"Episode 21" "*Injo 15th, 1637" "Year of Jeongchuk*, ninth month." "*Ancient Hanja transliteration of "Europe," from the Chinese "Ouluoba"" "Crown Prince Sohyeon also met with Gurapa* German Catholic Adam Marshall, who had been overseeing the Beijing Astronomical Observatory." "What are you doing?" "I wrote down what His Highness and I discussed during our Qing stay." "I was curious to hear your story myself, so I'm glad you did." "Come out, it's all ready." "I think I should just leave." "While you remain here, you should acquaint yourself with them." "Only then would His Highness and I be able... to await you here free of any quandary." "The feast may now commence." "May you follow me, Orabeoni." "What's with the yapping like a nutter?" "Me?" "And why?" "Just be yourself, Kiddo." "The longer the shenanigans, the shorter you'll live." "Let us go, Orabeoni..." "Did you drink?" "Certainly not, Orabeoni." "That wench's gone batty for good." "We've lost her." "But, Wangson?" "!" "I've been glancing at you for a while, but meseems that winds of adversity have graced your visage." "I've made it all the way here, what other adversity could I face?" "!" "I have this propensity for reading feet, but let's leave it at that." "Instead, how about your hand..." "It's all right..." "Just your palms, nothing more." "Let's see..." "How regrettable!" "The stars had envisioned a queen's crown for you." "What?" "!" "All it would take to repel that misfortune would be a charm..." "Stick a charm right there, under your navel." "Then, forget the crown, you'll even open the gates of paradise." "Ehh..." "Listen to what he says!" " Darling!" " Darl..." "Come here a moment." "Aigoo!" "Aigoo!" "My pretty wife!" " So, what's the matter?" " This fella here is quite a laugh?" "!" "What is it about?" "He told me I was destined to become queen!" "And he's even talented at reading feet!" "Then, if you'll excuse me..." "Feet?" "!" "Then, if I may..." "I just..." "Here." "Take a good look." "Forget king or any of that, how about ruling this place?" "Take a look!" "They were having a feast." "Aren't you hungry?" "Am I not eating?" "I really didn't imagine." "That we would face all this distress in Joseon." "Endure it just a little longer." "General Song would never remain here, so they shall soon move back to Hanyang." "What is life, after all?" "It is a feast!" "Fill your bellies while you still can, and that's all!" "Let's all eat until we can't take it anymore!" "Go ahead!" "Have some." "We've cooked enough for everyone." "Stop prancing around me." "I might capture you all once again." "Ajeosshi." "Have some of this." "And you are?" "Why?" "Who the hell are you, to get in the way like that?" "I get in the way because I can." "Ajeosshi..." "Go ahead." "Orabeoni." "Have a drink." "Allow me to... pour you a drink." "I'm fine." "What are you doing here alone?" "Can't you see?" "I'm staring at the moon." "If you feel awkward there, just go back in." "You joined the feast as he wanted, so Jjakgwi will save face." "Why do you keep staring at the moon, as if you were a famished wolf?" "General Choi." "You know?" "Not being able to see her was driving me crazy, but now that I can see her every day, it's just killing me." "*Korean chess" "Let us amuse ourselves playing janggi* and then all move to Yicheon." "We can just forget all this and together enjoy our lives away from here." "She dawdles right under my nose... and I can't even touch her." "That's quite a life, isn't it?" "!" "Let's go back in." "I'll go feel the breeze for a while." "You can feel it here just as well." "General Choi!" "Take good care of yourself." "Wangson as well." "I'll be back soon." "Changbu Taryeong, folk song from Gyeonggi Province" ""I cannot..."" ""I cannot dance under its light."" ""Moonlight slipping through the gates I closed,"" ""Love piercing your heart despite resignation."" ""Love is moonlight,"" ""The moonlight of love."" ""Love, love..."" ""What is that thing people call love?"" ""The closer you get, the deeper the shadows."" "I wanted to depart without attracting people's attention, but seems like I lost the opportunity." "Will you be all right?" "It's so late at night..." "You needn't worry." "It is the second time I leave you alone since our marriage." "You're not leaving this place forever, but only to one day return." "You don't need to worry." "Have some on the way, and don't skip meals." "This will be the last time." "I will never leave you again." " Jjakgwi Eonni!" " Here I am!" "What are you doing here?" "Do you even know where you are?" "A place where you could easily croak, if you keep wandering all alone." "Did you wait here to tell me that?" "If you leave this place, will