Original subtitles

(The Haunted Palace)

(The following program contains themes, language and violence)

(That are not suitable for viewers under 15.)

(Viewer discretion is advised.)

(All places, organizations, characters,)

(incidents, and backstories in this drama are fictitious.)

(Child actors were accompanied by family and were kept safe.)

Long ago, the creature named Kang Chul...

was a dragon who had completed...

his 1,000-year training deep within a pond...

and was ready to ascend to the sky.

However,

luck had betrayed him.

Should an ascending dragon...

suffer the misfortune of being spotted by a human,

it must return to its serpent form.

The ruthless providence of the sky...

did not waver.

That night of all nights,

a child's gaze on him...

undid 1,000 years of his training,

causing the dragon to fall to earth.

And this is why...

Kang Chul...

came to loathe mankind.

People say where Kang Chul walks,

autumn turns to spring...

for a good reason.

Kang Chul is an evil deity, full of malice.

He was just unlucky.

Why is he taking it out on innocent people?

When I become a great shaman,

I will teach him a lesson...

and kick him out, so he never sets foot in our town.

Shush.

No, child.

That is not how you handle Kang Chul.

If you ever come across Kang Chul,

you must run away immediately...

without wasting a moment to look back.

Kang Chul targets pure-spirited gijas...

who are built for greatness just like you.

(Gija: Another term for shamans)

Therefore, you must run away.

Promise me that.

Now.

(13 years later)

Go away.

Go away!

- I beg you to stop, Your Highness. - Your Highness.

Why are you doing this, Your Highness?

Your Highness.

Are you advising me...

to bring in a shaman and perform a purging ritual?

(Purging rituals: Ceremonies for malevolent spirits)

Is that your solution?

Please forgive my disservice.

The fate of your cause hangs in the balance.

The royal physicians are doing their best.

They are discreetly combing the country...

to find effective medicine for this.

Even the best physician in the country...

failed to find a cure after spending months.

So clearly,

this must be the work of a spirit.

It is believed that spirits are merely the result...

of fluctuating energy of yin and yang.

Your Majesty!

(Episode 1)

What are you staring at?

Do you see something over there?

I do not see anything. Why are you looking over there?

My lord is waiting. Come with me.

Can you see this letter?

The letter seems blurry, so I cannot see clearly.

Then how about the monocle I just handed you?

(Monocle: A type of eyeglasses)

The letter is hwan, meaning bright.

I can see the letter clearly now.

Hold on.

I longed to read this book,

but the letters were poorly written and blurry.

So I had only put it aside.

But now,

I can read it myself.

Everyone in the town knows that...

her eyeglasses are the best.

I had purchased many fine and elegant eyeglasses.

But I had never found eyeglasses as good as this one.

You have restored clarity to my foggy world.

You are quite talented.

Are any of your children suffering...

from an illness?

Oh, my baby.

Hang in there.

Are you seeing something?

Do you have a way to heal the young lady?

What is the meaning of this?

A way to heal In Seon?

My lord, she is the granddaughter of Neop Deok.

Neop Deok? Who is Neop Deok?

Well, before the passing of your late wife,

she was the shaman who performed the healing ritual.

Does it mean you are also a shaman?

I am not a shaman.

It is just that...

I could smell the herbal tonic in the house.

(Episode 1: A Talented Woman)

Go to Governor Song Dan Kyu of Gyeonggi Province...

and relay this message discreetly.

And pay a visit to Lord Choi Won Woo...

and persuade him to give us his support.

No one...

shall know about this.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I am merely returning to my hometown to tend...

to my maternal grandparents' graves.

Though weak,

without a doubt, it is a Vengeful Spirit.

That must be the cause...

of the young lady's unexplainable ailment.

Oh, no. Please stay with us, my child.

My lady! She is bleeding too.

No!

- The frail lady... - Oh, no. In Seon.

- is bound to face death now. - No.

Oh, no. What do we do?

It is the karma of their ancestors.

In Seon!

Life does not end with death.

But it is stubbornly carried forth to those who follow...

and the cycles continue.

If people could be enlightened about this sooner,

would the world have changed?

Oh, no. What do I do?

She is now coughing up blood.

I must get the physician.

I want water.

- Water? - Yes.

Give me a moment.

It will not take long for me to fetch water.

Get your hands off her body.

No.

This wench's father took away my leg...

and ended my life too.

At the very least, as I depart this world,

I will take her with me!

Look at you, gobbling up the dried millet.

As expected, you are the spirit of a beggar.

Who are you?

Listen to me, spirit.

