"Episode 16" "Did you come for me?" "Stop talking about happiness." "Survival alone does not grant happiness to everyone." "Drop your weapon." "Been a long time." "Where are my boys?" "Were you the one... who slew my men?" "General Choi and Wangson..." "Where could they be?" "!" "Answer me." "Were you the one?" "What are you trying to do?" "How dare you get in my way?" "Get the hell out of my face!" "Wouldn't everything be solved if I die instead?" "If you just..." "If you just kill me, wouldn't that suffice?" "He... was the man I loved." "The man who captured my heart." "And the man whom I buried deep down my soul," "before I came to you." "Didn't you say he died?" "I spent all this time thinking so." "And despite thinking that," "I couldn't join him in demise." "Because of me, that man risked his life." "And I was... one of his clan's..." "Don't say that." "I am the man you love." "What is your name?" "I tend not to exchange names with paltry slaves." "Could our duel take place here?" " How about we move it elsewhere?" " If you wish to choose a better place to die," "I shall be happy to oblige." "When everyone is dead," "peace shall return." "Naeuri..." "It will be all over in one duel." "However..." "Nothing serious will happen to him." "Wait for me." "I will be back." "I leave His Highness to your care." "Take good care of him." "His Highness is our son." "Orabeoni..." "I'll change this country." "By making a world which doesn't discriminate between yangban and commoners." "So... you and I can live together." "Forever." "You have my undying fealty." "You have my... undying fealty, until the very end." "Where did they all head to?" "Fellow men of arms should let their blades speak for them." "All your compeers have perished." "If you have anything to say," "I suppose it might grant you survival." "How do you plan to proceed?" "She remained there alone after General Song departed." "She might have realized the situation already." "Will it be all right?" "We have no time to squander in concern for a mere woman." "We know nothing about her anyhow." " But should General Song learn of this..." " What could he possibly do?" "We have His Highness." "If we don't take the initiative and stop General Song on his track, we would be facing the same quandaries to the very end." "I concur." "Let us head for Suwon, as all our wishes are coming into fruition." "You..." "Your Highness!" "Quite the sumptuous stage, for a mere slave's demise." "Spare no effort." "Your Highness..." "You..." "Your Highness!" "Your Highness..." "You chose the wrong man to trail." "I was not born a slave." "I wasn't born a slave hunter, either." "Your Highness!" "Your Highness!" "Your Highness!" "I promised her..." "I would not slay you." "But, what now?" "!" "I pledged to myself I'd do everything to kill you?" "!" "You are no match for me." "For the sake of her past love and the memories you shared," "I spared you today." "Whose lover would I be?" "Think I would have feelings for some paltry slave serving my clan?" "Slave, you said?" "!" "Who are you calling a slave?" "Who did you call a slave?" "Did you just... call my spouse a slave?" "Don't call me Naeuri, I'm your husband." "I couldn't possibly dare to call you that." "For, looking back, I wouldn't have the right." "There is nothing more harrowing than being a slave." "I am no slave." "She is not... a slave." "Seo..." "Seonbi..." "Seonbinim." "By chance, did you escape because of what happened at the seowon?" "Go back!" "It is safe now." "We must return there." "We abandoned the seowon." "I shall escort His Highness firsthand." "Were you trying to take His Highness away without a word?" "Get out of the way." "Give His Highness to me." "I said get out of my face!" "Shall I scream that you took my child away from me?" "It is for the sake of Joseon's future!" "Free the way." "Wherever you're headed," "I shall escort him." "It is nothing a woman should involve herself with." "If you don't give me His Highness back," "I shall alert the authorities and request their help." "They said they would head for Suwon." "That is all I know." "Fine." "It is for His Highness's safety." "If you keep carrying a child, wouldn't that attract unwanted attention?" "If His Highness's safety is truly your biggest concern, let me carry him." "Then, let us do this." "I will escort him only past the market." "Then, you can get him back and continue along your path." "If you provide me with traveling expenses," "I shall follow you on my own." "Is that truly all it will take?" "Of course." "Pave the way." "How could a woman pave the way?" "I shall follow after