you, that child... and your spouse be able to settle down safely?" " Does it concern you so much?" " Answer." "Can you find a safe place and forever live there?" "We will at least stop living on the run, I suppose." "Fine." "Then, I'll tag along all the way to Hanyang." "I don't need your help." "You know Hwang Cheolwoong, don't you?" "That friend of yours." "I'll have to teach him a little lesson, I'm afraid." " Is that all?" " Sure is." "What is the real reason?" "Wow..." "There is no fooling you, all right." "Actually," "I've had enough of you two prancing around under my nose, so I just thought I'd help you get the hell out of my sight." "Where are you headed to?" "We will pass through Suwon and then head for Hanyang." "Quite the meddling type, aren't you?" "!" "For a mere slave, that is." "Why don't you tour the entire peninsula, while you're at it?" "Aren't you on the run as well?" "So you should follow me." "Those good at trailing can be just as good at fleeing." "Why did you spare me?" "You could easily have slain me?" "!" "Would I need a reason to spare a runaway slave or let him croak?" "I'm Daegil!" "Let's show ourselves." "Are you going already?" "Jjakgwi's hospitality leaves a lot to be desired, so..." "As if our leader was your next-door neighbor's mongrel," ""Jjakgwi..." "Jjakgwi..."" "What else could I call Jjakgwi, you fool?" "Where are you headed?" "The hell I know?" "He said we'll pass through Suwon and then head for Hanyang." "On your way back, bring us some of those wenches from Hanyang!" "Aigoo, you little..." "Here..." "There..." "Keep it up!" "Why did you drink so much?" "Eonni." "Aigoo, our General Eonni!" "Just sleep." "You know what?" "I have even more desire to survive now." "Back in the day, I just thought living and croaking as they come would do it, but experiencing all this, now I really want to live a decent life, for once." "Get a few nice brides, all sweet and merry!" "I said sleep." "Eonni..." "What are we going to do now?" "We even lost the 500 nyang..." "This damned leg of mine might be gone one of these days." "All of a sudden, I find myself half-crippled..." "From now on, what..." "What the hell am I going to do?" "You get stabbed once, and start weeping like a ninny?" "Where's Daegil Eonni?" "Call him now!" "That's enough." "You know?" "I even made him some garments?" "But he doesn't even put them on, that surly Orabeoni prick." "Even if I laugh this way, he doesn't even glance at me." "And this is all because of you." "Why did you do it?" "Why did you show up, and start tearing Daegil Orabeoni's heart to pieces?" "I'm sorry." "But..." "I can't help but resent you." "I can't help but... envy you." "If I become just like you," "will Orabeoni even glance at me?" "Cry it all out." "Could there be anyone free from sorrow?" "Spare me..." "I beg you to spare..." "Where is mountain rogue Jjakgwi?" "There..." "Over there..." "Were a man called Lee Daegil... and a couple carrying a child also there?" "They're gone..." " I implore you..." " Gone?" "!" "Gone where and when?" "Not long ago, they were headed for Suwon and then Hanyang." "I beg you to spare me..." "Head to Suwon." "Former Royal Secretary Lee Jaejun... was exposed as the ringleader behind this treacherous complot." "I will not go there." "He's gone." "If they're passing through Suwon to reach Hanyang..." "Why would one return back to where he ran away from?" "It makes no sense." "Infiltrating the hideout would be..." "We're heading for Suwon." "Hold your breath..." "Two..." "Three..." "Four!" "I guess now I can just shoot and it's a surefire hit." "As if they asked you to hit a herring's eyes, you can't even hit a dipper right under your nose?" "Here..." "Let's start over." " Pour in the powder." " Pour in the powder!" "Insert the pellet..." "Insert the pellet." "You got lucky, Chobok?" "!" "Why?" "You'll get married." "What?" "!" "Milord was talking with the keeper from Hwangsan in Namsan-Gol?" "!" "There's this attendant of his, and his wife died after giving birth to three sons." "He might be a little old and with children, but where would you find another chance like this?" "I... will get married?" "!" "That's right..." "Finding an unmarried man would certainly be better, but a woman's fortunes are only as good as her spouse's." "Ahh..." "And suddenly, why?" "!" "You know Milord doesn't have enough varlets guarding the abode, these days." "So, in exchange for you, he was going to get a calf and a male varlet, so he didn't hesitate a single instant." "Aigoo..." "I could hit a date from fifty paces away." "If I had a rifle in my hands at your age," "I would have hit an ant's buttocks from 10 ri away, you fool." "Hyungnim." "Tomorrow night, we