said isn't wrong.

It's even ideal

to accept Secret Roots as a faction.

However, His Majesty cannot live forever.

Also, you can never know when His Majesty...

will change his mind.

And no one knows if the king after His Majesty

and the one after him will recognize the faction...

as he has.

This is why Secret Roots must remain as a secret society,

for its existence to never be threatened no matter what kind of a king we have.

My lord.

What is it?

You are...

such an untrustworthy man!

Have you not heard...

anything from Kang Chae-yun yet?

No.

Not yet.

We're circling around the same place over and over again.

Something is weird about this mountain.

When I was at that temple where they were in,

it felt like they left really quickly as if they knew

that I was coming.

How did they know?

Why are you thinking about that?

That's back then. This is Daeseongsan Mountain.

I'm saying that because something is weird about this mountain, like back then.

What's weird about it?

I'm not sure.

Isn't it weird how we haven't seen any animals

even though we circled around the mountain so many times?

Come to think of it, I haven't seen any.

How can there be no animals...

In a mountain?

I only found out later

that the king tried to sound me out.

I found out later and was shocked to hear

that Councilor Hwang did not turn in his resignation!

The king is

attempting to come between us.

Why did you take actions without checking the facts with me?

I didn't think you would be like this.

I am greatly disappointed.

Is that why you sent Gyeon Jeok-hui?

Yes. That's why!

Should I be just sitting around?

A misunderstanding can be caused by the smallest things,

and once it happens, you cannot turn it back!

You already know that!

How can we work together to establish the chancellor system

or to keep the Secret Roots intact if you keep doing this?

And things are changing in the palace everyday

since His Majesty announced the date of proclamation.

So think about it. I am sure the Leader

is thinking about taking the last measure.

Damn it.

Everything has gone wrong. Everything!

The plan to split up Secret Roots from the Leader to keep the society

is now impossible.

It's...

not too late.

What do you mean?

Do you have a plan?

I know where Haerye is.

So I told him...

to make me into the next leader.

What?

You did?

So you did it?

Did you?

What did the Leader say?

He said he'll give me an answer by tomorrow at dawn.

We're going to meet

near the hideout.

He will give you an answer...

by tomorrow at dawn?

It's tomorrow at dawn.

Make sure to follow Sim Jong-su.

The king will hold a proclamation ceremony on September 10th.

He is...

pushing this ahead.

But he also said he would follow the decision

of the three state coucillors.

The decision of the three state councilors?

Yes.

He told the three state councilors to come to a decision.

Doesn't that mean

the king has already made a deal with the three state councilors?

That means Lord Yi has also--

You're right.

He probably did that for his own sake.

In that case,

the three state councilors will approve of the distribution.

If that's so,

the members of Secret Roots will be shaken.

Some of them may even confess.

Then the king will successfully shake and destroy the Secret Roots,

and he'll get to distribute his alphabet as well.

However,

Yi Do doesn't have Haerye.

Pardon?

The king doesn't have Haerye?

Sim Jong-su said he would give it to me.

What do you think that means?

Haerye

isn't in the palace.

-Then... -We'll take Haerye first

to stop the distribution for now.

"For now"?

After we do that,

we'll kill everyone who knows the alphabet.

Will you...

Will you seriously do that?

Yi Do gave us

a chance called the proclamation ceremony.

Did you say the ceremony is tomorrow?

Tell them...

to prepare poison by tomorrow.

Poison?

We need to have our arrows, swords, and spears...

all smeared with poison.

Every single attack...

should be made to kill.

And

we must destroy Haerye as well.

If Haerye is left even after everyone's death,

the alphabet will come back to life.

We must destroy

everyone who knows the alphabet

as well as...

the seed.

What happens after that?

What will you do...

with Secret Roots after that?

Sir.

What do you think about Sim Jong-su?

This isn't going to work.

There are way too many warriors.

Even if we do escape, we'll get caught immediately.

Wait.

Yeon-du?

-It's Yeon-du. -The girl from Banchon's tavern?

Why is she here?

She's friends with Gae-pai. I guess he brought her.

This is great. Let's ask her to save us.

Yeon-du!

Have you gone crazy? Do you want to tell the whole world?

