APRIL 28TH, 2022 DAY OFF
-What is it? -Jeez. You startled me.
What do you mean? I was just…
I was just passing by.
And I came in.
What is it? Did something happen?
No. Leave.
If nothing's up, let's just drink together.
There's no need to advertise to the world that you have no friends.
Stop acting like we're friends.
I'm not in the mood.
Don't be like that. Let's just have a drink together.
What do you think we are?
Well, you know. The same team? A boss and a subordinate?
So you do know. That's the line.
So stop trying to cross it.
It's off-putting.
Off-putting…
That's way too harsh.
I'm worried about you, that's why.
It's freezing and you're here drinking with nothing but…
Stop bothering me and get lost, will you?
Fine. I'm going.
I'll get lost.
I was just worried, that's all.
You just had to hurt my feelings.
She sure drank a lot.
I…
I don't want…
tomorrow to come.
I think the afterworld is too harsh on people who took their own lives.
The first punishment.
The breaking of the threads of fate.
You know what?
Unless they break that thread themselves,
they will meet that person again, no matter how many times you are reborn.
By breaking the thread themselves…
do you mean suicide?
EPISODE 14: WINDFLOWER
Are you going somewhere?
It's my day off.
What are you going to do?
I'm going to see a friend.
But you don't have friends. I thought they all passed away.
I do too.
Just be honest with me. What are you going to do?
I told you, I'm going to see a friend.
KOO RYEON
MEASURING NEGATIVE ENERGY LEVELS
KOO RYEON
What…
Come on!
Why are you so surprised? Were you thinking about me?
No.
But…
what's with your outfit? Are you going somewhere?
I'm going to the department store. I heard the new season's in.
And see your mother too while you're there?
Yes.
But did something happen? What's with that look on your face?
I just checked Ms. Koo's Negative Energy Level,
and it was 100 percent.
Today must be her day off.
-Sorry? -Reapers get only one day off every year.
The day they died.
Of course she'd be in a bad mood.
After all, how many people had a happy death?
You can't, my lady.
My lady.
My lady!
You seem to have a good life.
You know, don't you?
If you ask me that so out of the blue,
how am I supposed to know what to say?
I can see that Ms. Koo is having a hard time,
but I don't think she'll ever tell me why.
Shouldering someone else's pain is not an easy thing to do.
Especially more so if you're close to them.
Ryeon knows that, which must be why she doesn't want to talk about it.
She killed herself, right?
Yes.
And it's related to Mr. Park?
You. Why were you there?
No. Why was I there?
Where?
In my nightmares.
You sent Ms. Koo to the Escort Team,
then had her manage the Risk Management Team.
Why did you do that?
What's your reason?
You are still the same as ever.
"Same as ever"?
Ma'am!
What is Ryeon to you, exactly?
-Sorry? -Answer me.
At first, she was just cold.
Are you insane?
Why are you trying to dive into the Han River?
Don't say anything or ask anything, and just pretend you're not here.
And she was hard to approach.
And now?
Now…
Woo-jin!
Ma'am!
Thank you so much.
I admire her.
I want to be like her sometimes too.
I want to help her.
To the best of my abilities.
I see you are now ready to look into Ryeon's pain.
I sincerely hope you can handle it.
ABOUT 400 YEARS AGO
I told you, there's no need for that. You can go.
No, my lady.
Your father told me to stay by your side and keep an eye on you, no matter what.
And I'm saying whatever it is you are worried about won't happen,
so don't worry.
Please. I'm not falling for that again.
I'd sooner trust a passing dog or a pig than trust you.
-What? -What?
I'm sorry, my lady.
It's fine.
This is because I haven't given you enough reason to trust me.
It's all my fault.
My lady.
Gosh. My lady.
I nodded off again.
My lady, not again!
You shall be my target today.
Do you have a death wish?
I'm sorry, sir!
I'm sorry, young master. My son has committed a grave atrocity.
Please, spare our lives!
Low-lives like you have no business being here.
-I shall turn both of you in immediately-- -You are being too harsh.
Put away your sword.
To draw your sword at them when they are not even armed.
You are no better than a beast.
What did you say?
My lady…
I suppose there is little meaning in arresting these bottom-feeders.
If I catch you again, I will have your heads.
Thank you, my lady.
-Hello, sir. -Good morning.
-Bye, mom! -Be careful.
-Good morning. -Hi.
-Goodness. -Hello.
-Hello! -Hi!
-Goodness, hello there! -Hello!
-Hey! -Hello.
Good morning.
-Hey! -How are you?
-Have a good day. -Yes.
Please don't touch that.
They may look like any other flower,
but these are the roots of a highly poisonous plant.
It can kill even a horse or a cow.
Really?
My lady, this tastes best while it's still warm.
Please, enjoy.
I don't know if I could.
I didn't catch even a single rabbit today.
