Post by ajk on May 4, 2012 21:06:15 GMT -5
This older man who Deokman has encountered outside of a local tavern, his name is Jukbang. A younger man, named Godo, is before him, pleading to meet Munno and claiming he came 10,000 ri to do it (a ri is just under 400 meters, so this is probably an exaggeration). Deokman tries to one-up him, claiming she traveled "no less than 20,000 ri!" but naming her starting point as the western Sui desert. "I am counting on you, Master!" But Jukbang is annoyed with both of them, and on top of that he just finished some sort of fasting ritual and is woozy from hunger. Or so Godo says; this is starting to seem a little odd. Kind of a squirrely-acting person to have the inside track on Munno when nobody else in town knows anything. But Deokman goes and gets him some food from the marketplace, which he starts to gobble down. And then Godo, seeing a group of young Hwarang walking up the street, runs away. Jukbang sends Deokman to fetch some water for him, and then he runs away too! Hmmm.
But Jukbang runs right into the arms of the Hwarang. Turns out, these are guards of Kim Yushin, a boy of maybe 13 or 14 who we meet for the first time. Subtitling identifies him as the son of Kim Seohyeon and Princess Manmyeong (not a clue). Deokman runs up to see what's happening, and we see him slip a shiny object into her pocket without her knowing. Yushin is looking for a pendant given to him by his father, and one of his Hwarang saw Jukbang take it. Obviously the shiny object. They search him and of course he doesn't have it. He smiles a phony smile and assures Yushin that "this humble disciple has never possessed a single thing." Distrusting but having no evidence, Yushin and the guards turn to leave. But Deokman calls them back and says they owe Jukbang an apology. Pretty heady conduct (and Jukbang just wants them to go away). It starts to get tense: Yushin defends the integrity of the Hwarang who made the accusation, and Deokman challenges his lack of an apology: "Looks like finding nothing even after searching is causing you abasement in front of your mighty Hwarang." Finally Jukbang orders her to be quiet an extracts them both from the confrontation.
Back near the tavern, Jukbang accepts some sort of medallion that Deokman has offered him. Seems to be gold; he bites into it and seems happy. People in the street are looking at him, so he talks big about the impurity of accepting a bribe for a favor, and what a pathetic gesture this is from Deokman. But privately he's thrilled with the medallion, we can see. So he takes an item--some sticks tied together into a sort of scroll--and writes what he says is a letter of introduction for Deokman that will get her to Munno. And gives her directions: take this ferry, enter that forest, go to the crossroads and follow a path until you find a man named Seolji. "If you convey this (scroll) to that man, he shall know what to do with you." Deokman excitedly accepts the scroll--without reading it--and leaves him.
Now Godo comes back, and we can see that the two are some kind of petty criminal team and they were playing Deokman. They must have heard her asking about Munno, and everything they said must have been an act. They lost the pendant they stole--it's still in Deokman's pocket--but apparently the medallion Deokman gave them was more valuable so they're happy.
Mishil's cabal is meeting. They have some differences of opinion on using government troops and Hwarang to try to chase down Munno in Manno County, "that place ravaged by thieving miscreants" (so we've seen). Seolwon tells them that the area is troublesome "but it is also the prefecture led by Kim Seohyeon," a Gayan (see link) who eloped with Princess Manmyeong. And they don't like him, apparently....So the plan is, convince the king to send in troops to clean up the crime and punish Seohyeon for allegedly failing to do so himself. And then they can just happen to find and kill Munno too. Will the king approve this? Leave that to Mishil, says Seolwon. Misaeng laughs: "Seeing his majesty's current state...."
Some sort of a formal royal meal is taking place in a courtyard. The king and the nobles are all there. But Jinpyeong is turning it into a drinking game! Some sort of 14-sided hexagonal die with the names of various beverages on the sides. (The thing actually has a name: it's called a juryeonggu (see link).) Roll the die, drink what it says. Oodles of fun, I guess...but only the king is enjoying it. Everyone else looks uncomfortable at his lack of self-control. Mishil walks in on the party and asks the king's consent to "immediately subjugate those vandals from Manno County." Jinpyeong doesn't really care--"As you please"--but Eulje immediately objects that "Kim Seohyeon shall handle the situation by himself" and there's no need for federal troops. Mishil counters that "reports from our Hwarang surveilling the area are painting a much different picture" (Lie? Who knows, with her.) Jinpyeong just wants this to go away, so he yells at her, "I said do as you please!" And orders her away.