I am filled...

with sorrow and pity...

for you.

You are not even a shaman.

How dare you pity me?

Do you understand me? I am not trying...

to save the only child of a prestigious family,

one who has known nothing but luxury in life.

I am trying to save you.

- What? - If you commit more evil deeds,

you will remain an evil spirit forever.

Once an evil deed is committed, it clings to you like a leech.

It will chain you to commit another one.

Furthermore, you will not be able to cross the Samdo Stream.

You will wander the afterlife for all eternity.

Is that...

what you truly want?

Is that it?

It is not too late.

I will help you.

Here.

Do not lie to me.

You refused to become a shaman.

How do you think you can help me?

He took over her body in a flash.

He is a weak spirit of low class.

How could he be so swift?

Could it be...

I will kill this wench...

and face my punishment in the afterlife!

Stop right there!

What was that?

What could cause so much pain...

Get away from me!

The burning sensation must be unbearable for you.

So leave her body now.

Do not provoke my anger further.

Get out of her body now!

No!

What is going on here?

What a pitiful sight this is.

Would you like me to help?

Just say the word.

I am at your service for whatever you may need.

Yes.

Just one word, that is all I need.

Yes. Just say the word.

Get lost.

My gosh. That was close.

Good grief. My troubled stomach is tormenting me a great deal today.

This is strange.

What is this?

My goodness. Oh, no.

Gosh, who is this?

Oh, my. Young lady.

My goodness!

This is Lady In Seon, the daughter of Lord Choi.

My lady.

Please wake up.

Gosh, look how she is dressed.

My lady!

Oh, no. My lady.

Are you all right?

How could this happen?

She can barely walk on her own.

How could she suddenly disappear?

Why are you still here?

Dispatch some people to search the vicinity thoroughly.

- Hurry. - Yes, my lord.

Oh, no.

My lady.

My lord.

- In Seon. - My lady.

Oh, my.

What is going on?

Why are you bringing my daughter home?

The young master helped me.

You helped my daughter?

No.

The one who truly helped her was not me.

I...

found her collapsed on the ground and escorted her home.

Yeo Ri.

Is your neck all right?

It must have hurt quite a lot.

You see, Vengeful Spirits are known to inflict severe pain.

What do you say? Should I take a look?

It is true that I despise humans.

But perhaps, I may be keen on helping you.

I must say that you were indeed impressive.

You did not have any proper shamanic tools.

Yet you faced the Vengeful Spirit...

armed with only a peach wood stick.

Yes, it is as expected. I am a great judge of character.

You are endowed with great spiritual clarity...

and built for greatness.

Just say the word.

I can possess your body...

and help you become the best shaman who performs royal rituals.

- My goodness. - Darn it.

Did you just dodge that?

Even you must know the warding stone is to be feared.

How rude. "Even you?"

- How dare you... - Stop playing innocent.

It was you who helped the One-legged Spirit.

You used the One-legged Spirit to keep the stone away from me,

so you could take over my body.

Did you think I would not know your evil intention?

If you know that,

let me have my way.

A decade is long enough for even nature to change.

But it has already been 13 years, Yeo Ri.

I almost got the One-legged Spirit to change his mind.

I could have eased the resentment he carried from his long years...

of wandering around.

But you ruined everything.

Therefore, I hate you.

You are shameless and despicable.

You defy the natural order of the sky, the earth, and mankind.

You are an evil deity.

That is what you are, Kang Chul.

I had my 1st encounter with Kang Chul when I was 13.

Stop.

My gosh.

- What? - What is going on?

- My goodness. - What is it?

Yeo Ri.

- Grandma. - Yes.

A black serpent...

keeps following me.

A black serpent?

Kang Chul.

Kang Chul?

Did you hear that? She said, "Kang Chul."

The evil deity, Kang Chul, followed Yeo Ri!

My goodness. Our town is done for now.

- Oh, no. - Good grief.

- My goodness. - Why is this happening?

A misfortune brought about by a human...

must be rectified by one with great spiritual energy.

Legends say that if pure-spirited shamans...

who are destined for greatness like you...

serve a serpent who failed to become a dragon...

as their guardian spirit of the body...

and dedicate themselves to praying to the sky,

the serpent can become a dragon again and ascend to the sky.

This is the warding stone.

It is the stone of the Dragon King.

Consider it an extension of your body.

Keep it with you at all times.

This stone...

can ward off spirits.

Spirits like Kang Chul...

as well as evil spirits will not want to come near you.

The stone...

will keep you safe.