Gosh, there's no need for that anymore.
You have already repaid us for the medicine.
-You don't have to come here anymore. -What are you saying?
I still have a long way to go to repay you.
When that snake bit me during my hunt, I was on the verge of death.
You were the one who brought me here.
Thanks to you, I am still alive and breathing today.
That is not something you can put a price to.
Not even a lifetime is enough time to repay you.
You've given us more than enough.
The way you don't look down on us
and treat us like people is plenty enough.
I only worry that you'll hurt yourself, my lady.
Do not worry.
And thank you for the food.
To draw your sword at them when they are not even armed.
You are no better than a beast.
What happened?
My leg…
This will hurt.
What are you doing?
-What? -You…
Grandpa!
Are you all right, sir?
Had you arrived any later,
you would not have survived.
Just know it's all thanks to Lady Ryeon.
It's because she said we must save you no matter what.
She said all lives are valuable and precious.
You will be able to stand in a few days.
Thank you.
I believe it is she who deserves your gratitude.
Look, I caught a pheasant!
We finally meet again.
Thank you.
I only saved you to stay true to my word.
Law cannot exist without people.
We are all the same people.
Yes.
I, too, am a person.
How are you?
Thanks to you, I am all better. Enough to hunt.
No wonder there weren't any pheasants in the woods today.
Are the two of you planning to make all of our stomachs explode?
If that were my plan, I would have caught a boar instead.
Are you sure that will be enough?
I shall bring back a tiger next time.
Goodness.
We need to have tigers in the mountains to protect us.
What do you mean?
Well, I heard that the barbarians of the north
have crossed the Amnok River and are plundering and pillaging villages.
Should a war break out,
commoners like us would be the first to die, no?
I heard my father talking about this too.
He said Later Jin's endless and exorbitant demands
are causing a big stir in the Court.
Goodness.
With our national defenses so weak…
It's because this country
only values civil officials and has no respect for the military.
It is a shame.
Well, I should get going.
My lady, I am Jung-gil, the eldest son of Park Won-sik.
May I have the honor of knowing your name?
My name is
Koo Ryeon.
With our national defenses so weak…
It's because this country
only values civil officials and has no respect for the military.
What do you mean I'm to be married?
But this is so sudden…
You are of age to marry.
And there have been talks of your match with this family even before your birth.
Father!
He is a fine-looking fellow with great academic accomplishments
and lacks nothing as your husband.
I don't want to marry a man whose face or name I do not know.
How dare you say that as a woman!
Is the lack of motherly love and my overindulgence of you to blame?
No, Father.
Then is my teaching you, a girl, how to read and write to blame?
Is that why you have become so arrogant?
No.
Then I must be to blame for letting you do as you wish,
because I had admired your will and effort in your studies
despite the limits of your gender.
That is not it!
Then what is it?
Confucius said,
"One who says what they like
and what they do not like is a good person."
Father, I would like to be a good person.
What are you saying?
I'm saying your admonishments will not work.
I do not wish to be married off to the family you have chosen for me.
Goodness!
Why can't you ever do as you are told?
I shall take my leave, Father.
My lady!
You can't, my lady!
I cannot accept this marriage.
So what are you planning to do after you barge into his house?
I have to tell him that I have another in my heart.
My lady, there will be big trouble if your father finds out about this.
And that's why you should keep your mouth closed.
All right.
You wait here and watch the show.
Sorry?
Could I really do that?
You always told me that you wanted to join a theatrical troupe.
-But I feel bad… -It's fine.
Open the door.
Open the door!
What a lovely shade.
What are you doing?
I was wondering how you would look with red rouge around your eyes.
Please wipe it off.
The red suits you very well.
Why do you look at me with that gaze?
I love you.
How long do I have to wait?
It is said that a tiger exerts its full energy
even when hunting a mere rabbit.
It means whether you are hunting a pheasant or a deer,
your attitude must never waver.
I have decided to take the exam to become a military official.
I shall fight for the commoners who will be the first to suffer
should our country undergo any hardship or war.
MAY THE UNION OF THESE TWO FAMILIES BECOME A SOURCE OF HAPPINESS
My lady!
You greet the peddler and his trinkets with the same delight as ever.
They say that to see is to want.
It means one should be wary of one's material desires.
How foolish I am to covet an ornament such as this.
Choose whichever is to your liking.
My wife.
This one.
This one. And this one too.
I like this one too.
Could you pick just one, please?
Then please pick the one which suits me the best.
You are enchanting in everything.
-I shall take all of them. -Wait.
I like this one.
I like this one the best too.
What is that?
-Why are there soldiers here? -What is going on?
What is it?
An urgent dispatch from Lee Chun-ho, the Commissioner.
The barbarians have crossed the border and are pillaging villages.
He asked for your help.
The place is not far from here, right?
Any word from Hanyang?
