Original subtitles

THIS DRAMA IS A WORK OF FICTION BASED ON REAL FACTS OF HWARANG

IN THE ERA OF KING JINHEUNG OF SILLA

If you keep treating me this way,

my brother will not forgive you.

I told you to stop talking about your brother, didn't I?

My brother will be...

It's my brother.

If you make a sound, you are dead.

Why do I not hear anything?

Did he leave?

Is he gone?

The physician's room!

The physician's room.

What...

What have you done?

Why do you care?

Because you are her brother?

Do not go near her.

Do not look at her.

Do not talk to her.

I can't do that.

I think

I like your sister.

Well, I suddenly

felt ill.

I was going to go, but...

Wipe it.

Let's rest tonight.

Everything is new to me,

so I don't know how to be a good brother.

I have never

hesitated about anything before in my life.

Sometimes...

You make me hesitate.

Give me some time.

I will be your real brother soon.

KING

It is one of two things.

Either a man and woman concern or a brother and sister concern.

I said I can go alone.

I'm just saying

that he really doesn't know anything about his sister.

He doesn't know that she would wrestle a cow to earn silver.

But he didn't listen.

My brother told you to walk me home?

Why else would I be doing this?

No one gives me a second thought.

Hold on.

Did you really say that to my brother?

That I would wrestle a cow for silver?

It is not like I made it up.

Still!

By the way,

is he really your brother?

What are you talking about?

That is so strange.

He said the necklace belonged to his friend.

What are you talking about?

What are you doing there alone at this late hour?

What is it to you?

I said the rule is that you must be with your roommate.

Please leave me alone right now.

I don't feel like talking.

You rude brat.

I hear your nickname is Dog-Bird.

You are like a dog and a bird.

A half-breed moron.

I said to leave me alone.

Did you know?

I like guys like you.

Everyone around you is your enemy.

You are full of burning rage and it blinds you.

Hence, you are short-sighted.

People like you...

make it fun to teach.

I told you.

Roommates are like one.

You sleep together and wake up together.

However, someone was wandering around alone at night.

That is unspeakable.

Do you not agree, Dog-Bird?

You are really something.

Look at what you are putting us through.

Hold him up properly.

All the weight is shifting to this side.

As for you, I will deal with you later.

Pa-oh would be surprised if he witnessed this.

Now I can finally see the peak.

As members of Silla's Hwarang,

be like that sun.

Be renewed each day, and be passionate each day.

Burn away any prejudice or arrogance.

You must be reborn.

Do you understand?

-Yes! -Yes!

You should do these for what you have done to us.

If you make me receive punishment again...

it will not end this easily.

He never changes.

It's not easy to always be so rude.

You should do my laundry, too.

I worked really hard earlier.

Forget it. Just tell me what happened.

Why were you outside at that hour?

You have a sister, right?

Did you sleep well?

You look well-rested.

I was up the whole night.

Why are you here?

Because we kissed last night.

Is that so?

"Is that so?"

You must be too naive

to know what women are really like.

Women don't really...

I don't have to explain it.

If you are here to apologize, I accept it.

Apologize?

What did I do wrong?

You should apologize if you made a mistake.

What if it was not a mistake?

If kissing me against my will was not a mistake,

was it a spontaneous decision?

I am saying this because you don't know me...

you would be dead if I was my usual self.

Forget it.

The two of us can consider it never happened.

-Agreed? -A thoughtless decision?

Consider it never happened?

Do not take another step.

I know a few acupuncture spots that will make your manhood useless.

You will not be able to move for a moment.

Next time, I will really put it in the right spot,

so do not come closer.

Can you lend me 20 silvers?

What is it?

I thought you didn't want to owe me.

There is debt I want to repay despite the humiliation.

Who do you owe?

You don't have to know.

It is a rude, cruel, and bothersome man.

Most creditors are like that.

"I've never hesitated about anything before,

but you keep making me stop."

This sounds like the person is worried about me, right?

Is it the person you owe silver to?

This is not the same person.

This is why you must not learn love through literature.

Listen.

Worrying is when the salt merchant fears the rain,

while the clog maker fears no rain.

This is what you call worrying.

"You keep making me stop."

Wouldn't most people think of this

-as love? -"Love?"

