Original subtitles

He asked me.

Then,

how do you want to live now?

What do you want to live as?

Kang-chi.

What happened?

What did the commander say?

What is it?

Did you get scolded?

Did he scold you harshly?

And then I asked her

why...

No, Father.

Kang-chi hasn't done anything wrong.

It's not his fault.

Move away.

Why...

Why are you being so nice to me?

It's just that...

I want to do anything for you.

That's how I feel right now.

That's why

I want to become a human.

I want to

become a human again.

No.

It will be very tough.

I will make him train twice as hard...

No. Thrice as hard as the normal training.

You can count on me.

Gon, you'll be in charge of Kang-chi's training.

You can't leave Gon and Kang-chi alone.

Whenever they see each other, they start fighting.

I'll be their mediator who will stop their fights and help them get along.

Do you want to see Kang-chi get kicked out?

The more you do that, the more you make Kang-chi suffer.

Sir, she's right this time.

Kang-chi and I do not get along at all.

He only listens when Lady Yeo-ul is around.

So please let her train him with me.

Please, Father.

What's this?

Father ordered me to watch and supervise you from this day forth.

Watch and supervise me?

You are going to supervise me?

Of course, I'll be helping her too.

So what do you want me to do with these beans?

Starting now, you will count how many beans

there are in this sack.

What?

You said you wanted to become a human.

This is the first mission.

You should work on it with joy.

Okay?

You can't simply stop one's feelings.

One can't simply stop the breeze from blowing.

I'm just

worried about the heartache the two would suffer

if he ever finds out what I did to his father.

Worrying now leads to worries later.

It isn't our place

to stop young people

from making choices.

We should only help them

make the best ones.

1,232.

-1,233. 1,234. -By the way, Kang-chi,

about your parents,

how did they die?

1,235. 1,236.

You don't know anything about them?

Hey, you're making me lose count here.

Sorry.

1,235.

I think you already counted that.

1,236.

And that one as well.

I am sorry.

I will start over.

By the way, if I were you, I'd be really curious.

There's not much you can learn about your father,

but you could've tried to look more into your mother.

What kind of family she's from?

Does she have any relatives?

She abandoned a newborn and left him on a river.

I'm not at all curious about that kind of person.

So do you like your quarters?

Yes, we are pleased.

If we knew he was coming himself,

we would have prepared more.

By the way,

you gained control of the market in this area faster than we thought.

I told you.

I have full control of the Southern province

including the Century House.

Additionally, I'm already in control of the local magistrate's office,

its officers and the people in charge.

He says there is one thing left untouched.

You mean Commander Yi.

Not a problem.

He'll be dealt with soon enough.

I see.

What is it, sir?

They know more than I expected.

They're very well informed on this area.

Tighten security.

We never know if we have a rat on the inside.

Yes, sir.

By the way, it's quite a surprise

that the Miyamoto Merchants is led by a woman.

Will that do, ma'am?

What's going on?

What? What do you mean?

What is it, Kang-chi? Are you ill?

I'm not sure.

Something is wrong.

It's strange.

I'm getting a chill down my spine.

He's growing weak.

-Weak? -Weak?

I have just the thing for this. It's my specialty herbal tea.

Tincture of red ginseng that I made with love and care.

One bowl will

revive your circulation and energize you.

You'll be as good as new.

You're good at this.

The truth is, if I found my successor,

I'd love to become a traveling herbalist,

peddling herbs all over the country. That's my dream.

I'd sell my specialty herbs and go sightseeing.

How great would that be?

Just go sightseeing. Don't sell your herbs.

That's a bit too much.

Look. I'm younger than you at heart.

That's total nonsense.

Give it back!

Have you thought about potential successor candidates?

Maybe.

I had one guy in mind,

but he is hot-headed and has anger issues.

You can't deal with troublemakers with just words.

You need to beat them up to teach them a lesson.

Would you like me to take care of him?

No, thanks. Go count your beans.

My head isn't a drum, you know.

Why did you hit me?

You said beating is the only way.

-What? -Never mind.

Go count your beans.

Seong.

Kang-chi.

Look at you. Why do you look so startled?

Nothing.

Oh, right. I should have brought logs.

Excuse me.

Hello, everyone.

Kim.

I'm sorry about that time.

I shouldn't have done that even if I had lost control of myself.

You shouldn't apologize.

I was the one who attacked you first.

I had no choice.

It was my first time seeing

such a monster.

You asked for me?

I have something to give you. Have a seat.

Your late father wanted me to give this to you.

My father?

If anything happens to me,

please pass this on to Tae-seo.

How could you talk about such a situation?

We'll be dealing with Bi-jo.

We never know what his next move will be.

If we're ever faced with an unexpected danger,

please give him this seal.

And tell him

I was so proud of him and loved him dearly.

And that I hope he will be a good man

and a fine head of Century House.

