"If she did marry and is living in happiness, what then?" "She can't live in happiness." "Not with me enduring all this..." "Not after all that happened to me." "A decent, happy life is out of the question." "Here..." "Episode 13" "What is the matter?" "It's nothing." "I thought I saw someone here." "Seodong Buseo*." "*traditional Korean marriage ritual ("The groom faces east, the bride west")" "Buseon Jaebae*." "*"The bride bows twice"" "Seodap Ilbae*." "*"The groom answers with one bow"" "Bride and groom, cleanse your hands." "Shija Jinju*." "*"Shija (attendant, best man) offers drinks and side dishes"" "Ohh?" "!" "Orabeoni!" "Once we escape this place, let us join in conjugal ties and frolic our nights away." "Listen to that!" "My shed being filled to the brim with calves was a lie as well." "And you thought I believed you?" "Free the way!" "Free the way!" "Free the way!" "Free the way." "Aigoo..." "Look at him..." "They say he will be turned into a government slave." "That dull-witted old man..." "What could he possibly have done wrong?" "You never know when the wheel of life will turn..." "The Grim Reaper always awaits to lead you past the pearly gates." "How can one go on living in peace?" "After learning of what things someone like Chief Oh is capable of..." "When it comes to minions like us, a blade's spurious whims is all it takes." "Take a turn down the thorny path, and you'll only suffer." "Still, how could it be possible..." "Look at his face..." "Look!" "Take care of yourself!" "And stop drooling after me!" "Aigoo..." "A good deed to the devil, and he'll lead you to hell in gratitude." "What did he do to deserve all this?" "He barked up the wrong tree." "Bask in blemishes and your beauty will only please the blind." "And as far as those blessed enough to see, you know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder." "Think it would be different for him?" "He was at least accorded leniency." "Sell off government steeds and they'd usually tear your limbs apart..." "The chief close-by is even more daunting than the king up in the palace." "I think I'll wet my pants whenever I see Chief Oh..." "What's with all this assorted prattling straight from the morn?" " Here you are..." " Ahh..." "Enjoyed a soothing rest, I hope." "What is wrong with you people?" "Afraid I'll need the latrine." "What are you waiting for?" "Don't you see you have customers?" "Yes..." "Have a seat here." "Hey!" "Cheon Jiho is back!" "Eonni is back, you scamps!" "Hey!" "Youngtak!" "Bring me some water, you scamps!" "What are you waiting for?" "So, where was I again?" "Ahh..." "Yes!" "His Excellency the Left State Councilor..." "Indeed, that's right." "His Excellency held my hands, saying..." ""I shall never forget what you did for me."" "And then he asked my name to reward me." ""I merely fulfilled my duty, how could I covet any vainglory?"" "I refused right away!" "But he kept insisting he wanted to know, uh?" "You're a hero for the ages, all right." "You won't believe how elated about me His Excellency was." "He wanted for us to become compeers." "It's like a goose seeing water, a butterfly glancing at flowers!" "With our friendship as it is, think I wouldn't make a good governor, or the commissioner of our capital bureau?" "!" "What are you saying?" "While you're there, go all the way to the palace!" "That's right!" "When a man has ambitions in sight, he can only fulfill them under his ruler's throne!" "Your tag." "What is it you needed from me?" "I am aware of a memorial regarding the Royal Successor's absolution... presented by several scholars." "Yes, they indeed did so." "What I'm looking for is a list of everyone involved in presenting such memorial." "A list?" "!" "And what would you do with it?" "Should I not prepare my entrance into politics?" "That's quite understandable." "Politics require you to know who those against your cause are." "May I ask you not to reveal this to His Excellency?" "Ohh..." "Sure." "Am I not always on your side?" "Commissioner Hwang came to me, and requested a list of scholars who submitted the memorial." "He asked not to reveal this to Your Excellency, but..." "Did he?" "!" "Seems like he was using it for political means, so how about according him pardon, and welcoming him to the court?" "Is there anyone you could trust as much as your own son-in-law?" "Wouldn't that be you?" "The birds are flying away..." "You're back?" "Uh?" "!" "If you'll excuse me, I'll tend to a few matters outside first." "Come here." "Bring that back." "I just ought to..." "I'll be damned, really..." "Why would a man like you act this way?" "Why always pester me?" "Seen my boys or not?" "Why, you don't know what happened to them?" "Uh?" "I ought to just stab you and get it over with." "All right..." "I get it." "So what happened is..." "How should I put it..." "They all... croaked, didn't they?" "!" "What?" "Uh?" "!" "You really didn't