you." "Your Highness..." "Say it..." "That she is no slave." "Don't mention the past..." "I let it all burn away." "General Choi!" "How do you plan to act?" "Must we not avoid any unwanted attention?" "Once we reach the end of the market, if she ends up..." "How have you been faring, Seonbinim?" "I shall give you only one chance to answer." "Where is the Royal Successor?" "I thought I made myself clear." "You only have... one chance to answer me." "I shall ask again." "Where is the Royal Successor?" "I don't know." "Is someone else escorting him to Suwon?" "And where in Suwon?" "Think I would answer you?" "As a scholar guided by unyielding principles, even if your blade points at my pate, I shall never betray my calling!" "Wangson!" "Eonnyeon..." "I finally get to meet my brethren." "But..." "I have no brothers?" "!" "Same goes for me?" "!" "I sent you the secret orders." " What?" " What?" "!" "Forgive me for only contacting you through arrows." "Then..." "You are... the one?" "!" "He's finally here!" "He's here with us!" "All of a sudden..." "Aigoo..." "Don't do this." "Ajeosshi..." "Chobok!" "No need for reverence amongst fellow slaves." "Don't say that." "You deserve our respect." "We're not that kind of wretched slaves." "But, how old are you?" "Have you gone batty?" "How dare you ask him that..." "It is fine." "My family and I were separated during my childhood, so I don't know my age with certainty." "Aigoo..." "Why show reverence to this little moppet of a wench..." "For someone as distinguished as you..." "When we are all partaking in such grandiose endeavors, why would we discriminate between sexes?" " Aigoo..." " Still, I..." "That is certainly fine with us, but..." "Suspicions led me to trail them, but we truly risked direful consequences." "Take care of any drafts or money they were carrying, and I will see you later at Gaenom Ajeosshi's abode." "Are you leaving already?" "If you'll excuse me..." "It hurts!" " Ahh..." "Really!" " That's enough." "Yes." "Ahh..." "What's wrong with you?" "Didn't you say the Left State Councilor's son-in-law was responsible?" "Ahh..." "When did I ever say that?" "You did!" "It's because you did that I brought you here!" "But if you suddenly deny it, what does that make of me, uh?" "I mean..." "I don't even know who this Left State Councilor is, how could I possibly know his son-in-law?" "You knave!" "Do I need to beat the truth out of you?" "You know?" "I might not be known for speaking with grace, but I speak the truth." "What are you trying to accomplish?" "Weren't you the one who spread such talebearing?" "Why pester innocent men..." "Why don't you just wrap her up real good and go for it?" "I shouldn't..." "'Course!" "How could I..." "How could I let all that beauty..." "Once she falls asleep, she would never realize you're taking her away." "But she wouldn't realize..." "Even if taken away." "Not to mention the fact we always leave the gates open at night..." "And they leave the gates open..." "Not going would be an affront, wouldn't it?" "Wouldn't it?" "Sure would..." "You fool!" "Will tasting the cudgel open that squirrelly trap of yours?" "Chief Oh..." "Let's forget all this and leave together amicably." "Why, if you ask for leniency for spreading false rumors... and beg me to spare you, think I wouldn't?" "I think you wouldn't." "If even you don't trust me, who would..." "Uh?" "Who would?" "And why would I trust anyone?" "Why, if I keep enduring this, wouldn't one of your superiors be sent here to question me?" "Then I can just tell him the truth." "That you were behind it." "I can just start by kissing his ass on my way to the big confession, and then tell him of all your dealings with the Left State Councilor." "I'll be damned and damned again..." "Why, am I in any position to worry about someone else's troubles?" "Ever seen anyone get on all fours and with a smile on his face go..." ""Go ahead"?" "You knave, keep it up, will you?" "Put it down." "Chief Oh." "I said forget all this, and let's go out on friendly terms." "I'll treat you like you've never seen before." "Think I would fall for a mere few drinks?" "Listen." "I'm Cheon Jiho." "Uh?" "Cheon Jiho!" "We need to walk that path together for a long time." "Your shed has now been graced with another cow, so let us fulfill your end of the bargain." "One cow for a slave..." "So exacting an exchange you proposed, further meditation would be advisable, but I leave the decision to you." "Be that as it may!" "Is she valuable enough for us to renounce our bargain?" "Long roads test the cow, long dealings the compeer." "How could I renounce our bargain?" "I