Cleanse your soul

Cleanse your body

Stand on the white step

To serve the the Dragon King

Please help the departed

Please show mercy

Grandma.

Oh, no.

- Look over there. - Oh, my god.

No. My goodness.

- Oh, no. - Grandma.

- Oh, my goodness. - What do we do?

- Good grief. - My gosh.

- Oh, no. - Help her.

My goodness. What should we do?

Grandma!

- Grandma. - Oh, no.

- Please help us. - How could this happen?

- Oh, no. - Grandma.

- What do we do? - Oh, my gosh.

- No! - Grandma.

After that day, people whispered and called it the Human Bridge.

Human Bridge. Bridge made of corpses.

The punishment given to the human who defies the deity's will.

- Darn it. - No!

- No! - There.

Get out of my way!

It is your fault!

You brought Kang Chul, and our town is cursed now.

That is why Neop Deok is dead!

No, that is not true!

That is how Kang Chul took away my only family,

my grandmother, from me.

Do you understand it now?

That humans cannot defeat the deity.

Had you listened to me and done what I wanted,

it would have been better for all.

Throw away that darn warding stone.

Then take my hand.

You.

How dare you?

As...

I am a mere human, I cannot do anything to you.

But I will never serve a nasty, evil deity...

like you.

Even if I fall to the earth and my body shatters into pieces,

never will I serve you.

Consider this...

my revenge on you.

Grandma.

How great a place...

did you go to...

that you never visit your granddaughter?

Why do you...

never come to see me?

You cannot go, Your Highness.

Do step aside.

Your Highness.

My grandson has not visited me...

in over three months.

Royals have strict rules to abide by,

and he has not been able to do so.

How guilty must he feel?

That is why I decided to come by.

Mother is greatly concerned...

because my nephew was taken ill.

We brought medicine prescribed by a skilled physician.

We are sure it will help.

His cold.

The prince has a severe cold.

I fear...

you could catch it.

- Please... - A cold?

Our dear, sweet Queen.

You are a dreadful liar.

How will you survive in the Palace?

Do not just stand there. The medicine will cool.

Open the door.

Your Highness. We cannot...

Do it!

His Majesty the King is present.

Your Highness.

Your Majesty.

I am so pleased to see you.

Did you take time off your kingly duties...

to visit your ailing son?

I am greatly flattered that you care so much about him.

That is...

What is that noise?

He cannot stand the pain...

on his bad days.

It would not be right to expose you to such a sight.

Enough!

Mother.

Your Highness. Are you all right?

You are right, Your Majesty.

I should...

return to my chambers.

My goodness.

Are you all right?

I apologize.

You did well.

Get your wound looked at.

If the Dowager Queen noticed...

What should we do?

She did not see for herself,

so she will not know for sure.

Do not worry too much, my Queen.

You will leave? This abruptly?

I have not yet...

come up with a reply to give His Majesty.

You already gave your reply.

I did?

You rose to be first vice-premier,

and yet you treated me,

a lowly royal scribe...

who proofreads books so cordially.

That would not have been for my own good.

You did so for His Majesty.

Well, yes. You are right.

But that does not mean I side with His Majesty.

Yet you waver.

This will shake our nation to its core.

He could make enemies out of all the nobility.

Why does His Majesty put so much effort...

into something so impossible?

His Majesty believes...

your backing...

will make it possible.

I was told you asked for this to be brought to you.

There were some round pieces of glass,

but nothing of much value inside.

Why did you ask for it?

You looked inside?

Pardon? Well...

Everyone says the glasses-maker...

is tough and feisty.

What if I were to get into trouble...

for giving you her belongings?

That will not happen.

To me, Yeo Ri is...

someone I consider a sister...

whom I lived close to growing up.

"A sister?"

Wait.

Hey.

Yes, it is you.

You are Yoon Gap from Yongdam Village.

How many years...

has it been?

You got the wrong person.

How come a lowly man born of a concubine...

left Lord Choi Won Woo's residence?

This looks nice.

Where did the woman get to?

Come take a look.

Are you kidding me, ma'am?

You want one nyang for this?

I heard that Bok Soe...

paid three jeon just two days ago.

I can sell it for whatever I want.

How dare a shaman ruin my day by being my first customer?

Get lost.

Ma'am.

Shall I tell you what I would do to really ruin your day?

I would summon...

all the evil and vengeful spirits from nearby...

and secure them...

to the crossbeam of your house...

and ensure your offspring moan and groan in suffering...

before they die, severing your family line.

That is what I would do.

What? You dare threaten me?

Right over there,

glaring at you...

is your mother-in-law who drowned a few years back.