What you are saying is

that man is worried about you because of that creditor.

I am jealous.

I knew you would achieve something in there.

Love? No way.

Just eat the rice cake.

How should you treat your sister?

First.

Do not consider her as a woman.

Affection between siblings grow

when you are rough with each other.

If you see her from afar,

what should you do?

Run up to her. Just run.

Lock her. Lock her in first.

Act as if you will pat her, and keep locking her in.

Hold her down until she surrenders.

When you go home,

don't do anything.

Just call her over.

-Come hither. -Come.

Make her do everything.

Are you sure you are close to your sister?

Come on.

Our sisters

are stronger than we think.

Also, all brothers are responsible

for training their sisters to become stronger.

If you don't, how can she survive

in this harsh world when you cannot protect her?

It looks like you are getting it now.

What do I have to do again?

I am so bothered. How can I see Master Pervert again?

What if my brother finds out?

It will get complicated.

However, I cannot pay back my debt if I leave now.

I have to survive. I must.

My goodness.

I think you just avoided me.

No, I did not.

I have to talk to Pi Joo-ki.

Go.

It was my first try but It was very natural.

What was that? That was so awkward.

Did he give me acupressure treatment?

Where is Master Ahnji?

He has just arrived in the palace.

Your Highness.

This acupuncture point

could take one's life in a split second.

I did not call you to treat me.

Please don't speak.

I'm going to put the needles in.

This will calm you down.

This will help calm you down.

Please run away with me.

Please.

I am asking you

to flee Silla with me.

I already have a family of my own.

I know you married out of spite for me.

It is too late to turn back.

Are you saying you will ignore me

because of that mute servant?

She is no longer a servant. She is my wife.

Do you really plan on leaving me?

Will you just stand and watch me marry my uncle

who is over 60 years old?

It is you

who left me.

If you let go of this hand,

you will regret it.

I will make sure of it.

How do I know you will not kill me...

with these needles?

You fell ill from sudden poor blood circulation.

You will be fine.

Have the royal physician remove the needles after 15 minutes.

She looks just like her mother.

She is working as a physician at Hwarang House.

I guess it's the only way to see your anxious face.

How does it feel?

How does it feel to control everything in my life?

Do I really have control over everything in your life?

That is why I will think about what I can do...

to take something away from you.

TAO TE CHING

How much do you think you can learn like that?

You will be the first to leave Hwarang House anyway.

Do not waste your energy.

Even if it's not for him...

it will still be hard for you to survive in here.

Please mind your own business.

I have no interest in you.

I feel like I have been dumped.

A king and water.

Where could the King be?

Why does that matter?

A king without a face is powerless.

You cannot call that a king.

Do people not tell you that you are like a tree?

Your rudeness never changes just like a pine tree.

Gosh.

The Queen has no intention of stepping down,

so he must become stronger on his own and fly up.

I pity the young bird.

I...

I think I saw the King.

"Your Majesty."

I heard him say it.

He looked like...

a normal king.

A king.

How pathetic!

This is not something one can solve with that.

Don't you agree?

It's my backup.

People can't think properly under pressure.

Why did you not stop him?

Han-seong...

decided to sit beside me.

You look so perfect.

But it's unfortunate.

I am not that perfect.

That was not my point.

What will happen to Dog-Bird if he doesn't pass?

He will lose one of his three chances.

Then it will be harder for him to stay.

WATER, KING

Do you crave authority?

Do you want to become an official?

It would be nice to be an official.

You don't have responsibilities, but your power becomes unbelievable.

When you become an official, you will own Silla

for the rest of your lives.

If you wish to climb

to somewhere higher than where you are

or if you want to protect what you have...

or if you want to survive,

you must pass.

That is the only way

for you to get what you want.

Let me repeat.

Discuss the idea of king as water.

However...

it must be based on Tao Te Ching.

TAO TE CHING DISCUSSES THE VALUE OF NATURE.

You may begin.

You.

Do not look at other people's writings.

KIM SEON-U WATER

Seon-u, you must pass.

Please.

Who is there?

My goodness.

SUK HAN-SEONG.

This person copied Chapter Three of Tao Te Ching.