What else can we do?

We have to call her here.

Give me your handkerchief.

Okay.

Yeon-du.

Please look over here.

She saw us. Yeon-du saw us.

Come out.

Why...

are you helping the king?

Did you call me...

to ask that?

He's your enemy who killed your father.

You've been through something so horrendous

that you couldn't even go to sleep,

just like me.

Also,

you blame yourself for that, just like me.

You think that happened because you showed off

as an immature child.

That blame you cannot escape.

That guilt.

No?

You're right.

We may have been through the same thing.

And if that happened to you,

of course, you are going to have a victim mentality,

while blaming yourself.

And?

Things like those...

can lead one's heart into endless devastation.

I know that better than anyone.

You and I both

have tried to overcome that...

all this time.

However, we did that...

in different ways.

So for you...

it was the alphabet?

A victim mentality.

I never knew...

I had that.

No.

I guess I did have that.

But that was...

not because something awful happened to me.

It was probably because of Yi Do.

It took me over 20 years

working as a butcher

to rebuild my half-destroyed society.

And over that time,

Yi Do had become a benevolent king that the world adored.

Can you fathom...

how unbearable it was to see that?

But you know what?

I'm over that now.

Do you know how?

It was...

because of the amazing alphabet that Yi Do made.

It was as if I got a divine revelation.

I realized my life's purpose is to stop that amazing alphabet

from getting distributed.

No matter how good of a king you are,

no, even if you are something greater than a king,

you cannot put thousands of years of history to a test.

I heard Yi Do is holding a proclamation ceremony

on the coming 10th.

I am going to do everything

to stop that.

Also,

that will finally put a period to the long story...

between Yi Do and me.

MOM

Why do you look so surprised?

Do you know

that court lady?

No. I don't.

When are we ever going to find them?

We've been circling around for hours.

Why don't we let out all of the royal forces to--

No.

What if that puts Dam and the court ladies in danger?

It's just that I'm frustrated to see nothing after searching for hours.

Nothing?

Yes, the answer was nothing.

Hey, what's wrong?

What if someone has driven out all of the wild animals

out of this mountain on purpose?

Why would they have done that?

Because the animals might touch something?

-What? -What are you talking about?

You think they will do something on the proclamation ceremony? Like what?

I don't know.

But something is definitely going on.

We have to escape and let them know.

Hey, nothing is around here.

My back hurts.

I almost peed in my pants.

Stop!

I knew it. They had alert bells.

We'll find a bell if we follow this thread.

When someone touches this thread,

that bell will ring.

That's how they know they had intruders.

But,

it got cut off. What are we going to do?

-We'll call them. -What?

Hey, what are you doing?

We just have to follow this

to find out where Dam is.

Court Lady So-i.

Yeon-du.

So-i, why are you locked up in there?

Yeon-du.

Can you help us get out?

I...

can't do that.

We have to get out right now.

Can you please help us?

I can't.

I'm sorry.

Wait.

I won't ask you to help us get out.

Can you do me another favor?

What?

-Really? -What are you doing over there?

MOM

Yeon-du.

Yes?

I am...

so thankful,

and I am...

sorry.

For what?

Nothing.

It's nothing.

About Yeon-du.

Kill her.

Don't let it hurt.

You.

Gae-pai is looking for you.

Really? Where is he?

Follow me.

Where is he?

That's weird. He said he would be here.

The Leader contacted us.

He wants to meet at Naksanjae at 5 a.m.

Do you finally have an answer,

Sir?

Yeon-du, are you okay?

Sir.

It's okay.

Do you think Yeon-du got there all right?

I hope she does what we asked her to do.

Where's So-i?

Right here. This is where she got locked up.

But

there were other court ladies other than So-i.

Really? How many were there?

Three people, including So-i.

Go down with Yeon-du right now

and contact the commandant.

Okay. I got it. Be careful.

Let's go.

Commandant Mu-hyul!

They found the hideout.

Where is it?

As you all have heard,

the hideout is at Daeseongsan Mountain.

Search the mountain thoroughly.

And block off all roads that lead into the mountain.

Do you understand?

-Yes. -Yes.

Councilor Yi.

They found the hideout.