You will now know...

what a truly bad day is...

until she drags you into the water with her.

Leave it.

I will not haunt her even if she begs me to.

No?

Darn you.

Here. Take it for three jeon or not.

Goodness.

Do I get some fine sand for free?

- What? - Come on.

I am a regular. See you soon.

Hey, you.

My gosh.

Sprinkle some coarse salt all around.

What rotten luck.

You are as strong as a birch...

as you always were.

Have you forgotten me already?

Young Master Gap.

It has been a long time, Yeo Ri.

Have you been well?

A bit more to the side.

- Wait. - To the right. Yes.

- Twist the pole. - You got it.

- Twist it. - It is right there.

- Twist it. - Move to the side.

- Twist. - Hang on.

- You got it. - Yes, there.

- Keep it there and twist. - Yes! That is it.

- No... - Why are you alone again?

- It is right there. - Keep it still.

Twist it!

- Move to the side. - Come on.

They did not let you join in?

It is not like that.

Twist it.

No.

Wait here.

- Yes, right there. - I will get you...

the biggest and nicest persimmon on that tree.

Goodness.

Why does he smile whenever he looks at me?

- Hey. - It fell.

- It is still okay. - You got it.

- Hurry up. - No, wait.

- Not that one. - Move...

- Are you blind? - Where is it?

Move a bit to the side.

- Yes, there. - You got it.

- It is over here. - No, move to...

Young master! Come down from there right now!

- What? - I do not want a persimmon!

I do not care for them!

Do not worry.

It is nothing at all. I can get it for you.

Watch me.

- Oh, no. - Is he okay?

You see this?

It is fine now.

You seem well.

The government must pay you enough.

Yes.

You read my fortune correctly,

and I am quite successful for a concubine's son.

Then do you believe the Dragon King...

and spirits exist now?

You became a glasses-maker...

and not a shaman.

How do you know that?

I saw you at Lord Choi's residence.

I stayed there a few days.

I see.

This is yours, is it not?

I was going to go back for it.

Lord Choi was greatly satisfied...

with the glasses you made.

Would you...

make a pair for me as well?

They cannot be for yourself.

Who are they for?

For His Majesty the King.

Yes, Yeo Ri. You are right.

There will be other great glasses-makers.

But I cannot offer His Majesty something made by just anyone.

I can claim the credit for finding a skilled glasses-maker,

and you can enjoy the honour of making His Majesty's glasses.

It will benefit us both.

Still, asking me to come to Hanyang out of the blue...

Hanyang?

Hanyang?

My gosh.

Sorry.

You cannot go.

Do you know how scary Hanyang is?

People will con and dupe you in broad daylight.

Hanyang is where people lose the bundles...

on their very backs.

A lowly fool like you who knows nothing of the world...

is a tasty morsel for a local thug.

That is how scary Hanyang is.

Did you hurt your arm?

No.

I hear a dog barking in my ear.

A dog?

A dog?

As if an evil spirit was not enough, now you call me a dog?

A dog bark?

I do not hear it.

It is best for you that you cannot hear the bark.

Darn you. You fool!

That punk is deceiving you.

I forgot I have a pair of glasses I must make in a hurry.

Right now?

Yes. It was a rushed order.

So...

Goodbye.

Yeo Ri.

This time,

I would like you to come with me.

I do not need an answer right now.

I will be at the inn for a few days.

Think about it and give me a reply.

Will you?

You despicable toad.

Speak.

Do not try to dupe me...

or smooth over the details.

Why are you so bothered...

and what is the young master lying about?

Tell me.

Did you give away your talent for free?

Do you not see it?

He does not want to take you to the Palace as a glasses-maker.

Whether you live or die,

his plan is to use you to satisfy his greed.

The young master is not that kind of person.

You poor naive thing.

Do you trust in him that much?

You have no idea what resides in the Palace.

What is in the Palace?

There is nothing special.

Palaces are full of dark energy,

which is why evil spirits are everywhere.

Why? What?

I do not know what is there, but you...

are afraid of it.

That is why you are so bothered.

You are wrong.

Then I have no reason not to go.

If you are so afraid,

it would not cause me any harm.

Why that little...

Well,

I am not saying I want to go that badly.

You know,

the young master pleaded with me to come,

and also...

I kind of owe him.

I am sick of...

being all alone too.

A vision?

(A scene from the future that a shaman can see.)

What was that?

Why would you close your eyes?

My lord.

Your forceful presence...

nearly made me wet my pants.

Stop making such a fuss.

Uncle!