Later, at a meeting of the nobles, with Mishil presiding instead of the king, Eulje complains that "Those vandals as you call them are nothing but refugees." But he seems to have no allies, and the decision has been made anyway. Who's going to lead this? Sejong speaks up and volunteers his and Mishil's son Hajong. Despite being a member of the Council of Nobles, "he still has no accolades to his name. More than basking in his clan's reflected glory, a loyal subject must prove his fealty through personal merits." Hajong is totally wired up about it--back at the cabal meeting he was already talking smack about dealing with Munno and offering to lead this--and Mishil accepts the suggestion. But she doesn't look too comfortable about it. (Note: Seolwon is identified in this scene as Commissioner of Military Affairs.)
Now Mishil and Seolwon are alone. An intimate moment; he's washing her feet. They talk quietly and calmly. "It cannot be Hajong," Seolwon tells her; he's not capable of dealing with Munno. She agrees; let Bojong (her and Seolwon's son; the young Hwarang we saw last episode) handle Munno. "He's young, but this endeavor shall grant him entrance into our country's politics." Seolwon isn't happy about this, because subjugating the criminals will be the high-profile, credit-worthy part of the mission; taking out Munno will gain their son no acclaim. And he talks about "seeing my lowly ancestry encumber Bojong's future path" and how it bothers him. Mishil understands: "My lowly ancestry never allowed me to become queen." But this will be a good opportunity for their son nonetheless, even if not ideal. Great scene; we can start to feel what drew them to each other romantically. "Whenever I gaze at Bojong," she confesses, I feel like I'm staring at my own self."
Sejong tells his son that he won't be entrusted with neutralizing Munno. Hajong is disappointed, but his father advises him to make sure that whatever accolades this mission generates, to grab them for himself.
At a Hwarang post: Seolwon tells his son Bojong what must be done. The boy is horrified: "The Gukseon Munno must be assassinated?! Should they find out, all the Hwarang will turn against us." So be discreet about it, that's Seolwon's advice. Ugh. "Only bring men you can fully trust." Bojong is disgusted by the notion that this is the kind of thing he and his father have to do to earn favor in the government. His father understands, but counsels patience and believes their efforts will gain them lofty stature in the end. (Frankly, this kid is hardly old enough to be leading this kind of mission at all. And neither is Hajong.)
Misaeng wants to know who his sister is thinking about supporting to become king. In the process, she makes a snide comment about all of the children Misaeng has fathered; we learn that "there are about a hundred of them" and he laughs at not being able to remember all of their names. She's disgusted with his behavior, especially since "our mother left us engulfed by concern." But as for her king-making...she says she's leaving it up to fate; she thinks that the right person will emerge at the right moment.
Princess Cheonmyeong, still in her monk's robe, and her four guards arrive at Manno Fortress. They head to a small boat dock--the same one Deokman had arrived at earlier--and board a boat. It's a very quiet area, not near the fortress itself, and nobody else is around. Except now we hear someone yelling "Wait! Wait!!" And who comes running up but Deokman. What are the odds. She pushes aside one of the guards, runs into the boat and sits down next to Cheonmyeong. "Let us sail together," she says with a smile. The head guard promptly picks her up and throws her into the water. She grabs onto the boat and they bicker--"What's wrong with you? I said I would pay my fare!"--in front of a horrified Cheonmyeong. But now suddenly, arrows come flying in. Bandits! They're firing from nearly point-blank range, and a first guard goes down, and then a second, and soon a third. In the middle of all this chaos, Deokman begs Cheonmyeong for help in getting aboard the boat, and the princess starts to try to pull her in, but then Deokman spots a bandit aiming right for the princess, and wisely pulls her right off the boat and into the water. Now the last remaining guard dives in after them, as the arrows keep flying....