The Palace Guards and the Royal Investigation Bureau

are headed to Daeseongsan Mountain.

Contact Gyeon Jeok-hui immediately.

Yes, sir.

The dawn will break soon.

Why aren't they coming?

I guess he isn't here yet.

I am sorry to ask,

but do you really trust Lord Sim Jong-su?

I apologize.

That was presumptuous of me.

No.

Do I trust him?

I haven't trusted him for a long time.

Sim Jong-su never seemed like

he was loyal to me.

And,

after he came alone to see me at the hideout,

I finally knew.

He was never loyal

to me or to Lord Sambong.

My premonition was right.

He was only loyal

to a system called

the chancellor system.

He doesn't depend on people. He only stays loyal to his principle.

So he'll manage very well.

Do you have an answer,

Sir?

Why are you just staring at it?

It's the complete list of members of Secret Roots.

Is this

really the list?

Everything you said is correct.

I was

already stressed out thinking about my next steps.

And you gave me the answer.

You can lead the Secret Roots.

Sir.

So where is Haerye?

Does it really exist?

I am going to burn that Haerye,

then kill Yi Do

and everyone who knows the alphabet

on the day of the proclamation ceremony.

So.

Where is Haerye?

Okay.

The Haerye...

of the king's alphabet is...

We got here safely following the white clay powder you left.

Are there no alert bells beyond this point?

No, I already checked from here to here.

You can go inside without any resistance.

I see.

We will go in immediately.

Commandant Mu-hyul.

Tell them

that the safety of the hostages must be the top priority.

Of course.

Haerye is...

Haerye is...

not a book.

Haerye is...

Who's there?

Goodness.

You successfully followed me,

Gyeon Jeok-hui.

This isn't the time for you to show off.

Well, you won't die.

He said you're still useful.

He has to find out where Haerye is.

They're from Ming.

We're outnumbered.

Yi Sin-jeok sent you, didn't he?

Are you...

Jeong Gi-jun?

I will stop them.

You should run.

This will be better for you than to be captured

by people from Ming.

Okay. Do whatever you want.

Get them!

Go after him!

Kill every single one

that goes against the state law!

What happened?

The palace guards are here.

What?

Then, weren't the alert bells working?

You... You have to run.

Leader. What about the Leader?

We are

the best in China when it comes to a chase.

You can't run away from us.

What do you want?

Well, I'm not sure.

You'll come with me first.

Aren't you looking

for Haerye?

Haerye is...

Who's there?

Since when were you here?

What is this? Who are you?

Run

away.

What? What did you say?

If you run,

you can live.

Do you think you can win just because you're big?

You must be insane.

What are you doing?

We have no time to lose.

Take him down.

Yes.

Stop!

All forces, pull back.

Right now!

We...

have done nothing.

We will just leave quietly.

Please let us live.

What are you talking about?

Shut up!

We're all pulling back.

How did you know I was here?

The hideout was...

attacked.

And

Yeon-du is...

gone.

Attacked?

What are you talking about?

Sir. Are you all right?

The hideout was attacked? What's going on?

I think

the palace guards

have raided us.

Boss. Why did you do that?

Under the restoration forces of the Yuan Dynasty,

there was a mercenary troop of Gokturks.

Then is he--

The invincible man.

Kareupeyi Temukan.

But he's only one man.

There is no man

who can fight against him and win.

We must report this to Beijing immediately.

Chae-yun.

Don't worry now. It's all over.

But where's So-i? Where did she go?

So-i... So-i was taken away.

What? Taken away?

Taken away?

By whom? To where?

Garion took her.

You need to find her immediately.

I think you have lost.

Everything...

It seems like...

everything is over.

You lost your hideout.

Your comrades were arrested.

And you didn't find Haerye.

It's over...

for you.

Haerye?

Haerye is...

Bring So-i.

You won't be able to find it.

Even I have...

never

seen it.

You wanted that...

Can you give me a discount?

And...

Garion.

My goodness. Come on!

Stop making a fuss.

I have to start again.

My gosh, that shocked me.

Kill her.

You are...

You are...

Haerye.

Right?

Dam!

Subtitle translation by Eun-sook Yoon