Mu-sol was one of the Four Pillars

with the sign of the chrysanthemum.

With his wealth, he fed the hungry.

And he was the financial supporter

of those who fought for this country.

I'm giving this seal to you,

so that you'll carry on his legacy

and be tasked with an important mission.

Of course, you'll decide yourself whether to accept this position or not.

We'll respect whatever decision you make.

Tell me. What is the mission you're talking about?

Work for Cho Gwan-ung.

4,861. 4,862.

4,863...

Excuse me.

It was my first time seeing

such a monster.

Actually,

I'm curious as well.

What kind of people my parents were

and why they abandoned me.

But the more I think about it,

the more I'm afraid that I'll resent them

and hate them.

That's why...

But thanks, Yeo-ul,

for asking me.

By the way, what was that earlier?

You have to risk your life.

Will you be able to handle it?

Hey, Tae-seo.

How much

did my father know about you?

I'm not sure.

He never told me anything about that.

What does it feel like

when you transform?

It's all blurry.

My body hurts as if it's on fire,

and all my senses become extremely sensitive.

I can see all kinds of things

and hear all kinds of noises at the same time.

I'm not sure if that's the reason, but I get really hungry.

Then, even at that moment,

can you remember that you're Kang-chi?

At first, I couldn't.

But slowly, I became to realize that it's me

and remember.

And now I'm able to control my emotions.

I see.

To be honest, Yeo-ul helped me out a lot.

She was neither disgusted nor scared

after seeing me as a creature.

She kept calling me Choi Kang-chi.

That's why I could remember that I was still myself.

Strangely, when I'm with her,

I feel at ease.

The pain goes away,

and for some reason, my anger dies down.

I think you're in love with her.

Yes.

What?

No! What are you talking about?

With her? No way.

Not in a million years, Tae-seo.

You don't have to deny it.

I wouldn't be surprised

if someone was in love with her.

It's not like that.

I'm just saying she's...

I mean she's...

If it's because of Cheong-jo,

don't worry about it.

To you, Cheong-jo is...

now in the past.

What do you mean she's in the past now?

To me, you and Cheong-jo will never be the people of the past.

You're my only family, friends,

and the ones I should protect.

You're not obligated to do that anymore.

The moment my father passed away, you, Cheong-jo, and I

took our own paths.

We can't go back in time.

We can't change what's already happened.

We can't go back, but we can get it back.

Century House and its people.

I'll get them all back.

That's my duty.

Master Park passed away trying to save me.

Even if it were someone else, he would have done the same.

That's the kind of person he was.

So it wasn't your fault, Kang-chi.

I can't thank you enough

for all you've done to protect us.

So don't get tied down by us anymore.

Go live your own life.

I know how precious the Century House is to you.

And I treasure you,

my dear friend, just as much.

Kang-chi, are you in there?

To be honest, the fact that we're training with him irritates me.

What if he changes again

and hurts us?

Apparently, he disappeared last night

and came back at dawn.

Anyway, we can't just sit still.

We should kick him out!

-Yes. -I agree.

Who's there?

Who are you?

Don't hold the sticks too hard.

Loosen your grip. Again.

Your arms should be graceful like a butterfly.

Use the momentum of your wrists and hit the drum.

Step one foot forward, one foot backward. And put your weight on your left foot.

Repeat the rhythm. Again.

Madam.

Don't lose focus during practice.

What is the meaning of this?

How could you teach her and refuse to teach me?

Your shoulders are too hunched.

Lower your chin a little more.

What do you think you're doing?

Pick up the sticks.

Why is it her and not me?

I'm the best courtesan at this place.

What makes one the best courtesan of the House of Pleasure?

Is it the one

who smiles the most in front of men?

If that's what it takes,

then you certainly are the best courtesan.

Why on earth do you look down on me?

What did I do?

Since the beginning, you preferred

pouring drinks and pleasing men

over learning the arts.

You wanted to learn the drum dance just so you can impress more men.

Madam!

Drum dance isn't some jewelry you wear around your breasts.

You don't appreciate the arts.

That's why I can't pass down the drum dance to you.

Cheong-jo, keep practicing.

I'll come to check on you later this afternoon.

Please step aside.

I need to practice.

You arrogant little...

Do you think you have the right to tell me what to do

now that you are Madam's pet? Is that it?

Please don't get too angry.

It makes you look ugly, Wol-seon.

How dare you...

Oh, my.

Go ahead and slap me again.

If you do, I'll step on your ugly face.

You...

You little...

I'm not sure what's gotten into that girl, Cheong-jo.

She's changed for sure.

Is it okay to just leave her alone?

Don't ask questions.

Don't even get curious.

Can't you hear?

That girl is crying her heart out right now.

What? It's just you?

Yes, it's me.

What are you doing here?

You were dozing off, so I was just playing around.

