Original subtitles

We can account for the others.

But you have no background, no credentials.

Who are you?

Will you tell us? Or do you prefer the fire?

Look here, Abbot. What's his story?

I asked you what's his story.

The price is the cure.

Roast his feet and beat him good!

Sir!

Well? The only way to stop this is to speak up.

Who are you? Why were you hiding at the temple?

What part did you play in the rebellion?

Musang… Musang!

- Enough. - Halt!

Keep it up and there will be no bones left, just a corpse.

No one lasts long.

So, we'll start again.

Your name?

Mansoi.

When did you go to the temple?

Seven years ago.

And before that?

Well?

Back to the iron then. You!

No! I'll talk. I was in Sangju, in Kyongsang.

Sangju? Ah-ha.

Seven years ago you killed your master and ran off with your family.

He wasn't my master, he was a demon.

He took everything. My wife, my daughter.

Enough!

- You. - Sir.

Off with his head.

Let go! Demons! What did the people ever do..?

The more we dig, the more we learn.

You're a young one. Name?

Wola.

Wola? Where did you run from?

The hard way? Men!

Sir, she's not with us. She was a gift from the Head Abbot.

What?

She's a personal slave.

The abbot brought her with him from Heungwang Temple.

Is that true?

What part did you play in the rebellion?

They said he was here.

Where's Yangbaek?

Talk. The quicker you talk, the quicker this ends.

That monk…

Why were you hiding?

I'll ask you again.

Who were your parents?

Why did you enter the temple?

Enough of this. This won't work.

They're no good and they're all in it together.

Burn the lot of ‘em!

Sir.

Musang.

Master..!

I'll kill you…

I'll kill you!

Stop.

I'll talk. I'll talk.

Enough.

Halt.

You're right. He's no monk.

He's a runaway slave.

Jungchon.

A slave?

Yes. He ran away from the Overlord's household.

What?

He ran off from the Overlord's house? What do you know…

Now that it's out, I'll speak.

It's true.

He's the son of Kim Yunsong, a slave in the Choe household.

Kim Yunsong? I've heard that name.

Right. There was a Kim Yunsong.

He was involved in the Manjok Insurrection of 1198.

Where is he now?

Long dead.

Twenty years now.

He brought the boy to me as a baby.

He told me everything.

He was part of the insurrection.

Which makes him a runaway.

What? I'll kill you..!

But first we'll have to confirm his slave status.

He was a slave for the Choe house.

Check it.

Yes, sir.

Next!

You were involved in this rebellion somehow.

You all know General Jeong Sukchom, right?

Right?

Do you or don't you? Jeong Sukchom.

Overlord.

I'll come straight to the point.

Please stop killing the monks.

You've killed enough already.

Over 800 dead at this point.

There has never been such a slaughter in our long history.

And was it without reason?

These monks came armed with spear and sword,

intent on doing the Overlord harm.

Chancellor Kim.

You were the root of this trouble.

They way I hear it, the man they wanted above all others…

was you.

Wha..?

What are you… what..?

Cozying up to the Overlord…

filling him with lies, muttering spells…

You led the monks to this.

How dare you? What?

Now look here! What exactly are you saying?

How dare you?

Quiet down.

Overlord.

This is the second time.

Killing monks, I mean.

There was the time 10 years ago in the palace.

This time it was over a thousand monks.

Politics are dirty business.

There are misunderstandings, complaints.

It's time to stop this.

Perhaps.

I'm told that you and Heungwang Temple were involved in this, too.

Not just Heungwang. Hongwon, Kyongbok, Wangnyun, Anyang, Suri…

It would be hard to find a temple that isn't involved.

Koryo has far too many monks!

Overlord.

And do they pay a penny in taxes? What do they do?

Koryo has, at most, two million people.

Too many of them are monks.

But, Overlord…

Since the times of Taejo…

Koryo has coexisted peacefully with Buddhists.

Your persecution…

borders on arrogance.

Persecution?

Now look here.

The Buddhists have brought this on themselves.

Let's talk about the old days.

More than one prince has taken vows in the temple.

And there's not a single noble family that hasn't sent a son to shave his head.

They chose the life of a disciple over a life of ease.

They should help the people…

instead of butting into the affairs of the court!

But, Overlord, you have already dealt with many of them.