The orders are to go immediately and help him.
The situation seems quite bad.
The country comes before one's own well-being.
Do not worry about me and go.
Sir.
Wait.
Then…
I shall go.
Ma'am, have you heard?
The rumor that the Qing army will attack.
Nurhaci of Later Jin has died and Hong Taiji has ascended to the throne.
I heard he has changed the name of their country to "Qing."
He is a dangerous man.
Shouldn't we be leaving too?
I heard half the people here have already packed up and left.
If one's country is collapsing,
will there truly be someplace safe to go to?
Wouldn't it be safe in Hanyang, where the King is?
If you'd like to go, you can go.
How could I leave without you, ma'am?
Why not?
You said you'd leave any time
should you fall in love with the leader of a theatrical troupe.
Oh, dear.
That was a joke I made when I was young.
Are you still going to tease me for that?
How dare you make jokes when the country is in peril.
I shall go to the market, ma'am.
Rice and barley are so hard to come by these days.
I hope there'll be something today.
I had no idea how painful it would be
to send your son to the battlefields.
He will be fine.
Please, do not worry.
If it weren't for you,
he would never have become a military official.
I beg your pardon, Mother,
but the idea was not of my suggestion.
If he had become a civil official like everyone else,
he wouldn't have gone off to fight in the war
and would have had a bright career ahead of him.
He made that choice because he loves this country more than anyone else.
And I am proud of that side of him.
You will never know my pain, not in a million years,
since you have no child of your own.
What is it? Do you think I'm wrong?
Mother, we must run.
What do you think you're doing?
Do not resist!
Impudent wench!
Mother!
Go hide in the basement of the shed.
What about you? Where will you go?
-Gop-dan has yet to return. -She is just a servant!
She is like family to me, someone I've spent my whole life with.
You must hurry!
All right.
Gop-dan…
There you are, hiding like a rat!
Gop-dan!
My lady, you shouldn't have come.
Let's go.
I'm scared.
You'll die if you stay here!
Let's go.
My lady!
It's too dangerous to go.
I must save her.
You stay here and hide.
My lady…
Are you all right?
-What is it? -His wound seems to have festered.
-Put him on the horse. -But what about you?
I'll be fine, so get him on the horse.
Sir. You're back!
-Sir, you're back. -Jung-gil!
Jung-gil!
Jung-gil, you're here. You're back.
I'm glad you are safe, Mother.
Are you hurt?
-No, I'm fine. -Good.
But…
where is she?
Where is Ryeon?
I think she was taken
by the barbarians.
Jung-gil.
Jung-gil!
Stay on your guard!
Don't cry.
We will definitely return home alive.
Ma'am, are you all right?
What about you?
It's all my fault.
I should have just killed myself then.
You must live.
We shall be able to return home, as long as we are alive.
Yes, ma'am.
Gop-dan.
I think there's a way we can go home.
Have you seen any other women being taken?
It's not just one or two.
Rumor has it that it's hundreds, no, thousands of women.
They may look like any other flower,
but these are the roots of a highly poisonous plant.
It can kill even a horse or a cow.
What's wrong with them?
I think the food has been poisoned.
Let's go.
Everyone, get up! Hurry!
That way!
It's this way.
Everyone, come this way!
We're here.
We're in Joseon now.
You must hold on just a little longer.
Yes.
Let's go.
We're safe!
We're here.
Stop right there.
We are people of Joseon!
Turn back.
You could very well be spies sent by the barbarians.
I cannot let you enter.
-No. -What?
-What do you mean by that? -It is the Army Commander's orders.
Anyone who crosses the border is no longer a citizen of Joseon.
-What? -How…
You're saying that the country we've made our way back to,
after escaping death countless times,
is abandoning us?
If you take another step,
I will cut you down.
Do it.
Who's there?
If you so much as touch a hair on these women's heads,
I shall cut your throat.
You will regret this.
Did you have another nightmare?
It's already been a year.
You can put it to rest now.
Let's go see a physician tomorrow and have him prescribe something.
Thank you, sir.
-Goodness. -It's that woman.
-It's her. -Goodness.
-How unsightly! -Look at her.
-Goodness. -I can't believe my eyes.
-What is this world coming to? -The nerve of her!
The Great Lord of Sinpung, Jang Seon-hong,
has asked the King for his permission to divorce his wife.
Over what?
His wife is a Returning Lady
who came home after being taken by the barbarians.
How can we let a woman sullied by the barbarians
carry on the family line and prepare the ancestral rites?
-I will look for your new wife soon. -Mother!
Our country was too weak to protect them.
Our women suffered this indignity
because our men failed to protect our nation.
How could you place fault on the women?
I heard some wives took their own lives to protect their virtue.
For whose virtue?
Never…
speak of such things again.
What about the rumors?
What will you do about them?
Do you even know what sort of things people are saying about your wife?