KIM SU-HO

"It is difficult to rule over people

because they are wise.

Hence, we must make the people

be like water.

And make it as clear as mud."

What is it? Am I wrong?

PARK BAN-RYU

This person copied, too.

I don't know what this says.

Do you think I wasted precious paper to read your terrible answers?

This task was given to you,

so that I know what kind of world you aim for.

However, to my surprise,

you hardly have any ideas.

Out of all of you,

who are the two Hwarangs

who wrote these thoughtless answers?

Were you two prepared to fail?

KIM JI-DWI

Or could these be out of your deep thoughts?

I don't think

Laozi would have answered this question in writing.

His philosophy stands

against doing things by force.

Do you agree with him?

I cannot write what I want to write.

That is why I wanted to say it in words.

Master.

Then, who would like to begin?

-I-- -I shall go first.

You, who submitted the blank sheet, may go first.

The law of Silla

is the Bone-rank System.

The path of water.

The law is the path of water.

Thus, it is the natural flow defined by nature.

However, there is not a path of water anywhere.

Some lands are dry while others are abundant in water.

Following the path that was formed by flowing water.

There is harmony

and the power of nothingness which does not irritate.

A king's law and a king's path are there.

That's nonsense.

Nobility uses the humble as its root,

and high uses low as its base.

This is rubbish.

Are you saying that

Tao Te Ching is rubbish?

A path of water

makes water flow from the highlands to the lowlands.

Then, where must something originating from the lowlands

find its path?

A path on which the low can become high.

Naturally, water flows from the highlands to the lowlands.

But we need a path that allows water to flow

even in the dry and desolate lands.

I could not find the answer

in that Tao Te Ching.

No path started as a path.

Someone must walk on it for it to become a path.

You must pound and break the hard land

and pierce through it for the water to flow out.

If the law is to ignore the dry land,

and that is the path of a king,

that king should not be king.

Pass.

Fail.

Pass.

Fail.

Pass.

Fail.

Pass.

Fail.

Pass.

-Gosh! -Oh, my gosh.

Do you think he passed?

He can't get what he wants without an effort.

You have no conscience?

He just learned how to read and write.

Right?

-Pass. -Please stop already.

Why are you doing that to the poor sprouts?

Did I do this?

I'm sorry.

Pass.

Kim Gi-bo.

Fail.

Kim Shin.

Fail.

Kim Jang-hyun.

Fail.

Suk Han-seong.

You copied down Chapter Three of Tao Te Ching. Fail.

-I see. -Kim Su-ho.

Fail.

Kim Yeo-ul.

Fail.

Park Ban-ryu.

Pass.

Kim Ji-dwi.

You have passed.

It is not because I like your answer,

but it is based on Tao Te Ching.

Kim Seon-u.

You fail.

It is not because I don't like your answer,

but this assignment

was to base your answer on Tao Te Ching.

However, you called it "rubbish,"

so I cannot pass you.

You have caused a stir.

We will end the lecture here.

You may go.

Hey.

You have two chances left.

I told you the result would be the same.

You will waste your energy two more times,

then get kicked out.

Go on.

"If the law is to ignore the dry land...

and that is the path of a king,

that king should not be king."

What a feisty one!

Why did he fail?

Look who this is.

It is my fake nephew.

So, you said you would bring down the Queen.

How is that going?

Did you not think the same as him?

You despise the arrogance of the high

and think of the subjects first.

What king could look up from below?

The hidden king.

He may be able to.

You seem to expect quite a lot

from the hidden King.

I thought you and I are on the same page.

Isn't it why you oppose the Queen regent?

What would I know about the King?

What could a child who hid all his life

and cannot protect himself

accomplish once he returns?

The young and naive King

will be unable to do anything

against those old snake-like officials.

The Queen has no excuse to stay in power,

and the unprepared King

will bring about a disaster to Silla.

That is why I created Hwarang.

To protect the future

of Silla.

If you find a way

to protect Silla without the Queen,

come back to me.

There are no fish anyway,

but you are making it harder...

Gosh.

You may go.

Fail?

KIM JI-DWI PASS

What is this?

Why did this blank sheet pass

when my brother failed?

I got it.

This is the infamous corruption within Hwarang.

I will not let this go.

How could this be?