will attack the Tribute Bureau." "What?" "You need to be prepared." "Tomorrow night?" "!" "Why are we suddenly rushing this way?" "The greater the endeavors, the easier it is to be exposed." "Will our numbers suffice?" "All the other slaves will gather in the morrow as well." "We have twenty men with rifles alone, and over double that number carry swords." "When we attack the Slave Tribunal, tenfold, and as for the palace, a hundredfold will join us." "You did something remarkable." "There is something you must do tomorrow." "What is that?" "Should anyone of us be captured alive, you must get rid of him yourself." "What?" "Once they start questioning him, he will expose us all." "Would he go as far as revealing our names?" "We're all staking our lives to make a better world." "Your soul might endure the questioning, but the body will not." "Once the burning iron pierces your flesh, then you'll open your mouth even against your will." "How could I..." "They're all like family to me." "You must do it, Hyungnim." "If he has to perish after being questioned and forced to reveal his compeers, sending him away yourself would only help ease his suffering." "Pour in the powder." "Ahh..." "If you put so much, will the pellet even pass through?" "Aigoo..." "It's just that it's all blurry in here!" "Hyungnim." "You must promise you will." "And why are you entrusting something so important to me?" "Is there no one else who can do this?" "There is one more." "And that's me." "You and I, it must be us alone." "On the ninth month of that year," "His Highness went to Beijing along with Qing troops." "His Highness said so himself." "That, once he would return back to his homeland, he would make sure many books are written, so that many more people can gain knowledge from them." "That he would turn a dry desert of knowledge like our country... into the garden of learning." "Did you wake up?" "And why are you here?" "Where is this place?" "What is your name?" "The other way..." "So this... is my name?" "I think so." "The "Seol" of snow, and "Hwa" of flower." "You're as bright and beautiful as a snowflower." "First time I see my name." "But..." "You even know how to write?" "*Hangeul; **Chinese characters" "Let alone the vulgar script*, even Hanja**..." "It's something anyone can learn." "From now on, can I call you Eonni?" "You said you would do so already." "You don't remember last night?" "So I... was here since last night?" "My head..." "Aigoo..." "Orabeoni." "Take a look." "I was told it's my name." "Snowflower..." "Could be that indeed." "I was told I'm bright and beautiful." "Snowflower, my ass." "Look, your name is not Seol of snow and Hwa of flower, but the "Seol" of tongue, and "Hwa" of fire." "Hence, your trap being always on fire!" "Wangson Orabeoni." "What?" "Won't last long." "What?" "If you keep living that way!" "You little brat!" "Go cook!" "Hey!" "Hey!" "I am Kwak Hanseom, formerly of the Military Training Command." "As I had heard, quite the presence you have." "So, what places did you visit?" "Jeolla and Chungcheong Province." "Must have been an arduous journey." "Tell me, are General Song and Jo Seonbi faring well?" "They're all in good health." "Good to hear." "There is no time to squander, so I must ask you right away." "I was told Your Excellency would provide us troops." "But what is the reason I should do so?" "What?" "We captured all men mentioned on the list, and I sent troops to Suwon as well." "You wasted no time." "But why did you send him along?" "I wonder, if I may." "Once you turn your back on something, you will walk in the opposite direction until the very end." "Driven by peerless atrocity, he will contend with them every step of the way." "Wouldn't it benefit us to have such men on our side?" "Yes." "The die is nearly cast." "Should accusations of treason surround the Royal Successor, he would cease to exist in everyone's eyes regardless of his survival." "And while this occurs, our voices shall trump over everyone else in the court." "Yes, Your Excellency." "And after that, only one step remains." "With a sweeping census reform, we will gather slaves... and send them to the northern frontier." "Once preparatives for a conflict with the Qing begin..." "Then I will flood the market with those water ox horns." "Why, you ask?" "!" "Were you looking for a position in the court as well?" "Was there anyone who demanded that?" "In exchange for funds or troops, certain individuals asked for military posts," "*Dangsanggwan: any post ranked 3rd to 1st others for a high-ranking post in the court*." "Aigoo..." "I'd understand asking to become Councilor, but a mere high-ranking post?" "!" "I am nothing but a man of arms." "Whatever