am merely advising you without malice..." "Mother..." "I'm scared." "Scared about what?" "Think of where you'll be sent." "Mother..." "Will you keep it up?" "Never try to rile your keeper, and do everything you're told." "Understood?" "Don't stare at him directly, and don't even think about running away." "Mother..." "Mother..." "Let us go!" "What is the reason you kept trailing me so tenaciously?" "Why would there be a reason?" "If a slave runs away, we trail and capture him." "On whose incitement did you start trailing us?" "I need no incitement." "Money is enough." "Why don't you just slay me?" "I will." "But before that, tell me where my boys are." "I don't know." "So that is why you'll be slain." "I was told to bring them here so I came, but..." "If it is anything you entrusted upon me, leave such matters to me alone, Your Excellency." "If you employed other hounds to test me, consider this my answer." "Resolve drenches his every word." "How shall I proceed?" "Why ask me?" "Act as the law commands!" "Why lock it?" "General Choi is not even here, what's the point?" "But, you never know..." "Whether today might be the day..." "Is that so?" "Of course." "Women should always leave behind a token, proving they're always awaiting their man with bated breath." "All right." "Oh my..." "What now..." "So..." "Like..." "Li...ttle Jumo!" "I didn't want to be forced to do this..." "Just think of all this as destiny, uh?" "You know how I feel, right?" "Right, right!" "What now..." "Here..." "Now you're all mine!" "Uh?" "!" "I'll be damned." "What's all this?" "All right, I get it." "Stuffing dirty socks in my mouth..." "I only wore them for four days..." "So what is all this about?" "Why are you here?" "Did I come here by myself?" "Hurry up and untie me." "Ahh..." "Really..." "Get moving!" "I understand the blinders of old age and all, but couldn't you tell it was me?" "I was just assaulted by the excitement..." "It was indeed a little heavier than I thought..." "I leave the table set and all you needed was bringing a spoon, but you turn it all upside down?" "Shouldn't you have told me where to put that spoon?" "And who do we have here?" "Isn't that Big Jumo?" "And you..." "It's not that." "We spent some time together at my place, and..." "You two together by yourselves, at your place?" "It's a beautiful night!" "With the falling snow to set the mood, you spend time at his place." "Tell them!" "Hurry!" "It's not... what you think at all!" "I did wrap her up, but..." "What?" "Wrapped her up?" "!" " Yes..." " Aigoo!" "Listen to that." "You have my compliments." "Whatever..." "Jumo!" "Wait for..." "How can you just go?" "Let's tell them first." " You can do it for her." " A pleasant night to you." "Don't you worry about that." "Great..." "Just great!" "Let's not just end it here, and go for some drinks ourselves." "I have no money." "Ahh..." "Is money the problem?" "I ought to..." "I'll take care of this firsthand, so you can get credit." "Let's go." "Let us go." "Aigoo, that dauber..." "Big Jumo saved you on the edge of a cliff..." "One of these days, be it you or me, someone will end up croaking once and for all." "Aigoo..." "Sit comfortably." "This is just fine with us." "We've always been sitting this way." "I was even told I was born on my knees." "Let us never kneel down before anyone, from here on in." "Should only the yangban sit comfortably?" "What is this..." "Are you out of your mind?" "Why?" "This is perfectly fine." "I mean it..." "Really." "I'm fine with this." "But I'm not fine with it." "Aigoo..." "My legs..." "But, you're much younger than we thought..." "What would age matter in fulfilling great endeavors?" "Wow..." "Listen to him..." "He sure sounds learned, uh?" "*Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Water Margin, Journey to the West, Dream of the Red Chamber" "I did a cursory perusal of the Four Classics* and the great sages' teachings, but..." "You could take the national examination, at that!" "Ahh..." "He's a slave..." "When my keepers fell into ruin after they were accused, my family was sold away to other clans all over the peninsula." "I was sold to another clan myself, and while carrying the young master to his lectures back and forth," "I myself grew accustomed to reading after a few years." "Then, are you living in Hanyang now?" "I am gathering people like you all over the peninsula." "Then..." "Are there other slaves shooting rifles like us?" "Only in Hanyang, there are over a hundred, and considering the entire peninsula, the total is over two thousand men." "Wow!" "Those numbers are still not strong enough to turn