Goodness.

Okay. Hello.

I heard from Pi Joo-ki that you were here.

I need to take care of business.

How could you do this?

-What... -The abuse of power by those with it.

True Bone is innocent. A nobody is guilty.

How could you protect your nephew?

What are you talking about? Move.

The blank sheet got a pass.

Why did this thoughtful answer,

written with an effort by someone who just learned how to write, fail?

The assignment was to base it on Tao Te Ching, but...

Regardless, move!

No.

I will not let this go.

Then what is it that you want?

You remember the research on the young noblemen

in the capital, right?

I am considering telling the officials

how I conducted the research at your request.

Fine. Do as you wish. I am in a rush.

Do you not know?

This is not a simple matter.

They will say it was an illegal investigation

and try to eliminate Hwarang.

Then the Queen will be in trouble.

You little...

So...

what is it that you want?

Do not do that again.

Do you understand?

Now, I will have time...

I should go back in.

Here is the silver I borrowed.

We are even now,

so let's not see each other again.

Wait.

Why did you want me to teach you how to write?

You have strong connections that pass you

even if you submit a blank sheet.

I was inattentive to my brother because of you

and he failed because of it.

I should have helped him to the end.

You ruined it all.

Are you saying

you were thinking of me

and could not attend to your brother?

That is the most pleasant thing I have heard.

-I never said that. -I understand

you must have felt something

after what happened with me.

You must have felt something.

It is not about the kiss.

I felt sorry for you.

You looked like the loneliest person in the world.

I know because I was like that, too.

I know because I have been lonely.

That was all.

Although it will not happen again.

What must I do?

What must I do for you to look at me?

When I look at you, I feel like nothing.

It drives me mad.

-Stop joking-- -I forget about who I am

and what I should do.

I think only of you.

HWARANG HOUSE

May we enter today?

Do you know how many times it has been?

Call Master Wehwa!

Here.

Let us get a drink 30 years later.

What?

Master Wehwa, that...

Let's go.

There will be another chance.

-Master Young-shil. -I just wanted to see someone.

Please let us in next time.

Let's go.

This is not the only place with people I want to see.

It has been a while, Master Ahnji.

I heard you have found your son.

Congratulations.

I heard he is a Hwarang.

I heard that the Queen

chose him herself.

Your stomach is queasy

and your energy level is down.

You need to rest.

I will perform acupuncture for you.

I will give you a prescription.

Have your servant get the medication for you.

I am sure it is much better

than what I have.

They say a woman's jealousy

makes snow fall in the summer.

Much time has passed.

But resentment

does not fade.

You must know that very well.

I think...

we are looking at the same scenery.

Does Master Pervert really like me?

Well, he isn't bad.

He is Master Wehwa's nephew and is not poor.

He must have learned much from the West.

Objectively, he is not bad-looking.

What was that? And today of all days.

How could I be thinking about that?

-What day is today? -Oh, my gosh.

Well...

It is no special day.

Get home safely. Stay on wide roads.

Make sure you go with Pi Joo-ki.

I heard everyone failed.

So, don't be too disappointed.

Master Wehwa is strange for assigning that.

It's not your fault.

And from what I saw,

you did quite well.

I get it, so go.

Mother...

It is the anniversary.

Today is the anniversary of Mother's passing.

Do not worry. I have been doing well on my own.

She will be very happy to know we found you.

You have to stay here, so I will take care of it.

What is this? Is it a sprout?

It tastes good.

It tastes like Mom's cooking.

Why are you here?

I like this place,

and it's an even number. There are six of us.

I told you that you cannot survive here.

You have already failed once,

so our time together will come to an end soon.

Are you that proud about passing?

I think Dog-Bird's answer was the best.

What?

Everyone thinks so, too.

Am I wrong?

The anniversary of a death...

Is that very important?

Whose death?

She said it was our mother's.

You should go home, then. We finished our assignment.

It is the anniversary.

Today is the anniversary of Mother's passing.

This is a prison.

We finished the assignment. Why must I sleep with you?

Then leave.

You said it's like a prison.

You should go to your family, too.

I am warning you. Do not do anything stupid.

Do not make me suffer because of you.

What is your plan?

You would not do something stupid.