Downstream, first Deokman and then Cheonmyeong and the surviving guard struggle onto the shore. They're okay. Then another squad of guards comes running up (Huh? Where were these guys before?), ready to escort the princess away. But the first guard, he's furious with Deokman, to the point where he picks her up and shakes her. "An arrow was about to hit her," Deokman protests; "I'm telling you they were aiming at her!" She turns to Cheonmyeong: "Didn't you see?" Cheonmyeong either doesn't know or isn't saying. So they tie Deokman up and take her prisoner (except they think it's a him; she's still dressed in male attire as Cartan had suggested for safety). But now here come more bandits running at them. The new guards hold them off while the first guard hurries Cheonmyeong away. Deokman, now tied up, manages to get to her feet and run after them. Now more bandits, and some run into the woods after the three. And pretty soon, an arrow hits Cheonmyeong's escort square in the back and takes him down. Now it's just the two girls stumbling through the woods as the bandits close in. But they come to some kind of a boundary, marked with rope and red ties. Deokman remembers an instruction that Jukbang had given her: "Follow the path marked in red." She charges across the boundary, and Cheonmyeong, not knowing what else to do, follows her. Amazingly, the bandits run right up to the rope, just steps behind her--and immediately turn around and leave! Yikes, what's out there that makes bandits turn tail? The girls keep running...but then we see someone observing them...
In a royal courtyard, we see Hajong giving a pep talk to around 100 Hwarang chosen for his mission. Elsewhere, we see Bojong doing the same for what I counted as nine of his hand-picked soldiers. (None of these Hwarang look old enough to do any serious fighting at all. But I guess we'll see what they've got.) Bojong gives the details to his squad. "The goal of our mission...is murder!" Visible discomfort among the group. "Location is Yeorae Temple. Inhabitants: ten monks. They are all dexterous and armed. The man we shall murder lodges at a small hermitage near the main temple. He possesses unrivaled fighting skills, which is why you must act quickly, during his repose." Who is it, they ask. Don't tell them, you moron...but he tells them. "It is Munno." Doink! Their eyes widen. He tries to pitch it... "Munno is leading reprobates from Sangsan in an upheaval. I deeply respect him myself, but any foe of our nation becomes my foe." But it looks like the group didn't hear a single word after "Munno" and doesn't seem to have much confidence any more.
We're at Kim Yongchun's home; he's talking to a different group of Hwarang. Their leader is identified as Imjong, identified as "one of Seorabeol's ten elite Hwarang." Imjong has learned of the subjugation effort, and informs Yongchun. And more bad news: "The [one] Hwarang under my command who knew Munno's whereabouts suddenly disappeared" and hasn't been seen for days. Uh-oh. Yongchun can tell something's up.
Deokman doesn't like Cheonmyeong following her, and turns and tells her that. Cheonmyeong, still thinking Deokman is male, says, "Act as my guard." And offers a jade ring that she's wearing as payment. Deokman is still sore about the whole you-didn't-see-the-arrow business, but eventually takes the ring and walks ahead. But now Cheonmyeong is mouthing off. "Don't you know what being a guard entails?! You must never leave my side!" And then, Don't touch me. And then, there's a little snake on her boot; "Take it off, now!" Deokman gives her the ring back; no thanks. "You are not even a monk, are you?!" And you act like "the entire world should kneel before you." Well, you want that snake removed, ask politely. Cheonmyeong is seething, but eventually manages to ask half-heartedly, not all that politely, but enough. Snake removed. "Let us part ways now, shall we?" Cheonmyeong slaps her! But then starts crying. And turns her back and walks away. But suddenly Deokman spots something: "Stop! It's a trap!" She sees one of those big net-trigger things that catches people. Runs to pull Cheonmyeong out of the way, but too late--it springs and both of them are bagged and pulled up into a tree. And now five men are looking up at them. (Where did these guys come from so fast?)
The two are brought into some sort of encampment--it's busy, lots of people there--and tossed to the ground before the guy in charge. Deokman hears his name--Seolji, who's identified as leader of the Gaya refugees (so this is a Gayan refugee camp)--and springs up excitedly, launching into her life story and handing him the scroll that Jukbang had written. Seolji reads the scroll, then hands it back and orders her to read it out loud. Turns out, it's an offer of "this boy" (Deokman, that is) as a sign of repentance and in exchange for Jukbang's freedom from prosecution. And when the refugees hear Jukbang's name, they're infuriated. He's conned them all at one point or another, among other things promising that he'd end the drought and make it rain (remember, there's a punishing drought going on). And now we know for sure that he conned Deokman too; he never knew anything about Munno. The villagers, though, think Deokman and Cheonmyeong are in cahoots with Jukbang and want to sell them to slave traders. Seolji calms everybody down...but still orders the two imprisoned.