Did you hear? About the Chief Officer's wife?
She hasn't been out much lately.
They say she's pregnant with a barbarian's child.
Really?
Yes!
Goodness.
They say it's the quiet ones you have to watch out for.
Someone saw her go to the physician a few days ago.
I heard it was to get rid of the child!
I heard that too!
Then it must be true!
It must be, goodness.
Who told you that?
Please, have mercy on me, sir.
Shut your mouth.
Ma'am!
Ma'am, it's urgent!
What is it?
-Oh, my. -Goodness!
Tell me exactly where and who you heard that from.
-I'm sorry, sir! Please, have mercy! -We don't know!
Everyone was saying it, so we just joined in.
Please, have mercy!
I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry!
We'll never do it again!
Everyone was saying it, we didn't mean…
Stop! What is the meaning of all this?
-Ma'am. -Ma'am!
Please, help us!
Please, help us! Help us!
How are we supposed to know where this rumor started?
Yes.
Where there is no smoke, there is no fire.
-You may go. -Sorry?
-Mother. -I'm sure there are worse being said.
Let them go.
What do you think about this rumor?
What are you saying, Mother?
You may go.
Thank you, ma'am!
What are you doing?
Those kinds of men must be punished.
Put away your sword.
Not once had he ever talked back to me while growing up.
There must be a reason why my son has changed so much.
Do you think your own life
is worth more than the honor of this family?
Mother.
You must decide.
Whether you'll die with honor
or die by someone else's hand.
She is so shameless.
-Goodness. -My gosh.
I feel bad for her husband.
I don't know how he can live with such shame!
-Goodness. -Gosh.
The nerve of that Returning Lady, going around with her chin held up high!
Her audacity!
How dare you!
Let's go.
I am fine, but how dare they insult you!
Come on, let's go.
How dare she come to the market? She'll bring ill luck to us all.
Take that, you hussy!
What do you think you're doing?
Oh, no.
Ma'am. Goodness…
What have we done wrong?
Look me in the eyes and say it again.
This dirty Returning Lady's got pride.
You should be welcoming us.
How dare you point fingers at women who defended
the honor of the men who couldn't protect this country?
Shame on you!
Shut up!
Ma'am!
You have no right to raise your voice, you Returning Lady!
-Jeez! -You!
Why do you place the blame on us?
Ma'am…
-Jeez! -Go away!
-Damned Returning Lady! -Leave!
Stay as you are, my lady.
I will…
protect you.
Gop-dan…
Gop-dan.
Gop-dan!
Ryeon!
Please.
I'd rather die as well.
It's just a rumor. This too shall pass!
That rumor
just keeps spreading.
False as it may be,
it is what people talk about, every day.
I cannot sleep.
I cannot eat.
I cannot do anything.
How can you only think of yourself?
What about me!
Do I not matter to you?
I will only get in the way of your career.
I have no intention of achieving my dream
at your sacrifice.
Don't ever do anything so rash again.
I will take care of it, no matter what.
So you've been visiting her bed ever since?
That's right!
She had such pale skin, seeing as how she's a noblewoman.
It's like paradise on earth.
I was planning to cut her off after just once or twice, but…
But?
She's such a lecherous little thing.
She's so eager to have me
that she doesn't let me sleep throughout the night!
She's fallen hard for you, right?
No doubt about that, if she's climbing the wall
without her mother-in-law or the Chief Officer seeing.
Who's there?
Sir.
Please, don't kill me.
It's too late.
I'll take down anyone who dares to utter such insults,
no matter how many bastards there are.
Is that how you were taught to wield your sword?
Ryeon.
Put it away.
I will not.
You have worked to protect these people.
Yet it is from the very mouths of the people we have sought to protect
that this foul rumor continues to spread like lice.
Every day, another rumor sprouts like a weed taking root.
What other choice do I have
than to cut them down?
I shall cut and cut
until there is nothing left.
-I am doing this for you. -No.
I have put their vile blood on my hand to protect you.
You should have killed me instead with that sword.
You should have listened to your mother.
Stop it.
You shouldn't have stopped me then.
I told you to stop.
It would have been better…
if I had never returned.
Stop!
Do you think of me as a beast because I killed them?
Why do you look at me so?
You know who I did this for.
Don't say it was for me.
It would have been better
if I had never returned.
At least then,
our end would have been better than this.
I have done nothing I am ashamed of.
But how can I live, seeing you lose yourself
and knowing that I have made you so?
I am afraid this is the end of what fate has planned for us
in this Land of the Living.
I'm sorry.
Get rid of the body
so nobody gets a word of this.
-Yes, ma'am. -Yes, ma'am.
Stop.
Stop!
Don't go, Ryeon…
I'm so sorry.
Ryeon.
Ryeon!
You can't go like this.
Subtitle translation by: Jung-in Park