I've come up with an idea.

What could this be?

My mother gave it to me when I entered here.

It is a precious liquor from the West.

She told me to offer it to you.

Thank you.

It is the strongest liquor.

One drink, and your body grows weak.

Gosh, it's hot!

Two drinks, and you won't even recognize your family.

The strongest liquor.

Are you saying Hwarang House is unguarded right now?

Go if you wish to go. Stay if you wish to stay.

But you'd better go out

because we all will be blamed anyway.

Do you think this lunacy makes sense?

Tattle if you want.

That will be after we leave here, though.

What will you do?

I should go out.

I thought you had a reason to go.

What?

Did the liquor not work?

Did it not?

I gave him a bottle.

They cannot resist but drink it just by smelling it.

The liquor didn't work, and we are doomed.

Oh, my goodness.

What is that?

What did I say?

I said the liquor would work.

-Let's go. -Let's go.

Why these jerks!

Let's meet here at 3:00 a.m. and go in together.

-All right. -Let us go.

I almost had a heart attack.

Now, you roam at night.

Please don't play with bad influences.

You are the king after all...

Shut it and lead the way.

Where do you wish to go at this hour?

Home.

Your Highness, it's that flower again.

It doesn't bloom in the palace.

What are you doing?

I simply sat in my seat for a moment.

Do you think you have the power

to protect that seat?

No.

As you say,

I am too small...

and still weak.

I am glad you realized that.

Then leave Hwarang right away.

If you leave Hwarang and wait quietly,

I shall take care of the rest.

The more I wait,

the stronger you get.

A child cannot walk from the start.

The child must practice and fall

for his legs to grow stronger

and for him to be able to walk well.

No path started as a path.

Someone must walk on it for it to become a path.

You must pound and break the hard land

and pierce through it for the water to flow out.

I must practice walking...

in order to take the path of a king.

I will become stronger in Hwarang,

Mother.

We finally found Seon-u, whom we searched so much for...

but here, it's just the two of us again.

But at least we have found him...

so don't feel guilty toward Mother anymore.

Okay. I will not.

I have a question.

What happened to Seon-u?

When he first came here,

he was severely injured.

It was obvious he went through something huge,

but I felt bad asking him.

Of all the places,

I came here.

Please wait here. I will call a servant.

It is late. I don't need a servant.

Let's not draw attention.

Yes, Master.

He is so handsome.

-He is so handsome. -My gosh!

You wanted to get out so badly.

Why do you not seem happy to see the maidens?

They are all immature.

And they're all low-class.

He's so handsome.

-He is so cool. -Darn it.

He has lost his mind.

He left Hwarang House and is now wandering at this hour.

Gosh.

Is today the day?

The day I get back at him.

Be ready.

You will see what it feels like.

How does that feel?

You always choked me. This is what you get.

Isn't that your sister?

What?

Why are you doing this to me?

What? Did Master Ban-ryu

sexually assault Miss Soo-yun?

A Hwarang should not do that.

He openly grabbed her.

I...

I did what?

Actually,

-from the back-- -Step aside!

Step aside!

Ban-ryu!

Ban-ryu! What did you do to my sister?

Tell me. What did this jerk do to you?

No, that is not it.

You did that on purpose, knowing she is my sister.

Don't.

Let go.

Su-ho, the truth is...

Do not speak.

I will take care of everything.

Stay quiet.

Ban-ryu.

I will kill you tonight.

What is happening?

Where are they doing?

Oh, no.

What is going on?

I'm sorry.

Are you all right?

Are you really all right?

How did you get out?

I climbed the wall.

What?

Did you give up because you got one fail?

I did not give up.

I will go back before I get caught.

Then why did you bother coming out?

You said it was the anniversary of Mother's passing.

It's actually her birthday.

It's Mother's birthday.

I don't know the anniversary of her passing

because we don't know when she passed away.

It's nice to have a big brother.

So, I don't want to think about you getting in trouble later.

Because it's nice

having you next to me right now.

I miss Mother's scent.

On days like this,

she used to stroke my head.

The sound of the wind and birds was my lullaby.

Why? Was Mother not a good singer?

Seon-u.

Mother could not sing us lullabies

because she was a mute who could not speak.