Evening: Deokman and Cheonmyeong are in a cell together, having words at each other. Elsewhere, Seolji and other Gayans are examining their possessions. Nothing of any value, apparently, mainly just Deokman's books. But Seolji looks at the Northern Wei calendar that Deokman is still carrying around (and somehow wasn't the least bit damaged despite being soaked in the river--UGH). This isn't typical, he knows.
The next morning: We hear Deokman screaming through the door of her cell that she can make it rain. The villagers are first annoyed, but then (dummies) they start to listen....
Now she and Cheonmyeong are before Seolji. I come from the desert, she explains; there's no water and yet people live there anyway. We know how to produce water, she assures him. Still skeptical, Seolji orders her untied. Deokman pulls out of her pocket the magnifying crystal from back in Xinjiang. She takes a villager's hand and focuses the sun on it, until..."Ahh...it burns!" She turns back to Seolji. "I know how to control water and fire. I will make sure it will rain." Okay, Seolji says; "You have three days. Bring us rain within three days, or else you shall pay with your life!" Not the deal Deokman was hoping for, but she accepts, and asks him to set up an altar.
Back inside their cell, Cheonmyeong calls Deokman's bluff: "That was nothing but a magnifier. It has nothing to do with rain. How are you going to bring them rain?!" No idea.
Later, the two are taken to the makeshift altar. The villagers are still hearing Jukbang's name in their heads, and are eager to see Deokman fail. But she starts praying...kneeling, rising, kneeling, rising...day turns to night...we see Deokman and villagers praying...a second day and a visibly tired Deokman still praying...a second night...and now a third day, with a completely spent Deokman barely conscious, and exhausted, discouraged villagers around her. And now she's scared, because tomorrow's the deadline and the sun is still bright. She starts to pray to Sohwa: "Mother, I beg you...Save me just once more."...the third night, with Deokman barely coherent yet still trying to pray. But the villagers around them are all asleep, and now even their guard is dozing off!
The next morning: "He ran away! That knave ran away!" But Deokman hasn't gone far; they find her digging in a nearby field, looking for underground water. Which annoys the Gayans: "Think we didn't already try to find it all over the place?!" Ahh, but "You only dug the surface, that's why! You must dig deeper. I tell you we will find it! I am sure!" Seolji has seen enough, and orders her to stop. But now Deokman is desperate and screaming: "If I stop, then what?! Are you telling me to just accept my demise here?!...Because of me, my mother had to perish, and I could barely find my way here! And you wish to sell me to those Sui slave traders?! No way. I must meet Munno. I must meet him...and ask him something at all cost. At least allow me to meet Munno. Let me find him!" She's crying and at her wit's end, but we still notice Cheonmyeong's shocked reaction at Deokman's mention of Munno's name. "Before I do that, I cannot die! So stop saying it's over for me!!" She falls to the ground, screaming and whining, and now even the villagers are feeling sorry for her. Seolji simply says, "Leave." Deokman can't even comprehend it at first, but he insists that she go on her way. She staggers to her feet and walks to her cell to claim her possessions and leave. But Cheonmyeong? "What did you do?" Seolji asks; Deokman pled for freedom so plaintively that it moved the Gayans to pity. But "we shall at least sell you, and sustain our meager existence."
Cheonmyeong is tied up and thrown back into her cell, where Deokman is collecting her possessions. "Help me out," Cheonmyeong pleads. No response. So she plays the trump card: "You said you were looking for Munno, right? I know Where Munno is." But Deokman doesn't believe her. She leaves, and the cell door closes.
We see Hajong leading his troops through the wilderness...
Back at the camp, a screaming Cheonmyeong is dragged out of her cell to a waiting slave wagon. She shouts that she's a Shillan princess, which none of the Gayans take seriously...but now what's happening? Clouds! Suddenly the sun has disappeared...and in moments it's pouring buckets. The Gayans are ecstatic--"That boy brought us rain!"--and dancing around for joy. And they decide to free Cheonmyeong. But just like that, before they can untie her, here are the Shillans. Flaming arrows fly into the camp, and Hajong screams, "Slaughter every single one of these vile miscreants! Slay them all!" Brave guy, mowing down refugees. The Gayans are being slaughtered left and right. And now here's an arrow aimed at Cheonmyeong...but she's grabbed and pulled out of the way--by Deokman! And now the two are running in the woods again, being pursued by two Hwarang. While running, they both trip and fall down a steep hillside, and over a steeper portion below, and out of sight. The Hwarang see them disappear from view, shake their heads and return to their unit.