-Let me go. -Hold on.

You're an instructor here. How could you be so childish?

I think you might have trouble disciplining kids here.

You need to learn your lesson.

Hey. Let me go right now.

You're so weak for an instructor at this center.

This isn't right.

How dare you test me?

You can't just bite me!

The first rule of counterattack,

go for the weak spot when in doubt.

I was going to kick your weak spot,

but I opted to just biting. You should thank me.

Thank you so very much.

By the way, where were you last night?

I just needed some fresh air because it was stuffy.

I heard you've been going out at night recently.

The trainees are worried.

They're not worried. They're scared.

That's because they don't know you well.

Just like how it took time for you to accept yourself,

it will take time for them to accept you as well.

You know that, right?

By the way,

do you know that you've been nagging me a lot lately?

Oh, I do?

Sorry.

I'm not sure if you know this as well.

What else?

You...

look like a girl right now.

Why have you gone quiet?

Normally, you would have punched me in the face by now.

Are you kidding me?

-Why, you... -Instructor Yeo-ul!

Seong, what is it?

Well,

there's an urgent report.

-An urgent report? -Actually,

some dead bodies were found in the woods.

Someone died?

Yes.

Not one. Three people.

And...

They say that the corpses look strange.

They doubt that the victims were killed by a person.

NO ENTRY

The victims look like their lives have been sucked out of their bodies?

I think Choi Kang-chi has started to show his true colors

earlier than I thought.

When are you planning on revealing his identity to the magistrate?

Now is not the time.

Leave him be, so he will get even more bloodthirsty.

Strange and chilling rumors need to be spread far and wide.

Let the ignorant citizens shiver with fear.

Just let them shiver.

The more scared they get,

the sharper my sword will become when I stab the commander.

Tell Governor Jung to investigate this right away

and that I will fully support him if he needs any help.

-Yes, sir. -Also, let him know that

if anyone tries to take advantage of this situation and spreads false rumor

to incite fear in the general public, we'll show no mercy to him.

Make sure none of the soldiers and servants spreads any rumor.

Yes, sir.

Why did you want to see me?

We came to ask you a few questions.

TRAINING CENTER

Father. Please stop those trainees.

Something bad might happen.

Let's say I calm them down.

How long do you think that'll last?

-Father. -There's nothing

we can do for Kang-chi this time.

It's up to Kang-chi to persuade and win them over.

So tell us.

Where have you been going for the past few days

at night?

Why do I need to answer that?

Have you not heard?

Last night, three corpses were found in the woods.

-So? -The corpses look so strange

that the murderer might not be a person.

What can you say about that?

Are you saying that I'm the murderer?

That's not what we're saying.

That's what you're implying.

And that's why all of you came here to question me.

We just want to know your alibi.

Tell us.

No.

What's the point in explaining myself

to the people who already think I'm the criminal?

It would just sound like I'm making excuses.

And even if I explain to you,

it's not like you'll believe me.

But if you don't say anything, we'll be even more suspicious of you.

I don't care. This kind of messed up situation is not even new to me.

A crowd of people coming at me to question me...

It's something that I've experienced since I was a child.

So I don't care

if you get suspicious of me.

What did I tell you? Talking won't work on him.

He's not even a human.

It makes me sick to watch him act like one.

It's extremely annoying for me

to see someone like you as well.

Let go of him!

What on earth is going on?

What...

Who said you can draw your sword in front of a fellow trainee?

Did Master Dam teach you that?

Or did I?

But sir...

Sheathe your swords, you fools!

Let go, Kang-chi.

Jin-seong, as the eldest trainee,

you need to watch over the other trainees

to prevent these things from happening.

How could you let this happen?

It's not his fault, sir.

We wanted to do this.

To be honest,

I think it's wrong to live under one roof with him. He's not even a human.

If all of us have to suffer just because of him,

that wouldn't be fair.

-That's right! -That's right!

Then show me the evidence.

Show me the proof that shows Kang-chi made you suffer.

Additionally, the proof that shows

Kang-chi killed those people in the woods.

If you can bring me any proof that shows he did any of those things,

I will make sure to kick him out

myself.

Really?

Do you mean that?

But if it turns out that your accusation is wrong,

all of you will have to kneel in front of Kang-chi

and give him a formal apology. How about it?

A bet is only fun

when both parties agree to participate.

So?

Why did you do that?

What? Are you worried about something?

Absolutely not.

Then what is it?

It's just annoying.

From now on, they'll start observing my every move.

If that's annoying to you,

then tell me where you had been

for the last two nights.

Well...

I'll get going.

Do you wish to stay here for a long time with Yeo-ul?

Then you need to learn to get along with your neighbors first.

Why don't you just tell them?

You scared me.

You didn't tell Yeo-ul about this, did you?

You said it's a secret.

Yes, it is.

So until I say you can,

don't tell anyone. Okay?