Kyun, what brings you here unannounced?

Uncle.

I came to see you to deliver an urgent message.

What are you doing here?

It seems that everything has changed...

except for that tree, which still remains unchanged.

It was right there. The spot where you always used to sit.

You remember even the littlest things.

Do you remember that promise?

I said I would come back for you.

Come with me, Yeo Ri.

My visions are never wrong.

He will be okay.

I will not let Kang Chul take another person away from me,

so...

Young Master!

Are you all right?

I am sorry to put you through this.

But...

do you not think it is odd?

It takes three days to get to the capital from Yongdam Village.

However, we have been going around in circles for two days.

We just need to go over that mountain to get to the capital.

It is as if...

As if,

what?

I feel as though someone is trying to stop us from going to the palace.

No way.

We are just lost.

Let me take a look around...

and find some medicinal herbs.

No, do not tire yourself out.

It will only take a moment. Stay here.

Come out. Show yourself!

Kang Chul, I know this is your doing.

How much longer will you make me suffer?

Show yourself. Now!

It has been 13 years.

I have been suffering for 13 years. Is it not enough?

Will you set me free already? You darned evil deity!

Try and scream until your lungs give out.

Whatever you do,

you cannot get out of this mountain.

Come out. Show yourself!

You!

What is that now?

I am sorry, Yeo Ri.

I deceived you.

I am doing this for the greater good.

Do not forgive me, Yeo Ri.

That was quick.

Show yourself.

I said to show yourself at once, you darned evil thing!

Hey!

Darn it.

Lily turf.

Speak.

What did you and Choi Won Woo talk about?

Why did the king send you there?

You lowborn fool!

Answer at once!

Yeo Ri will be back shortly.

This will put her in danger too.

You stubborn punk.

Tell me the truth before I take your life!

Go ahead and kill me.

Kwak Sang Chung.

If my death could haunt you...

and therefore help His Majesty...

accomplish his great goals,

I would not...

fear death.

Your Majesty.

Please forgive me.

My lord.

If you kill him like this...

This lowborn fool. I have always wanted...

to shut his arrogant mouth for good.

Good riddance.

Take his body...

and make it appear as though Choi Won Woo killed him.

Yes, my lord.

It is my first time...

possessing a human body.

I feel awfully constricted and slow.

This should be enough to stop the bleeding.

How strange.

I do not feel anything anymore.

Where on earth did Kang Chul go?

No way. Did he go to Young Master Gap?

Young Master.

What...

happened?

Yeo Ri.

Kang Chul?

Kang Chul...

has entered Young Master Gap's body.

The warding stone.

Yeo Ri.

You are mine now.

It is you.

You ended up...

killing Young Master Gap.

And as if that was not enough, you even had to steal his body!

What? No.

I did not kill him.

Hey, you tell her.

Did I kill you?

You got yourself into this mess by forgetting your place...

and misbehaving in the palace.

How is it possible that there is a man who looks just like me?

What is happening...

Do not cast such a bitter glance.

This disgusting and constricting body of yours.

I do not want it either.

I am simply borrowing it for a while as you no longer need it.

Who on earth are you...

that you stole my body from me?

Give it back this instant!

Yeo Ri.

What in the world...

is this?

Young Master.

The darned warding stone is now gone.

Whether you believe me or not,

it no longer matters.

Once I become your guardian spirit,

you will have to obey only me.

Let go of me. Let go, you evil scoundrel!

Now, you have no choice...

but to become my disciple...

and serve me faithfully...

You must serve me...

You must serve me faithfully...

How come this is not working?

I waited 13 years for this moment.

I must become her guardian spirit to turn into a dragon.

So, why is it that...

I cannot leave this body?

The warding stone.

No!

Oh, no.

What will you do now?

You will never find it.

That darned warding stone.

You piece of...

Goodness.

No!

Yeo Ri!

Yeo Ri.

(Special thanks to Kim Young Kwang for his cameo appearance.)

(The Haunted Palace)

What is this place?

It is the palace.

What happened to Royal Scribe Yoon?

It must be amnesia.

The five human senses.

What a marvellous thing!

It even helps clear your head.

It works like magic.

- The warding stone? - Why was that glasses-maker...

summoned?

The fact that Yoon Gap brought her here...

makes me feel uneasy for some reason.

I miss Young Master Gap like crazy, but that is not him.

You will find his soul and put it back into this body?

He is already dead.

What nonsense.

Over here, Yeo Ri.

His spirit is in the palace.

Save me.

Young Master!

I have been fooled.

Why is this body so slow?

It is him.

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