know." "In a matter of days, they were found hanging from the Apgujeong pavilion." "Apgujeong?" "!" "By the morrow, reach the pavilion in Apgujeong." "So they hanged themselves to death?" "Aigoo..." "The entire bureau was in tumult!" ""Why did lowly vermin go croak at a pavilion frequented by nobles?"" "Then again, they had a point." "Of all places they could find." "I went out to catch wild boars, and ended up with the sty empty." "But, tell me..." "You didn't do that yourself, did you?" "Of course not!" "A hero for the ages like you would never do that." "So where did they bury my boys?" "Aigoo..." "Why would they care... about giving some lowly scamps a proper burial?" "They just took them to the bureau and then dumped them out." "Dumped..." "Dauber." "Draw something for me, will you?" "But what kind of fella is this?" "Someone who will regret ever making my acquaintance." "There is only one answer I need from you." "Are you aware of Song Taeha's whereabouts?" "I am not." "Song Taeha helped His Highness out of Jeju." "He must have contacted his retinue and gathered somewhere, so tell me where they will meet." "I see General Song... did something remarkable." "Buddha Eonni." "You know?" "!" "This life is quite the nuisance." "From what I hear, you seem to have achieved some kind of enlightenment." "So what should I do?" "Tell me..." "What the hell am I supposed to do?" "!" "I told you someone had captured my heart." "I shall now set that part of me free into the clouds of oblivion, let it go along with those restless nights of sorrow, and come to you." "I will abandon it all and return to your embrace, in unyielding devotion for you and you alone." "So, what, should I just bow before you?" "Uh?" "Fine with me." "Ahh... really, quite the ambitious fella." "As if one wasn't enough, now you want another?" "What brings you here?" "I came to pray." "Would you not consider leaving his side?" "General Song will be bestowed great responsibilities, and will not be able to settle until our great endeavors are fulfilled." "If you wish, I could provide you with lodgings until the day comes." "I refuse." "I must remain by his side and support him." "Joseon's history shall be written anew." "There is nothing a woman can or could do to help our cause." "I was taught as such myself." "However..." "Isn't half the world made up of women?" "No matter what kind of world you're trying to bring forth, wouldn't women live there as well?" "I suggest you leave." "Did I not tell you I came here to pray?" "We are entrusted with the Royal Successor's care." "Maintaining secrecy is paramount, so any infiltration from the outside could be fatal to our cause." "It will only take a moment." "What you're doing will only hamper General Song." "I'll get going." "Long life and prosperity to you," "Buddha Eonni." "Don't be nervous." "Hold your breath." "Four..." "Five!" "What's that?" "You let the shot you fired scare you away?" "Ahh..." "So..." "Did I really shoot?" "Sure did." "So why are those still intact?" "Why would that be..." "Could it be because you missed?" "!" "That's hard to believe..." "People might lie, but pellets never do." "Start from scratch." " From scratch." " Again... again." "Pour in the gunpowder." " Insert the pellet." " Insert the pellet..." "Ahh..." "Wait, wait a moment." "Where did..." "Where..." "Seemed like it fell here..." "Move..." "Move your feet, will you?" "Can't I try as well?" "What are you saying?" "How can a woman use a matchlock?" "Why, if a woman shoots, yangban will not die?" "Oh?" "!" "I'll have to... get going." "Have work to do." "Tell me about it..." "Will have to follow you." "Let us all shoot one more time." "Ahh..." "With all the work left to do, what if we're late?" "Looks like rifles are not my game." "I could hit a sparrow's asshole in mid-flight with a rock if I wanted." "You know, right?" "Let's get going." "But, tell me." "Are you really going to kill the king as well?" "Once all the underlings start croaking by the day, eventually he'll be the only one left." "Then, well..." "Guess he'll have to croak as well." "You know, what I really liked... was when you talked about killing the king." "When men gather together and make up their minds, need to show some guts." "I don't really know about this." "That palace is so far away from us in so many ways..." "Is there even a king on that throne, I wonder?" "On target!" "On target!" "Meseems Joseon can boast exceptional archers in all ranks." "Archery is used in concomitance with lectures, to help our scholars cultivate their minds." "On target!" "On target!" "Experiencing Joseon's horn bows firsthand, they're indeed remarkable." "Seems like "spears for the Middle Kingdom, swords for the Wa's (Japan), and bows for Joseon" is indeed right." "No matter how remarkable Joseon's bows are, could they ever contend with the might of Qing spears?" "On target!" "A most discerning