Please stop this.

Don't kill any more monks.

- Perhaps. - Overlord.

Your earnest plea doesn't fall on deaf ears.

But keep those monks in line.

You're their elder, the Head Abbot.

You're most gracious, Overlord.

I'll keep them in line.

Also, I understand my disciple Subeop and his followers have been detained.

Please be lenient, sir.

Have they?

I'll look into it.

Thank you.

May I be allowed to visit them?

Of course.

Thank you, Overlord.

With your permission.

- Listen, Three Vices. - Overlord.

- Let's play. - Sir.

Dokmyong, you can go.

Sir?

Go to the prison yard.

Overlord.

Well, move, then.

Yes, sir.

I'll start with my horse.

Ah, the horse, is it?

Is that true?

Eight hundred monks dead?

Yes, so I'm told…

Trying to wipe their seed from the earth?

Is it true, the monks looked for Dokmyong first?

Is it or isn't it?

Suddenly you're mute, huh?

Play.

Oh, you're back.

Yes, General.

- Everything go all right? - Yes, sir.

As awkward as it is, the Head Abbot's disciple was in prison.

He's going there now.

Well done. I'll be inside.

Yes, sir.

The private forces sent to quell the rebellion have returned.

We've dealt with the monks for now.

But the problem is the military.

The situation is very serious.

Others may be aware that events are being manipulated.

The recall of General Jeong Sukchom from the front lines in itself…

could indicate the Overlord is siding with Bo Songbaek.

It may have been a mistake from the start.

Was it wise to exclude him from such a crucial crisis?

It's because of Overlord's Big Four.

Choe Junmun, Ji Yunsim, Yu Songjol, Kim Dokmyong.

It's those four retainers.

We need a countermove.

And we need it now.

Jeong Sukchom will surely be promoted in the next rites.

We have to act. If we move before they--

The Big Four have been my father's retainers for years.

We have no other choice.

The Head Abbot is in the capital?

Yes, sir.

He's going to the jail.

The jail?

Yes, sir. His disciple, Subeop, has been detained.

Oh?

Then we should join him.

That will be all.

Sir.

Choe U, Third Rank.

As eldest son of Choe Chungheong, head of the Royal Secretariat.

Choe Hyang, Second Rank, a rank above his older brother.

Due to a royal marriage, he was given a peerage as Bo Sangbaek.

Choe U was an upright warrior…

causing Choe Chungheon's vassals concern...

that he may one day rule the country.

So they chose Chae Hyang.

Ultimately they turned the Overlord against Choe U.

The tension was palpable, blood or no blood.

The world has gone crazy.

What is your Grandfather Choe thinking, killing all those monks?

Still, Mother, they say Grandfather Jeong is involved, as well.

Which is why the world has gone crazy.

He has nothing to do with it, how could he have instigated anything?

It's absurd, that's what it is.

Be that as it may, isn't it Grandfather Choe's problem?

He needs details.

Isn't that why he called Grandfather Jeong back from the front?

I suppose, but no matter how I look at it, I don't understand.

- Come along, Yunsim. - Miss.

Where's Chunsim?

Where were you off to?

Peeking at Choe Yangbaek again?

No, oh, no, Miss. I would never.

Uh-huh, “never.” You like him that much?

I wouldn't say that...

but he's the special-est of the special forces.

Enough of that.

Oh, Miss…

I saw something very interesting in the prison yard.

What?

Well, they caught a slave that ran away from this very house.

And the slave…

Yes?

Well, you know the monk you helped? It was him.

What?

It's true. I hid and got a real good look.

Oh? What do you know.

Miss, they're sentencing him now. Want to go?

Why would I?

Well, isn't he in your care? A Choe house slave and all.

Can't we, please?

The prison?

Venerable.

I regret not greeting you. You were with my father?

That's correct.

These are trying times, Venerable.

Darkening this world with the suffering of so many.

I fear seeing the Buddha.

I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help to you.

Not at all.

Shall we? We'll escort you.

Miss, over there. There.

Not here. There.

I see you know your way around.

Oh, Miss Songi.

Yes, Venerable.

What brings you here?

I understand they captured a Choe house slave that ran away.

I was curious.

This is no place for you. Leave.

Father, since I'm here, let me at least see.

Now.