Your Excellency is wishing for, I cannot pledge anything." "What I wish for is but a single thing." "Your honest answer." "Tell me." "Why should I accord you any troops?" "As for there being any reason why you should accord us troops," "I can't find a single one." "So you want me to do it without any reason?" "!" "I was given orders to serve His Highness the Royal Successor." "While living as despicable scum in Jeju," "I let a woman capture my heart." "But in the end," "I let that woman perish there." "You abandoned her for the sake of your calling." "The place where I laid that woman to rest, is where I abandoned my own self." "I shall therefore dare to ask you." "Are you prepared to abandon what you most fervently cherish?" "And what do you believe that to be?" "Reality." "Your Excellency has nothing left to desire whatsoever." "If you can abandon this reality of yours for a better world, then accord us troops." "But if you cannot," "I shall not ask anything from you." "You sure are audacious." "I've always been told so." "Aigoo..." "We live in regrettable times, forcing me not to share a drink by your side." "Once you decide upon a date, contact me." "Along with forty nyang to fund your endeavors," "I shall be able to devote about 120 men to your cause." "My gratitude, Your Excellency." "A third of them boast the same skills as provincial regiments, while the most part should be armed." "I shall take care of the rest." " When the day comes, I will deploy them..." " Criminal, heed your sentence!" "State Tribunal orders!" "Come out at once and kneel before us!" "What is going on?" "That's exactly what I'd like to ask you." "Meseems we might be surrounded." "What are you trying to do?" "Triumph gives you the throne, failure only means treason." "I experienced a wondrous dream, so it is time I leave for a better place." "I think I might now guess what has happened." "My congratulations." "You finally gained the post you so ardently wished for." "You still have a chance." " If you join our cause..." " Shut your vile gob!" "How..." "How could you..." "It is all over." "General Song perished as well." "Don't even mention the General's name with that perfidious tongue!" "I will still fulfill the great aspirations we fomented." "Our methods might differ, but the results will be the same." "Can a flower bloom again, after withering away?" "No matter how many creeks deviate from the tide, they shall all lead to the sea." " Proceed!" " Yes!" "Your Excellency." "I shall pave the way." "You're outnumbered, so drop your sword." "Where have you been all this time?" "Where were you?" "I've been looking all over." "Was I the one who left?" "You did." "Is leaving what matters, you silly?" "It's whether you come back that does." "Pimat-Gol..." "Jang Pilsun." "Why are you calling someone else's name?" "Someone else's?" "!" "You're my wife now." "Listen to you, really..." "Let's go." "I'll make you bask in luxury." "Start by losing some weight." "Why do you keep looking back?" "Are you still bound by any attachments?" "Who knows..." "I just feel I might have forgotten something..." "Don't think of it as something you forgot, but as things you left behind." "What are you doing here?" "What do you think?" "Keeping watch." "Always sitting around..." "Get up." "Come on." "When are you going to set the Tribute Bureau on fire?" "When the time comes, I guess." "And how about the Slave Tribunal?" "The palace?" "!" "And when are you going to kill all those yangban?" "Just wait until it's time." "Impatience spoils the broth." "And how much longer must I keep waiting?" "You never know what could happen tomorrow." "A single word from my keeper and my life will be turned upside down, how much longer do I have to wait?" "I'm sorry." "But, is there anything wrong?" "Nothing." "So what's with you?" "Ajeosshi." "What if one day I disappear?" "Disappear?" "!" "Are you going somewhere?" "To the market?" "The hell is wrong with her?" "If you disappear?" "!" "Wouldn't I come looking for you?" "That's quite the talent you have, anyhow." "Always rushing into the tiger's claws." "What is this place?" "I'll have to take a look." "Walk with the devil and you'll only get burned..." "Who are you?" "Hanseom..." "Why are you lying here?" "I said why are you lying here!" "Hanseom!" "Answer me, Hanseom." "Why did you..." "It's not like I'm all that curious..." "But let's hear." "What the hell happened here." "Have a seat." "I'm sorry, Hanseom..." "Hey, slave yangban." "Need to go now." "After making all this uproar, all the hounds will come after us." "You did something truly remarkable!" "Why ruin this propitious day with that dispirited look?" "Your Excellency." "Are you