Cheonmyeong has landed on a small overlook, above a river. Looks to be about twenty feet above. Deokman? She went a little farther, and is clinging to the side of the overlook, barely hanging onto some small vegetation. Cheonmyeong gets a rope from Deokman's bag and tosses it to her, and tries to pull her up. But now the ground is giving way and endangering them both.
But Jukbang runs right into the arms of the Hwarang. Turns out, these are guards of Kim Yushin, a boy of maybe 13 or 14 who we meet for the first time. Subtitling identifies him as the son of Kim Seohyeon and Princess Manmyeong (not a clue). Deokman runs up to see what's happening, and we see him slip a shiny object into her pocket without her knowing. Yushin is looking for a pendant given to him by his father, and one of his Hwarang saw Jukbang take it. Obviously the shiny object. They search him and of course he doesn't have it. He smiles a phony smile and assures Yushin that "this humble disciple has never possessed a single thing." Distrusting but having no evidence, Yushin and the guards turn to leave. But Deokman calls them back and says they owe Jukbang an apology. Pretty heady conduct (and Jukbang just wants them to go away). It starts to get tense: Yushin defends the integrity of the Hwarang who made the accusation, and Deokman challenges his lack of an apology: "Looks like finding nothing even after searching is causing you abasement in front of your mighty Hwarang." Finally Jukbang orders her to be quiet an extracts them both from the confrontation.
Back near the tavern, Jukbang accepts some sort of medallion that Deokman has offered him. Seems to be gold; he bites into it and seems happy. People in the street are looking at him, so he talks big about the impurity of accepting a bribe for a favor, and what a pathetic gesture this is from Deokman. But privately he's thrilled with the medallion, we can see. So he takes an item--some sticks tied together into a sort of scroll--and writes what he says is a letter of introduction for Deokman that will get her to Munno. And gives her directions: take this ferry, enter that forest, go to the crossroads and follow a path until you find a man named Seolji. "If you convey this (scroll) to that man, he shall know what to do with you." Deokman excitedly accepts the scroll--without reading it--and leaves him.
Now Godo comes back, and we can see that the two are some kind of petty criminal team and they were playing Deokman. They must have heard her asking about Munno, and everything they said must have been an act. They lost the pendant they stole--it's still in Deokman's pocket--but apparently the medallion Deokman gave them was more valuable so they're happy.
Mishil's cabal is meeting. They have some differences of opinion on using government troops and Hwarang to try to chase down Munno in Manno County, "that place ravaged by thieving miscreants" (so we've seen). Seolwon tells them that the area is troublesome "but it is also the prefecture led by Kim Seohyeon," a Gayan (see link) who eloped with Princess Manmyeong. And they don't like him, apparently....So the plan is, convince the king to send in troops to clean up the crime and punish Seohyeon for allegedly failing to do so himself. And then they can just happen to find and kill Munno too. Will the king approve this? Leave that to Mishil, says Seolwon. Misaeng laughs: "Seeing his majesty's current state...."
Some sort of a formal royal meal is taking place in a courtyard. The king and the nobles are all there. But Jinpyeong is turning it into a drinking game! Some sort of 14-sided hexagonal die with the names of various beverages on the sides. (The thing actually has a name: it's called a juryeonggu (see link).) Roll the die, drink what it says. Oodles of fun, I guess...but only the king is enjoying it. Everyone else looks uncomfortable at his lack of self-control. Mishil walks in on the party and asks the king's consent to "immediately subjugate those vandals from Manno County." Jinpyeong doesn't really care--"As you please"--but Eulje immediately objects that "Kim Seohyeon shall handle the situation by himself" and there's no need for federal troops. Mishil counters that "reports from our Hwarang surveilling the area are painting a much different picture" (Lie? Who knows, with her.) Jinpyeong just wants this to go away, so he yells at her, "I said do as you please!" And orders her away.
Later, at a meeting of the nobles, with Mishil presiding instead of the king, Eulje complains that "Those vandals as you call them are nothing but refugees." But he seems to have no allies, and the decision has been made anyway. Who's going to lead this? Sejong speaks up and volunteers his and Mishil's son Hajong. Despite being a member of the Council of Nobles, "he still has no accolades to his name. More than basking in his clan's reflected glory, a loyal subject must prove his fealty through personal merits." Hajong is totally wired up about it--back at the cabal meeting he was already talking smack about dealing with Munno and offering to lead this--and Mishil accepts the suggestion. But she doesn't look too comfortable about it. (Note: Seolwon is identified in this scene as Commissioner of Military Affairs.)