As soon as I look.

Fa-a-ather.

Now, now.

Attention!

You've completed the interrogations?

Yes, sir.

I heard the reports on the way.

All the monks were involved.

Kill the lot of them.

Yes, sir.

Oh, and one of them was a runaway from our household?

That one, sir.

His father, Kim Yunsong, was involved in the Manjok Insurrection.

His name is Kim Jun.

Kim Jun.

Yes, sir.

Chancellor Kim.

Yes?

What is the law regarding runaway slaves?

Well, generally, the runaway is branded and returned to his master.

Or he can be conscripted into government service.

Oh?

However, in the case of high treason…

First his face is branded…

after which he can be beheaded.

Kim Dokmyong!

How can you talk that way?

What did he ever do?

Did he run away as an infant? Did he know he was a slave?

Murderous scum.

I'll see you in hell.

Shut him up!

Mouthy little monk.

Why are you always picking on me?

Oh.

What brings you here?

And the Head Abbot.

Yes, I'm here.

Are you here because of Subeop over there?

Just so.

With the Overlord's permission.

You, too, Songi?

Yes, Uncle.

I was curious to see the slave that ran off from our house.

Oh?

That's him over there.

We're nearly finished.

We've been interrogating for days and we're all tired.

As I just said, the monks are being taken away and beheaded.

The slave, as Chancellor Kim indicated…

will have his face branded before execution.

Yes, sir.

Well? Brand him!

Sir.

Stop.

As I said, I'm here with the Overlord's permission.

The Overlord will have new orders.

Please wait before carrying out the sentence.

My father?

Just so.

Isn't that the way of it.

All right, we'll honor the Head Abbot's request…

until we've checked with my father.

Brand the slave's face as the law requires.

Yes, sir.

Well? Brand him already.

Sir.

Oh, oh…

What is it? Quit fooling around.

Yes, sir.

Wait.

This is monstrous.

Songi.

I understand his father ran off when he was a baby.

As the monk said, what does an infant know?

Death by branding seems unjustified.

Wouldn't you agree, Father?

This is where the guilty are punished.

Keep still.

But Father, you're the slave's rightful master.

He ran off from Grandfather. As you're the eldest son,

that makes him your property.

Doesn't he belong to our house?

We never could tell what she'd do, not since she was little.

Yes, yes, his father was part of Father's estate.

It seems fate has stuck you with him again.

But the law's the law.

He's a runaway and he was involved in the rebellion.

There's no getting around it.

So Chancellor Kim tells me.

Still, your niece has asked as a favor.

Perhaps you could be lenient?

Lenient?

If you insist.

- Put down the iron. - Sir.

But he can't be spared his just punishment.

His life is spared. Set him to work for his country.

Yes, sir.

Satisfied, Songi?

Thank you, Uncle.

Chae U, I'll see you soon.

Ah, about your father-in-law, General Jeong Sukchom.

I'm sorry about it.

However it all turns out.

I'll be going.

Hey, you.

You're Kim Jun?

You're lucky, I'll give you that.

If not for the lady, you'd be a ghost by now.

Listen… listen…

You little..!

What happened to the villagers I was brought in with?

The runaways were executed.

The rest were enslaved.

Wola…

What about Wola? Wola…

The girl you were with?

The special forces kitchens.

It's a rough place.

Front and center!

You used to be slaves.

Or you're slaves now.

You!

Ma'am?

We have to check that you're fit.

Open your mouths.

Open ‘em.

If you can't eat, you can't work.

Take off your clothes.

Strip. Every stitch of clothing.

Strip!

Didn't you hear me?

Are you deaf?

Strip, now.

I said now.

I have to see if you can work or not.

And if a higher-up calls for you one night,

I have to see if your fit for that or not, too.

Everything.

What are you waiting for? I said everything.

Your breasts, too.

I said everything.

Your name?

Wola, ma'am.

Big hips. Good for child-bearing.

But what good is that scrawny waist?

She won't last long.

You belong to the special forces.

No better than beasts.

You have the right to die, but not to be hurt or to get sick.

It's your duty.

I serve the Lady…

and have full charge of the female slaves here.

Continue.

Train them well.

Ma'am.

Turn around.

And again.

Move it, move it!

Did you eat a slug?