this country upside down." "If we manage to gather ten thousand men, then even the palace is within our reach." "Thank you..." "The p...pal..." "Thank you, yes!" "You should not thank me, but the compeers right next to you." "In due time, the tides will turn and we will rule over our own keepers." "If such world comes to us..." "I'll have to repay all those efforts..." "We must now aspire for greater things." "We shall now herald a world where we all are kings." "Now, tell me." "When you said she was one of your clan's varlets, what did you mean?" "Why, is my having a past as a yangban all that vexatious?" "Was my spouse..." " truly a slave?" " And so what?" "Slave or yangban, what difference would it make?" "If you have feelings for each other, that is all it matters." "Be that as it may..." "People's roots are unalterable." "It's because people like you are in power that we live in such a wretched world." "If people like you didn't exist, then there would be no need for people like me, either." "Still, all of us becoming kings is a little..." "It's only one throne..." "Ascend to the throne or not, all of Joseon's people deserve to be treated like kings." "I can't even read, why would..." "King is much too excessive..." "Just being treated like a governor would suffice." "Forget the governors..." "Just even being treated like human beings would be enough!" "That is the world that awaits us." "And for that day to come, we must fulfill greater aspirations." "The smugglers we attacked last time were in truth from the Qing delegation." "Aigoo, Father!" "Aigoo, how could we end up dealing with those beasts..." "Amongst our enemies are not only the yangban, but those Qing usurpers as well." "I don't know what brought you to Jeju, but all you want is returning to your past, nothing more than that." "You must be eager to return to all that luxury which surrounded your life." "Do you have any right to say so?" "You spuriously parade the streets on the pretext of restoring public order, but it is likely that all you do is torment innocent people, and demean yourself with the vile haughtiness of a vandal." "That's natural." "For only that way can we survive." "For creating a world where only that grants you survival... is what people like you have done." "Then, what about you?" "Have you ever tried to change that world even once?" "Listen, slave." "No..." "Slave yangban." "Remember Hong Gildong?" "Even his witchcraft couldn't change this world." "But, someone like me trying to change this wretched world, even without the help of witchcraft?" "!" "You don't change the world with witchcraft." "It's with people that you do." "Whatever shenanigans these people you talk about can do, there is nothing that can change this world." "Do not say such words in vain." "For those same words... are what daunts someone the most." "What's wrong?" "You finally met the man you longed so much to see." "If this world is turned upside down as he says, then would the yangban truly become our slaves?" "I guess so?" "!" "He says everyone will be treated like a king." "Then, will it be the same for those yangban fallen into slavery?" "Why would that be the case?" "They're slaves..." "Ahh, then..." "Wouldn't it be better to make a world where there are neither slaves nor yangban?" "You're smarter than me, so you should know better." "What you say is certainly right, but as for me..." "My father perished while gathering ice, and my mother, after marrying another slave working for the same clan, left along with him." "And I was captured after running away." "After going through all that, that's just how I feel." "How do you feel?" "A world without yangban or slaves might be wonderful, but what I want to do now is avenge what those yangban did to me." "You won't carry me on your back, tonight?" "Did you hurt your leg again?" "Must I hurt myself to have you carry me?" "Then, is it your back?" "So what else is hurting?" "!" "It is your last chance to survive." " Where are my boys?" " I don't know." "Wangson and General Choi," " did you kill them?" " It has nothing to do with me." "Let me ask you instead." "What is the reason you had to even harm my men?" "Did the Councilor order you to?" "Hey!" "Daegil!" "Daegil." "Aigoo!" "Look at what you brought me this time!" "I'm proud of you!" "Just remarkable!" "Let's go, you fool!" "Chief Oh." "He is mine, don't even think about it." "Can you act like this with me?" "Forget that," " and call him." " Call who?" "Who do you think?" "That most distinguished fellow I had the chance to meet at the Apgujeong pavilion." "Why bear all that burden?" "Just let