Now Mishil and Seolwon are alone. An intimate moment; he's washing her feet. They talk quietly and calmly. "It cannot be Hajong," Seolwon tells her; he's not capable of dealing with Munno. She agrees; let Bojong (her and Seolwon's son; the young Hwarang we saw last episode) handle Munno. "He's young, but this endeavor shall grant him entrance into our country's politics." Seolwon isn't happy about this, because subjugating the criminals will be the high-profile, credit-worthy part of the mission; taking out Munno will gain their son no acclaim. And he talks about "seeing my lowly ancestry encumber Bojong's future path" and how it bothers him. Mishil understands: "My lowly ancestry never allowed me to become queen." But this will be a good opportunity for their son nonetheless, even if not ideal. Great scene; we can start to feel what drew them to each other romantically. "Whenever I gaze at Bojong," she confesses, I feel like I'm staring at my own self."
Sejong tells his son that he won't be entrusted with neutralizing Munno. Hajong is disappointed, but his father advises him to make sure that whatever accolades this mission generates, to grab them for himself.
At a Hwarang post: Seolwon tells his son Bojong what must be done. The boy is horrified: "The Gukseon Munno must be assassinated?! Should they find out, all the Hwarang will turn against us." So be discreet about it, that's Seolwon's advice. Ugh. "Only bring men you can fully trust." Bojong is disgusted by the notion that this is the kind of thing he and his father have to do to earn favor in the government. His father understands, but counsels patience and believes their efforts will gain them lofty stature in the end. (Frankly, this kid is hardly old enough to be leading this kind of mission at all. And neither is Hajong.)
Misaeng wants to know who his sister is thinking about supporting to become king. In the process, she makes a snide comment about all of the children Misaeng has fathered; we learn that "there are about a hundred of them" and he laughs at not being able to remember all of their names. She's disgusted with his behavior, especially since "our mother left us engulfed by concern." But as for her king-making...she says she's leaving it up to fate; she thinks that the right person will emerge at the right moment.
Princess Cheonmyeong, still in her monk's robe, and her four guards arrive at Manno Fortress. They head to a small boat dock--the same one Deokman had arrived at earlier--and board a boat. It's a very quiet area, not near the fortress itself, and nobody else is around. Except now we hear someone yelling "Wait! Wait!!" And who comes running up but Deokman. What are the odds. She pushes aside one of the guards, runs into the boat and sits down next to Cheonmyeong. "Let us sail together," she says with a smile. The head guard promptly picks her up and throws her into the water. She grabs onto the boat and they bicker--"What's wrong with you? I said I would pay my fare!"--in front of a horrified Cheonmyeong. But now suddenly, arrows come flying in. Bandits! They're firing from nearly point-blank range, and a first guard goes down, and then a second, and soon a third. In the middle of all this chaos, Deokman begs Cheonmyeong for help in getting aboard the boat, and the princess starts to try to pull her in, but then Deokman spots a bandit aiming right for the princess, and wisely pulls her right off the boat and into the water. Now the last remaining guard dives in after them, as the arrows keep flying....
Downstream, first Deokman and then Cheonmyeong and the surviving guard struggle onto the shore. They're okay. Then another squad of guards comes running up (Huh? Where were these guys before?), ready to escort the princess away. But the first guard, he's furious with Deokman, to the point where he picks her up and shakes her. "An arrow was about to hit her," Deokman protests; "I'm telling you they were aiming at her!" She turns to Cheonmyeong: "Didn't you see?" Cheonmyeong either doesn't know or isn't saying. So they tie Deokman up and take her prisoner (except they think it's a him; she's still dressed in male attire as Cartan had suggested for safety). But now here come more bandits running at them. The new guards hold them off while the first guard hurries Cheonmyeong away. Deokman, now tied up, manages to get to her feet and run after them. Now more bandits, and some run into the woods after the three. And pretty soon, an arrow hits Cheonmyeong's escort square in the back and takes him down. Now it's just the two girls stumbling through the woods as the bandits close in. But they come to some kind of a boundary, marked with rope and red ties. Deokman remembers an instruction that Jukbang had given her: "Follow the path marked in red." She charges across the boundary, and Cheonmyeong, not knowing what else to do, follows her. Amazingly, the bandits run right up to the rope, just steps behind her--and immediately turn around and leave! Yikes, what's out there that makes bandits turn tail? The girls keep running...but then we see someone observing them...