observation." "Joseon is under the Qing's tutelage, so have faith in our spears, and renounce your bows." "Did I not tell you already?" "Joseon's bows are no weapons, they are mere means to cultivate our minds." "If cultivating your mind was the sole goal," "I wonder why so many water ox horns were imported as of late." "I was therefore thinking of halting our trade of water ox horns..." "On target!" "They took bows today, so he will mention the horn trade." "Would he make a decision in such haste?" "His request for the Royal Successor's absolution was met with indifference..." "I am sure he will try everything to convince him, by using those horns to intimidate His Majesty." "If you wish to forbid trade, go ahead." "We shall cultivate our minds even without bows." "On target!" "Ingguldai will surely... make a mistake." "What did I tell you?" "Didn't I say we couldn't trust the Joseon king?" "Take your men and head to Jeju." "You never know what he might do if we keep idling." "Yes." "We will carry military tags and wear Joseon military garments." "Once you reach Jeju, you shall be able to find traces of General Song Taeha." "Yes." "Aigoo..." "How are you faring?" "What is it?" "What's with the discourteous treatment?" "Did they cut your tongue or something?" "Ohh..." "Badgering me straight from the morning..." "If you're here for alms, get out of my face." "Aigoo..." "Wow..." "Feel this..." "It's like spreading sesame oil on the little loach." "But this is not going to do wonders if you're just wiping." "Take a look." "It doesn't work." "You motherless son of a swine..." "Ahh..." "What do I have to do with you?" "Uh?" "Here..." "Come here..." "Get up..." "Ahh..." "It's hard." "Does it hurt?" "I didn't hurt you, did I?" "And you..." "Let's take a bath every now and then, uh?" "Your hair smelled like three-day-old fish." "But, tell me..." "I wonder what brings you here..." "So you don't know who you're facing." "I'm Cheon Jiho." "Cheon Jiho..." "Aigoo!" "I didn't recognize you!" "The second best fist on the street after Daegil..." " Come here." " Yes." "Who you're dealing with... is someone who taught Daegil all his tricks ever since he was still pissing his pants," "Cheon Jiho Eonni!" "Yes..." "Certainly, yes!" "Also, take a good look." "Have you seen him, or not?" " This fella..." " I really don't..." "I'm talking!" "Just listen..." "This fella is an instructing commissioner at the Military Training Command." "And you are the one providing garments to that place." "Did you..." "All of them?" "Telling me Song Taeha's whereabouts... is all you need to do." "I don't know." "Think that by gathering a few adherents and turning the palace upside down, you will herald the advent of a new world?" "I have no involvement in any of this." "You may not be involved, but they must have quelled your concerns with something." "What did they promise you?" "A post in the court?" "You..." "Quite the insolence for someone your age." "You can add imprudence to that." "Song Taeha." "Where is he now?" "What's this?" "And you are?" "Just someone." "Why are you here?" "Ahh..." "Just..." "Just because." "Know why the people these tags belonged to faced their demise?" "Because they claimed complete ignorance." "They must have chosen to die in honor and fealty." "However, Seonbinim." "What is fealty and honor?" "Would they truly change this world once they gain power?" "Power will soon besmirch their honorable wishes." "When granted power, can anyone seek honor?" "And is there anyone willing to abandon all that might, to cleanse away corruption in the name of honor?" "Did I not tell you this doesn't involve me?" "Seonbinim." "I have become a slayer." "Slaying another victim or not... is no longer of any concern to me." "Milady." "Your spouse is quite the remarkable specimen." "Your husband, you know?" "How should I put it?" "Ohh!" "When he wields that murderous blade of his, he knows no peers." "He's blessed with talent." "Mandeuk, Youngtak and all my boys..." "All four of them." "As if nothing happened, he just... slaughtered them all." "You know?" "We might not know such a thing as benevolence, but we never fail when it comes to vengeance." "Where's your husband?" "Leave this place." "Your father-in-law and I are very close." "I... have no father-in-law." "Kill me." "Slay me now..." "Ehh..." "The hell is she saying?" "Seeing you," "I think I should just..." "you know... spare you!" "If I killed you, wouldn't your spouse feel relieved, on the contrary?" "Ehh..." "That..." "That's not paying him back for what he did, it's according him benevolence." "Don't know if I'm making myself clear." "Are we set?" "Milady." "Long life and prosperity." "I thought you had too much on the line to protect not to understand me." "You..." "Listen." "Not only you, but your entire clan will bear the grunt." "Song Taeha..." " did not come here." " Then, who did?" "This scholar named