me deal with it." "You'd try to con a corpse, if you could." "Enough with the prattling, and call him." "If I do, are you willing to partake?" "Is Lee Daegil your name?" "I shall not forget that name." "You knave, who are you staring at?" "Give it a rest!" "I knew I had quite the talented hound in my hands." "Long life and prosperity." "But I recall I only gave you one month." "You know what?" "I don't seem to recall?" "I also said you would pay a direful price for any delay..." "You still can't recall?" "You said your pate is worth no less than five thousand nyang, right?" "!" "If that money is the issue, I will just give it back." "*Yeoeuiju: cint (Sanskrit: cintamani);" "wish-fulfilling jewel in Buddhist tradition" "A dragon without wings coveting the sacred jewel of desire*..." "The price to pay will be as exacting as your foolish ambitions." "You can finally abate your concerns." "Would I let the capture of a paltry runaway slave perturb my mind?" "Talebearing spread on the street, suggesting that we weren't dealing with an ordinary slave." "Why would anyone consider meager vociferation from the market as the truth?" "Rumors are nothing but quibbles of powerless minions." "When those quibbles sing, popular fervor dances along." "You may control the weeping masses, but not when they dance together." "Their merry dances must end before they even start." "Curb their merriment?" "!" "How hard could it be?" "You could just get rid of him." "Quite the daunting slattern..." "No, you must spare him." "Allow him a miserable, painful survival..." "Enough that he will be daunted enough to change his mind." "We found someone even more daunting than you." "I spared no efforts selecting the best, so you will enjoy her presence." "You may leave." "Yes." "Accord her your undivided attention, Your Excellency." "Big Jumo!" "So we heard you spent quite the hectic night with the dauber?" "Aigoo..." "Just go in..." " Let's go over there." " Yes." "Seongnim." "How could you do that?" "Why did you keep it secret, despite liking each other so much?" "Aigoo..." "Of course this is cause for celebration, but I just feel like I've been toyed with." "It's not that..." "I'm back." "Oh my..." "Oh my!" "Aigoo!" "Aigoo..." "How long has it been?" "Are you alone?" "And General Choi?" "We're all famished, so cook us something." "Warm and all." "Of course..." "Get it ready." "Oh?" "!" "Again..." "Look at it." "Eonni." "So what's your secret?" "Just eat." "Let's have a taster." "Ahh..." "Just a little." "Aww..." "So tasty!" "Have some yourself." "You had plenty of experience yourself, but this time, if your legs break you will not so easily walk out of here." "You may begin." "The tide has turned, so why don't you just confess?" "This is not the end, so why would I let pain confound me?" "Proceed!" "Yes." "Wangson..." "Go ahead and eat." "General Choi." "Let us just go." "I was ordered to do so." "If you confess everything at once, you may walk out of here." "Did you capture him?" "Look..." "As if you hadn't seen everything already, why ask me now?" "You knave..." "When you captured him, you must have noticed a child aged around four." "Did you see him?" "Did you?" "Save a thief from the gallows and they'll cut your throat..." "That child you mentioned..." "Child or whatever he is..." "I don't know!" "Hit him!" "I fail to see why you're acting like this as well." "If you saw him or he was there, couldn't you just confess?" "Naeuri..." "That child, you know?" "That child..." "Afraid I haven't seen him?" "!" "You knave!" "That is enough." "Are you back?" "I shall question them." "I will keep it a secret from His Excellency." "Let's go." "Yes." "Seeing us all gathered here... whelms me with joy, as if I met compeers." "Reckless and impudent as you are," "I shall begin with you." "Your flesh will first taste this burning iron, and then I will ask the questions." "~ On The Next Episode Of ~ SLAVE ~@~ HUNTERS" " Can she escape in that state?" " We cannot await that." "That woman is carrying the Royal Successor, I trust?" "The iron is getting cold." "Begin." "By the morrow, we will face our demise." "Demise, me?" "I'm not dying." "Daegil." "Of all the people I raised, you're the last survivor." "I will rescue you." "Those yangban will writhe in fear, and we will gain enough resolve to change this world." "Didn't I tell you?" "We might not answer one's benevolence, but we always pay back any affront." " I'll be damned..." " Is that Cheon Jiho?" "You and those scamps you tag along, your eyes are all filled with spurious vim." "Remember me!" "For I will witness your death with these very eyes!"