Everyone who comes to Chungnyong is hurt in some way.

The abandoned, the abused, the wounded.

The Buddha tells us to receive them.

To soothe and comfort them.

You've often asked me about your mother and father.

It was during a blizzard.

Your father was clutching you to his breast.

Your mother had already passed to the next life.

Brother… brother… stay with us.

Brother, stay with us.

Brother, stay with us.

Your father was a fine man.

He fought to free the souls of the abandoned.

Now I am your father.

We'll live here, dead to the world.

The outside world cannot touch you here.

One!

Good.

Two!

Musang, the martial arts… three!

…must be learned before your bones harden… four!

I learned when I was little, too. Follow me. Five!

Good.

Six! Good.

Wola, it's dangerous.

It's dangerous. Watch out!

- Musang. - Hm?

There.

Such a strange place for flowers.

You want one?

No. It's dangerous.

It's fine. Wait here.

Musang, don't. Come back here.

It's fine.

Woops!

Musang?

Musang! Musang!

Musang!

Listen, kid…

you must have done something really bad… to end up here.

Kid, listen to me.

Get away. Better to die trying to escape.

Turn it like this, see?

Yes.

Go easy.

You.

Get water from the well and fill that up.

The well?

Little idiot.

Yeah, draw water from the well, moron.

Oh, dear… there.

Over there. To the right, the right.

Little idiot.

Watch where you're going!

Look at this, how can we take this up?

Little idiot, idiotic-idiot…

Look what you've done.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Die, you! Die!

Don't.

How did this idiot get here anyway?

Die, moron…

Look, I'll take care of it.

Well? You were told to get water.

Musang.

I'm not kidding, you go to the temple and those old guys ramble on and on…

Too true.

It takes forever to study the Four Books and Five Classics, and what good is it?

Let's go get a drink.

Manjun.

Let's visit the courtesan house.

Cop a feel or two?

Let's go there.

Courtesans it is. Let's go.

Look, look.

There.

She's new.

You see?

Uh-huh.

She's so… so...

So very… like a moon at noon.

C'mon, c'mon…

Manjong.

She's different from the usual girls.

She's so…

Any news on my father?

He should be in the capital tomorrow.

Try not to worry, Mother.

Even if Grandfather Choe is senile, you're still in-laws.

Songi.

Senile? Where did you hear that?

It's it true?

I may not know much about the world.

But everyone knows my uncle covets your position.

How is it that Grandfather Choe doesn't?

Now.

That's not your concern.

I know I've mentioned it, but it's time you were married.

That's what you should focus on.

I haven't met the right man yet.

What does that matter?

We'll find someone for you.

I don't like the wishy-washy immoral type.

A man should taste like a man.

How can you do that just looking at his family?

Oh, Songi.

I've over-stayed my welcome. Please excuse me.

If only she were a man.

Then she'd be worth the trouble.

Girls are too expensive.

Which is why I say if only she were a boy.

You should have heard her at the jail today.

The jail? Songi?

- More rice soup. - Coming!

- Two bowls over here. - Coming.

We're too early.

What? The others are already camped for the tournament.

All the best men are here.

What have they got?

Nothing. One smack and they're down.

There's plenty of war for everyone. Relax.

Here, have a drink.

That monk today.

Sir?

The runaway slave.

What do you think?

He's some kind of man.

Ah, you thought so?

Under a death sentence…

the iron inches from his face…

and he didn't even blink.

Yes, sir.

He's got grit.

Wouldn't you say?

I suppose.

Eat up.

I won't pay!

Whew.

Lishen, I'm nah drunk, shee…

We have a girl like a poppy field.

Like you've never seen.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

A new poppy?

Oh, yes.

Then let's go. Lesh see poppy.

Manjun, to the new girl. To poppy!

- This way. - Where? Here?

Welcome.

And that trash.

His father's life flickering in the wind.

And he carries on.

Oh, is everything ready for the tournament?

You know we haven't had any time for that.

We can't spare the men.

The opposition's been preparing all year.

This monk business is sent from heaven.

You can use it to assume control of the Royal Secretariat.

It's true.

This pup here can't stand waiting.

It's nice to be young.

And sending General Ji Yunsim to the front while recalling General Jeong…

was a stroke of genius.

Like leading a lamb to slaughter.