Jo." "I only supported them financially, and had no other involvement." "Is he part of Song Taeha's retinue?" "That is all I know." "He told me they would gather at the old seowon under Unju Temple." "I will take one of your horses." "In return for sparing your life." "It had been empty for quite some time, but people suddenly started gathering there." "After a few days of people going in and out of there, things suddenly became quiet." "Where would that be?" "Seems like it's this abode they used as seowon down the village nearby, but isn't all this suspicious?" "If they used it as seowon, it's a place where scholars would gather and part ways, what is so suspicious about it?" "The fact that they didn't leave that place is suspicious." "Let's take another look in the morrow." "Sure need to." "Are you really not going to eat?" "Why are you looking at me?" "I did nothing wrong." "You!" "Will you keep up with that?" "I... saw it." "What?" "A man crying." "So?" "I just thought..." "even men can cry like that." "Seeing a man act like that makes you happy, so I feel sad." "What the hell is she prattling about again?" "I thought there couldn't be men like that." "But..." "I can't even approach a man like that." "Fine, then." "Don't." "Eonni, let's eat." "Seolhwa." "Did anything happen?" "I saw a man cry, I told you." "Think a man couldn't?" "Come and eat something." "If you don't want to, be my guest." "When His Highness the Crown Prince was taken hostage by the Qing," "I always advised him to secure his future with offsprings." "His Highness the Royal Successor was born right after that." "His Highness spent most of his childhood in my embrace." "More than a mere royal, he was like a son to me." "Will you look after him?" "I have no intention of acting like his mother." "I will become a real one." "I will become someone you can always depend on." "And I will be unyielding in my support." "You know?" "I will spend the rest of my days." "Together with you." "Found anything?" "About what?" "What do you think?" "About Song Taeha." "Seems like Wangson found a good lead." "So you all came back empty-handed?" "Then again, no matter how long you prance about, nobody can beat me when it comes to searching the streets." "Let's sleep." "Ehh Ehh!" "Listen to you." "First listen until I'm done!" "There is this abode down the nearby village, which was once used as a seowon." "After a group of men gathered there, the streets around there were deserted." "And the most important point, and there will be no "buts" and "ifs,"" "but if I get him first, I'm getting 100 nyang more." "Shall we hit it at night, or in the morn?" "Wangson." "Ahh..." "What's with all the gravitas?" "If you make that money, how will you spend it?" "Uh?" "!" "Listen to that..." "Well..." "Ahh..." "Supposed to be a secret." "When we went to Yeoju the last time," "I saw a lot of land they're selling there." "I'd buy that land, and then run this huge tavern." "The front room would sell drinks, the rear one would handle gambling, while the remaining two would be filled with wenches, and I'd just..." "Don't we live in a world where money will even buy you ghosts?" "You just wait." "I'll show you how far money can lead me." "And they say sins hide not in your sleep but in your dreams..." "Why, think you'd be better off?" "And you?" "What could one dream about?" "Having enough land not to worry about food in the winter would be enough, and if the yard was large enough for the children to jest with bows..." "Wow..." "See?" "You're even greedier than me." "He wants to play with bows at home..." "I said the children would do it." "Why, a moppet's shit is not brown now?" "Kiddo, you?" "Me?" "I knew you'd end up here." "You prick." "Let's go." "Let's go, kiddo." "You bastard." "Why did it take you so long?" "I just... would like to meet a decent man," "be loved by him, not have to worry about food..." "That's all." "Who, you?" "Listen..." "Listen to what she's saying..." " You prance about with dancing troupes..." " Wangson." "Keep prattling, will you?" "Hey..." "Hey!" "Prick." "Ahh..." "It's always me..." "Why, did I say anything wrong?" "Sure you did, little twat." "All you need to fulfill your dreams is money, but that kiddo..." "Is it not something she will never be able to achieve?" "Ahh.. forget it." "Let's just sleep." "So we just sleep?" "We don't go find out?" "We don't even know if the sun will shine in the morrow..." "So let's think about tomorrow... when it actually comes." "First he says that the morrow will bring a new sun..." "Anyhow, we're set for the morrow, all right?" "We're going for sure." "Here..." "Let's sleep early and get our 500 nyang tomorrow." "Aigoo..." "It might be enough for you men, but what about His Highness?" "All he has to eat is dry rice." "I will head to the market and buy something for His Highness, Naeuri." "Don't call me that." "Did we not get