Then see you later.

What was that?

What are you talking about?

What secret were you talking about with Kang-chi?

There are no secrets. See you.

See? You can't even look me in the eye.

Just spit it out.

What's the secret?

Hello, Madam Cheon. You've come a long way.

Thanks for coming all the way here, Madam Cheon.

That is some embroidery. The flowers look very realistic.

Why did you want to see me?

I wanted to discuss something with you about the festival.

I have a very important guest,

so I'd like to have a lavish feast during the festival.

Some time ago, I heard some guests arrived here from a foreign country.

Are you talking about those people?

Every time I see you,

you seem to know all sorts of news.

Well, a lot of different people frequent the House of Pleasure.

I hear lots of things

from many different people.

I'm hoping to see

your drum dance during the festival.

It's been almost a decade since I stopped performing.

The head of the Miyamoto Merchants has made a special request for it.

The foreign guest would like to see it?

Yes. Apparently, the previous head of the Miyamoto Merchants,

the late Miyamoto, loved Cheon Su-ryeon's drum dance.

So she asked if she could see the dance during the feast.

It's merely a drum dance.

I hope you won't embarrass me by refusing to do something so simple.

She really is a very important guest to me.

Be careful.

Who's there?

Be quiet.

Who's there? Show yourself!

I think he's gone.

Why were you following me?

Well, because you've been acting weird every night--

No, he hasn't.

Well...

Kang-chi said he felt a strange energy in the woods,

so he and Gon have been patrolling the area since then.

You couldn't keep your mouth shut.

Why didn't you just tell everyone while you're at it?

I'm not the blabbermouth.

I'm just good at figuring things out.

Why did you keep this as a secret in the first place?

You only made people misunderstand.

We don't know what we're dealing with yet.

I didn't want people to panic.

Even my presence makes people nervous.

If people knew an unidentified creature was roaming around the forest,

things would get messy.

Do you understand the situation now, Kim?

So until we find out what the mysterious creature is,

don't tell the other trainees.

We can count on you, right?

Sure.

Is anyone here?

Who are you?

It's me, So-jeong.

Wol-ryeong, is that you?

Yes. It's me.

TRAINING CENTER

Thank you for the meal.

What is he doing?

What's wrong with him?

Up close, they look so different.

But as a whole, they're the same after all.

Lantern festival?

Yes.

I'm thinking about lighting

a wish lamp in the village at night.

Do you want to come with me?

Really?

Sure.

Fine. I'll see you outside the inn at sunset.

Wait.

Are we not going to the village together?

What? Well,

I have some errands to run in the village beforehand.

I see.

Then see you later.

What was my count?

I need to start over.

One, two...

-Kang-chi? -What now?

You have a guest.

-Hey, have you heard? -What?

I heard Madam Cheon chose to present Cheong-jo as the main courtesan

at the upcoming festival.

I heard she's getting ready to officially become a courtesan in her room.

Goodness. What about Wol-seon?

My name is Cheong-jo.

It means "clear dawn."

From now on,

my name as a courtesan

is Cheong-jo, meaning "blue bird."

You have officially become

a courtesan and property of the state.

Lady Yeo-ul told me not to tell anyone,

but I thought

you should know.

That's why I came to see you.

She'll be there tonight

as the main courtesan for the festival.

I think you should be there to see her at least once.

Make way!

Make way!

Here comes the main courtesan!

-Look at her. -How beautiful.

Look at that.

Make way.

-Wow. -Here comes the main courtesan!

How did she become a courtesan?

-You know her? -It's her.

Oh, it's really Lady Cheong-jo.

Oh, no.

Oh, no. Our lady has really become a courtesan.

No, my lady.

CENTURY HOUSE

Don't let others read your emotions.

The only facial expression you're allowed to have is a smile.

Cheong-jo.

Cheong-jo.

What do you want with me?

If you have business with me, please come by the House of Pleasure.

Excuse me.

CENTURY HOUSE

GOOD LUCK, LONGEVITY, HARMONIOUS FAMILY

Here it is!

Candy! Delicious candy!

I'm thinking about lighting a wish lamp at the village at night.

Do you want to come with me?

I'll see you outside the inn at sunset.

-Goodness. -What on earth...

I'm so sorry.

Did he forget about it?

It's Kang-chi.

Pardon me.

Kang-chi!

You're late.

You can't simply stop one's feelings.

One can't simply stop the breeze from blowing.

Who is she? I want to know.

Who is she?

She looks somewhat familiar.

I almost thought she might be from Joseon.

I want you to find the Gu Family Book soon and become a human.

That's my wish.

I knew it. She's the most precious person to you, isn't she?

And that will never change.

I've made up my mind.

I will go to Century House.

That man? Who?

You asked me why I came back.

I came back to destroy everything.

Subtitle translation by Jin-young Song