True, he doesn't see what's coming.

But he'll see soon enough.

We need to tighten the reins.

The Overlord is slowing down in his old age.

There's no telling when he might change his mind.

But haste makes waste.

And leads to costly mistakes.

Agreed, but General Kim Yakson and Lord Yi Kyubo are close to the Overlord.

We can't let down our guard.

We have to find a way to get rid of them.

Listen to you.

Look here…

Yes, sir.

The young are always in a rush.

We know all of that.

Didn't I just say haste leads to mistakes?

Yes, sir.

But I believe great acts require great resolve.

Taking over the Royal Secretaria--

Enough, enough.

You should go. You have company coming.

Yes, sir.

Yi Jangyong is smart enough.

But he's too hasty.

But we need him to make this work.

That's a fact.

To which end…

See the tournament goes well.

The result will greatly increase our influence.

The King himself will attend.

Everyone who's anyone will be there.

General Yu Songjol here has everything prepared.

Yes, sir. It's taken care of.

Good, good. I can count on you.

Sir, it's Kim Dokmyong.

Enter.

Sir, the man I told you about, Choe Sanbo.

I see. Welcome.

You're familiar with spells and such.

Chancellor Kim is, as well.

If he speaks well of you, you must indeed be impressive.

One tries, sir.

Ten years on Mt. Keumgang. Ten on Mt. Myohyang.

Ten years in the island country of Tamna.

And now one stands before you.

Very impressive. Very.

He looks more like a Buddhist to me.

I just have one question.

Choe Hyang is involved in a life or death struggle.

We can't tell you the details.

Well? Can you use your powers to see the future?

It's as I told you.

The future of the country is in the balance.

It's time…

Use your powers.

All… in one!

Sabaha, sabaha, sabasaba sabaha…

Keumgang, Myohyang, Tamna, Sampo, Keumgang, Myohyang, Tamna, Sampo.

Om Mani Padma Hum.

One!

Oh… Can it be..? Can it..?

Buried in the Infinite.

A dragon buried 1,000 years, biding his time, a Wishing Stone in his hand.

Call him forth, and the Blessed One, reared in the mountains…

will raise a storm to flatten the land.

A great desire soon fulfilled.

A ruler of all the land.

One so young, so blessed…

such as the world has never seen.

Is that so? It's not unpleasant.

If you're right, you'll be rewarded.

You honor me.

Thank you a thousand times.

I live to serve. Remember your humble servant.

Yes, yes, of course.

Your country will need you.

At your service.

Where have you been? Stoke the fire.

Pretty rough, huh?

Y-yes.

That Nanjang is tough.

She's gone through a lot of slaves.

Like she's not one.

You were at a temple?

You have a nice figure.

Be careful.

They're like thieves. They help themselves, here, there, everywhere.

If you get pregnant you won't know the father.

Especially the Lady's two sons.

Courtesans, carrying on, they're nasty pieces of work.

A curse to anyone in a skirt.

No better than animals.

Some girls have died fighting them off.

It was hushed up, of course.

But that's our lot in life.

Not that anything wouldn't be better than this.

Whew, I'm so beat…

Wake up! Come and get it!

Move it along!

Eat your slop and be grateful!

Move it along!

Everyone up.

- You'll eat it! - And like it!

Old man… old man…

Old man… old man..?

You…

Hey…

H-he's dead.

He's dead.

What are you doing in here?

Sir… sir…

He's dead.

He's dead.

So? It's not the first time.

Men die here every day.

Move it.

Look…

Be sure and eat first.

Salt soup, trash soup, it's better than nothing.

What are you doing?

Come on. It will all be gone.

Hurry up.

- Move. - Move over.

Line up.

You…

Well? Eat up!

- Here. - Eat it and like it.

Front and center! We're moving out!

Eat your gruel!

Move it!

Get them moving!

Line up, line up!

Just a little more.

Hurry up!

What are you waiting for!

We have to get this stuff to the kitchen.

Brrr, why is it so cold? Get to work.

Put your back into it.

What are you looking at?

Back to work, you.

Move it.

Musang…

- Musang! - Stop.

Musang!

Well? Go get her!

Musang… Musang!

Musang…

Musang!

- Musang… - Wola…

Musang…

Wola.. Wola…

Musang…

Wola!