married, Dear?" "Eonni." "Aren't you going to get up?" "Ahh..." "Really, what's wrong with him since yesterday?" "Did they stick honey up your ass?" "Let's go!" "Look, Daegil." "Is anything wrong?" " Let's go." " That's right!" "Let's go." "I told you my guess will be right." "Let's go home." "Uh?" "!" "What are you waiting for?" "Let's go back to Hanyang." "Ahh..." "Wait a moment." "Are you out of your mind?" "With a 500-nyang hit right under our noses?" "There's nothing here." "That's not what rumors say." "Let's just go and check for ourselves." "I saw that she's not here by myself." "Listen." "What is wrong with you?" "Nothing." "Uh?" "!" "Eonni, really." "What's the matter?" "What matter?" "Why should we go back now?" "Think how much this is worth!" "Enough with the prattling." "Since we're talking, what has three-four years of this left us with?" "Uh?" "Shouldn't we strike a few decent hits and make some money?" "What did you say the other time?" "That one day of feasting is better than countless days spent eating millet!" "I said enough with the prattling." "Aigoo..." "If we go back empty-handed now, that's what will happen for the rest of our days." "You get it?" "Forget it." "I'll deal with this alone and get all the money, so do as you please." "If I say enough, then that's enough!" "Ohh..." "Now you hit me?" "Sure." "Since we're here, let's get it on for real, and see who deserves the honors." "Stop." "I said stop!" "Stop fighting!" "Stop!" "Wangson!" "Make up your mind, Eonni." "Whose side are you on?" "Let us fight to our deaths, then." "No need to wobble around like paltry wenches." "What's wrong with you, on an empty stomach to boot?" "Seolhwa!" "What are you waiting for?" "Take that knife." "We met by fighting, and that is how we shall part!" "Hey..." "Aren't we being a little pretentious?" "!" "I've had enough of that." "Daegil Eonni." "Give me my money." "You go back inside for a moment." "And why should I?" "I'll take care of myself from now on, so give me my share right now!" "Wangson!" "Let's go out a moment." "Go where?" "Let's take a breather." "We can do it here as well." "Why are you suddenly asking us to go back?" "This is not the place." "Our guess was wrong." "By any chance, did you see Eonnyeon?" "Tell me." "Have you?" "If I had, would I come back empty-handed like this?" "I would have caught or dealt with her." "So, why all this?" "General Choi." "Let's quit this slave hunting." "What are you saying?" "You like leading this kind of life?" "Who ever gets to live the way he wants?" "So let's get it over with." "I've had it." "Maundering the peninsula looking for a wench, slaves weeping left and right, begging for survival." "Risking my life every time the sun shines..." "I've had enough." "You've seen her, all right." "*about 500 ares (1 are = 100 square meters)" "You know?" "I bought a hundred majigi* of land." "What?" "So we can build ourselves a place to live." "Yours will be right next to the fields, after which will come mine, and Wangson will get his tavern in a nice, well-frequented spot." "Of course paying for it all the way will take some time." "And where would you have found all that money?" "Where do you think?" "Think I've only cheated you out of a few pennies?" "Seeing the way you act, I just thought you'd squander it all right away." "We can't go on doing this for the rest of our days." "Just like everyone else, even if only for a day, we deserve to sit down, take a breather, and live a half-decent life, don't you think?" "Did you really mean that?" "Of course..." "How nice would it be?" "!" "Buying ourselves a house!" "Some land!" "Living together!" "And then..." "And then finding Eonnyeon." "How nice would it be..." "Was Eonnyeon living a happy life?" "Let us go back." "To Hanyang." "What are you doing here?" "When I follow you around, don't ever ask me that again." "Go in first." "And you?" "I'll have to bid the kiddo farewell." "Sending her away with a few pennies wouldn't cut it." "I'll at least have to buy her some garments." "Don't be late." "Orabeoni, where are you going?" "Just follow me quietly, kiddo." "What's with you?" "No more prattling?" "Just..." "You know I'm always discreet." "I'll have to buy our kiddo a new set of garments." "Who..." "Me?" "!" "Why?" "I just think it'll be hard to find your mother." "My mother is dead." "She used to be in a troupe as well, but then she died." "Who else is ever going to buy clothes for a motherless little wench?" "Let's go." "Kiddo, let's get going." "~ On The Next Episode Of ~ SLAVE ~@~ HUNTERS" "You just go home." "It's too dangerous for you." "And it was only supposed to be four-five people..." "That way!" "Wangson, you fool!" "Is he the only slave hunter?" "Orabeoni, is it because of that woman?" "How dare you!" " Did anything happen?" " What?" "I'll spend the rest of my days." "Together with you." "There is something I must tell you." "Go ahead." "I..."