In a royal courtyard, we see Hajong giving a pep talk to around 100 Hwarang chosen for his mission. Elsewhere, we see Bojong doing the same for what I counted as nine of his hand-picked soldiers. (None of these Hwarang look old enough to do any serious fighting at all. But I guess we'll see what they've got.) Bojong gives the details to his squad. "The goal of our mission...is murder!" Visible discomfort among the group. "Location is Yeorae Temple. Inhabitants: ten monks. They are all dexterous and armed. The man we shall murder lodges at a small hermitage near the main temple. He possesses unrivaled fighting skills, which is why you must act quickly, during his repose." Who is it, they ask. Don't tell them, you moron...but he tells them. "It is Munno." Doink! Their eyes widen. He tries to pitch it... "Munno is leading reprobates from Sangsan in an upheaval. I deeply respect him myself, but any foe of our nation becomes my foe." But it looks like the group didn't hear a single word after "Munno" and doesn't seem to have much confidence any more.
We're at Kim Yongchun's home; he's talking to a different group of Hwarang. Their leader is identified as Imjong, identified as "one of Seorabeol's ten elite Hwarang." Imjong has learned of the subjugation effort, and informs Yongchun. And more bad news: "The [one] Hwarang under my command who knew Munno's whereabouts suddenly disappeared" and hasn't been seen for days. Uh-oh. Yongchun can tell something's up.
Deokman doesn't like Cheonmyeong following her, and turns and tells her that. Cheonmyeong, still thinking Deokman is male, says, "Act as my guard." And offers a jade ring that she's wearing as payment. Deokman is still sore about the whole you-didn't-see-the-arrow business, but eventually takes the ring and walks ahead. But now Cheonmyeong is mouthing off. "Don't you know what being a guard entails?! You must never leave my side!" And then, Don't touch me. And then, there's a little snake on her boot; "Take it off, now!" Deokman gives her the ring back; no thanks. "You are not even a monk, are you?!" And you act like "the entire world should kneel before you." Well, you want that snake removed, ask politely. Cheonmyeong is seething, but eventually manages to ask half-heartedly, not all that politely, but enough. Snake removed. "Let us part ways now, shall we?" Cheonmyeong slaps her! But then starts crying. And turns her back and walks away. But suddenly Deokman spots something: "Stop! It's a trap!" She sees one of those big net-trigger things that catches people. Runs to pull Cheonmyeong out of the way, but too late--it springs and both of them are bagged and pulled up into a tree. And now five men are looking up at them. (Where did these guys come from so fast?)
The two are brought into some sort of encampment--it's busy, lots of people there--and tossed to the ground before the guy in charge. Deokman hears his name--Seolji, who's identified as leader of the Gaya refugees (so this is a Gayan refugee camp)--and springs up excitedly, launching into her life story and handing him the scroll that Jukbang had written. Seolji reads the scroll, then hands it back and orders her to read it out loud. Turns out, it's an offer of "this boy" (Deokman, that is) as a sign of repentance and in exchange for Jukbang's freedom from prosecution. And when the refugees hear Jukbang's name, they're infuriated. He's conned them all at one point or another, among other things promising that he'd end the drought and make it rain (remember, there's a punishing drought going on). And now we know for sure that he conned Deokman too; he never knew anything about Munno. The villagers, though, think Deokman and Cheonmyeong are in cahoots with Jukbang and want to sell them to slave traders. Seolji calms everybody down...but still orders the two imprisoned.
Evening: Deokman and Cheonmyeong are in a cell together, having words at each other. Elsewhere, Seolji and other Gayans are examining their possessions. Nothing of any value, apparently, mainly just Deokman's books. But Seolji looks at the Northern Wei calendar that Deokman is still carrying around (and somehow wasn't the least bit damaged despite being soaked in the river--UGH). This isn't typical, he knows.
The next morning: We hear Deokman screaming through the door of her cell that she can make it rain. The villagers are first annoyed, but then (dummies) they start to listen....