really planning to accord me any authority?" "Of course I do!" "Can I count on anyone but you?" "And how much authority will you grant me?" "What you are aspiring and wishing for..." "Would surpassing even that suffice?" "I... truly want to change this country of ours." "Abandon the old, and herald a new path for us all." "Ahh..." "Are you not abandoning the old already?" "Old acquaintances, old compeers, and even your old ways." "Is that not the case?" "Should those nectars not be to your satisfaction, may I serve you some tea instead?" "Why squander such a propitious day with endless parley?" "Ehh Ehh..." "As if these nectars were some kind of tonic, why encourage me so much?" "You now have been blessed with a disciple, so you should together celebrate." "Did they not say that beauty basks inside mirrors, and drinking is a window to your soul?" "Why not let these nectars do the talking, and open that window to your soul, for His Excellency to bask in?" "The treacherous culprits have all been apprehended, so I would like a swift questioning." "Of course." "I wish to quickly put this behind me, and concentrate on truly important matters." "Chan!" "Our plate is lacking vim!" "What happened here?" "This abode's keeper was taken to the tribunal prisons, and during the proceedings, two sinister individuals suddenly appeared." "Did he say there were only three corpses?" "No." "A rather large man also perished, but he said his body vanished." "That's Hanseom." "What is the closest mountain?" "Why are you asking..." "They brought his body, so wouldn't there be a burial?" "This will do for now." "We can always give him a proper burial later." "Wait just a moment." "I will come back for you." "By chance, do you know a scholar named Jo?" "It was him, all right." "Back at the board prisons, that fella they captured along with us." "Jo Seonbinim?" "!" "What did he do?" "According to that officer, he was there when they apprehended them." "Jo Seonbi..." "All those enlightened minds..." "They're all the same." "Once their path to survival opens, then all the obstacles it's laden with are easily disposed of." "He would never..." "Jo Seonbi..." "I told you he was with them." "All adorned in silken robes, at that." "There is no way..." "A man could never do so..." "It's because he's a man that he did." "Because, you know..." "Beasts know no betrayal." "None other than me!" "I shall fulfill it all!" "So that nobody shall ever again belittle my name!" "My name shall grace the pages of history!" "History shall narrate my feats!" "The people you can trust in life... are only them." "The dead." "There isn't a single man alive you should trust." "Does living that way bring you happiness?" "Living on, without trusting yourself or anyone else." "Much better than being stabbed in the back." "That is the reason I cannot trust you." "Hey." "Slave yangban..." "Where is it, this time?" "Hanyang?" "That's right." "You'll try to find someone you can trust, I guess." "I hope it's not the palace?" "!" "Unless you're insane, obviously." "That is my plan." "You know, in most cases..." "Nothing ever goes according to plan." "Just think that nothing is going right for you, and just follow me." "You're the one following me." "It's not the other way around." "Didn't I tell you?" "That I trust no one." "And you expect me to trust you?" "Doesn't that way lead opposite Hanyang?" "We'll have to get ourselves some horses." "Keep walking along this path, and it'll take ages to reach it." "How did he look?" "Like nothing but a dull-witted minion." "I don't really understand why..." "Your Excellency would keep such a man by your side." "Do you wench need to know that much?" "If that weren't the case, how could I claim I'm serving you like I should?" "It's Hanseom, indeed." "The resin is still fresh." "They will not have gone far." "Let's go." "There are no traces." "Map." "That does not lead to Hanyang." "They wanted to hasten, and hence needed horses." "What?" "In the opposite direction, there is a tavern down the mountain." "~ On The Next Episode Of ~ SLAVE ~@~ HUNTERS" "The reason I gathered all of you here today... is because tonight, we shall infiltrate the Tribute Bureau." "We will have to infiltrate the hideout and secure the Royal Successor." "Who are you?" "He must be fomenting hopes about his possible involvement." "And should the Crown Prince ignore your summoning?" "He will come." "Think it would mean anything over there?" "Do you feel pity for that child?" "Your compassion is excessive." "So someone attempting to push me aside and give Seokgyeon the throne... asks for my support?" "!" "And if he comes, and it's a trap?" "I have neither stopped nor given up on fighting."