Now she and Cheonmyeong are before Seolji. I come from the desert, she explains; there's no water and yet people live there anyway. We know how to produce water, she assures him. Still skeptical, Seolji orders her untied. Deokman pulls out of her pocket the magnifying crystal from back in Xinjiang. She takes a villager's hand and focuses the sun on it, until..."Ahh...it burns!" She turns back to Seolji. "I know how to control water and fire. I will make sure it will rain." Okay, Seolji says; "You have three days. Bring us rain within three days, or else you shall pay with your life!" Not the deal Deokman was hoping for, but she accepts, and asks him to set up an altar.
Back inside their cell, Cheonmyeong calls Deokman's bluff: "That was nothing but a magnifier. It has nothing to do with rain. How are you going to bring them rain?!" No idea.
Later, the two are taken to the makeshift altar. The villagers are still hearing Jukbang's name in their heads, and are eager to see Deokman fail. But she starts praying...kneeling, rising, kneeling, rising...day turns to night...we see Deokman and villagers praying...a second day and a visibly tired Deokman still praying...a second night...and now a third day, with a completely spent Deokman barely conscious, and exhausted, discouraged villagers around her. And now she's scared, because tomorrow's the deadline and the sun is still bright. She starts to pray to Sohwa: "Mother, I beg you...Save me just once more."...the third night, with Deokman barely coherent yet still trying to pray. But the villagers around them are all asleep, and now even their guard is dozing off!
The next morning: "He ran away! That knave ran away!" But Deokman hasn't gone far; they find her digging in a nearby field, looking for underground water. Which annoys the Gayans: "Think we didn't already try to find it all over the place?!" Ahh, but "You only dug the surface, that's why! You must dig deeper. I tell you we will find it! I am sure!" Seolji has seen enough, and orders her to stop. But now Deokman is desperate and screaming: "If I stop, then what?! Are you telling me to just accept my demise here?!...Because of me, my mother had to perish, and I could barely find my way here! And you wish to sell me to those Sui slave traders?! No way. I must meet Munno. I must meet him...and ask him something at all cost. At least allow me to meet Munno. Let me find him!" She's crying and at her wit's end, but we still notice Cheonmyeong's shocked reaction at Deokman's mention of Munno's name. "Before I do that, I cannot die! So stop saying it's over for me!!" She falls to the ground, screaming and whining, and now even the villagers are feeling sorry for her. Seolji simply says, "Leave." Deokman can't even comprehend it at first, but he insists that she go on her way. She staggers to her feet and walks to her cell to claim her possessions and leave. But Cheonmyeong? "What did you do?" Seolji asks; Deokman pled for freedom so plaintively that it moved the Gayans to pity. But "we shall at least sell you, and sustain our meager existence."
Cheonmyeong is tied up and thrown back into her cell, where Deokman is collecting her possessions. "Help me out," Cheonmyeong pleads. No response. So she plays the trump card: "You said you were looking for Munno, right? I know Where Munno is." But Deokman doesn't believe her. She leaves, and the cell door closes.
We see Hajong leading his troops through the wilderness...
Back at the camp, a screaming Cheonmyeong is dragged out of her cell to a waiting slave wagon. She shouts that she's a Shillan princess, which none of the Gayans take seriously...but now what's happening? Clouds! Suddenly the sun has disappeared...and in moments it's pouring buckets. The Gayans are ecstatic--"That boy brought us rain!"--and dancing around for joy. And they decide to free Cheonmyeong. But just like that, before they can untie her, here are the Shillans. Flaming arrows fly into the camp, and Hajong screams, "Slaughter every single one of these vile miscreants! Slay them all!" Brave guy, mowing down refugees. The Gayans are being slaughtered left and right. And now here's an arrow aimed at Cheonmyeong...but she's grabbed and pulled out of the way--by Deokman! And now the two are running in the woods again, being pursued by two Hwarang. While running, they both trip and fall down a steep hillside, and over a steeper portion below, and out of sight. The Hwarang see them disappear from view, shake their heads and return to their unit.
Cheonmyeong has landed on a small overlook, above a river. Looks to be about twenty feet above. Deokman? She went a little farther, and is clinging to the side of the overlook, barely hanging onto some small vegetation. Cheonmyeong gets a rope from Deokman's bag and tosses it to her, and tries to pull her up. But now the ground is giving way and endangering them both.