Original subtitles

Lee Dong-wook

Jo Bo-ah

Kim Beom

Kim Jeong-nan Ahn Kil-kang

Hwang Hui Kim Yong-ji

Tale of the Nine-Tailed

So where are we going?

The place where the story of A-eum and me began and ended.

It's the forest I used to rule over.

My birthplace, my home, and my workplace.

Did you know the Joseon era had their own Valentine's Day?

On the day of the coming of spring,

couples used to exchange ginkgo nuts as their token of love.

Why ginkgo nuts?

A male and female ginkgo tree mate to bear fruit,

and they live long, for over a thousand years.

So you kept the Valentine's Day gift from your ex-girlfriend...

to this day?

No.

It was a farewell gift.

We broke up after she gave me these.

Here.

I'll protect you.

What?

You said a mountain deity protects the entire mountain.

Then someone should protect him, too.

Why would you do that?

Because I like you.

Who do you think you are?

What can you possibly do?

What's wrong?

Don't think you're special, just because I let you talk to me.

How ridiculous.

You can't be as powerful as I am.

What can you do to keep me safe?

You're merely a human.

Do you mean that?

I do.

So don't ever come back here.

But you didn't mean it.

I was afraid.

I thought an immortal like me...

shouldn't fall in love with a mortal human.

How were you two reunited?

Did you go find her?

I was the lord of this mountain,

bound to the very place I rule.

A mountain deity can't leave his forest.

What happens if you do?

I become weaker.

I can't yield my power as a deity.

I once went over the boundary...

as I chased after a group of tiger-devoured ghosts.

A thousand-year-old gumiho is here!

- A gumiho? - It's a gumiho!

- A gumiho! - Get that thing!

- He's over here! - It's a gumiho!

Over here.

It's a bloodstain!

- Over there! - Get him!

- Wait for me! - A gumiho!

Where is it?

He must've gone this way!

How indecent!

That way. Let's go that way.

Oh, dear. That's so indecent.

Go.

Your forest is down this road.

A-eum.

I never saw you here today.

Thank you.

I'll make sure I repay your kindness.

Chapter 10 Déjà Vu

I found you.

I'll come and get you very soon.

Just you wait.

What's so funny?

It seems the stage is finally completed.

- "Stage"? - I found out through the Darkness...

that Lee Yeon...

won't be able to kill the woman in this life.

So why does it have to be them?

It was mine to begin with.

His role as a deity and his place by that woman's side.

- Then... - I'll take his body, become a deity,

and take her as my bride.

Wow.

This place is mesmerizing.

Why don't you ask?

Why I repaid your kindness with evil,

or why I killed you in your past life?

On my way here, I found out...

there isn't just one version of the legend woven around this beautiful waterfall.

It's about a married couple who were deeply in love.

One ended with the husband's death,

and another, with the wife's death.

The tragic tale of the gumiho...

who had to kill his first love...

probably has another side of the story I don't know about.

A-eum.

- Why did you shoot me? - This woman's shell is rather useful.

I get to shoot as many arrows as I wish...

on the body of the impenetrable deity.

Serpent.

It's been a while, Yeon. I've been waiting for you for a long time.

- Where is A-eum? - Right here.

She let me use her body to save her father.

Come out of her body.

I forgot to tell you.

That's evening primrose picked from a graveyard.

I told you to come out of her.

- This woman is mine. - Come out!

Should I kill her and come out?

This woman means nothing to me.

No way.

You must've thought you used her to get to me.

You didn't think I used her as bait to awaken you?

Please spare my life.

I don't want to die.

You promised me.

You promised you won't change until the day I die.

Yeon.

No.

No.

A-eum.

Is that you?

Don't come closer.

It's you.

I killed...

everyone in the village.

I killed everyone.

It wasn't your fault.

Help me, Yeon.

Stop me from hurting more people.

Please stop me from hurting you.

Kill me.

It's all right.

I'm here for you.

Everything will be okay.

She's one persistent brat.

You can't cut me down or save her, can you?

I'm the one you want.

Take my body...

and let her go.

How touching.

I won't say it twice.

Will it be a deity's body, or hers?

Fine. I'll let the woman go.

However,

give me your heart.

I heard the spirit of a deity is in their hearts.

Cut it out.

A-eum.

You're listening, right?

Promise me one thing.

That you'll forget me.

Forget all about me,

and live long.

You don't have to be sorry...

or grateful to me.

My life was yours to begin with.

How dare you kill yourself?

A-eum.

Let go. I'm fine.

Yeon.

You asked me to forget you,

but I don't want to.

Don't forget me.

- What are you talking about? - If you see another woman,

I'll crawl out of my grave.

Let me go.

Repay my kindness, Yeon.

No.

Please kill me.

I promised, didn't I?

That I'll...

protect you.

A-eum.

Thank you, Yeon,

for keeping your promise to remember me.

And...

I'm sorry...

for making you wait so long.

That was very precious to you.

You aren't a shadow of my past.

I'll face you for who you are,

not as the reincarnation of A-eum.

You're back. I thought you died in the Forest of Agwi.

Whatever. I was thrilled.

Right now?

Do whatever you want.

Are you okay? Should I get Sin-ju again?

Don't make a fuss. It's nothing.

It's not because of the poison, right?

Your time has come.

I'm right, aren't I?

I lived a pretty long life for a half-fox.

Please just have the bladder cherry.

You can steal those human lives to live longer.

Yeon is on his way.

I'm going to tell him all about the serpent.

Only I know what he looks like.

What about you?

I never dreamed of having a future, anyway.

Don't. Please don't do that!

Why do you have to take things so far for him?

Don't say a word to Yeon.

Forget him.

Go ask the serpent to let you live.

Or tell me where he is.

I'll steal some bladder cherries for you.

Yu-ri.

Why do you cry for me?

It's frustrating.

What did I say?

Don't ever cry for anyone else.

Don't turn your life into a soap opera.

You told me to take, instead of getting taken from,

when we first met.

You said that while covered in the zookeeper's blood.

You told me to live that life.

I'm an impulsive guy.

Stop sniffling and get some naengmyeon.

- I'm craving some in Pyongyang style. - Darn you.

I want to return to those days.

I can't seem to remember the taste...

of those azaleas.

Hey.

What's on your mind? You look totally entranced.

I definitely remember seeing him somewhere.

- Who? - Ms. Nam's boyfriend.

If anything, you do have sharp eyes.

What were our recent stories?

The part-timer story. The cursed wedding ring.

- The haunted house... - Wait.

It's somewhere around then.

This is driving me insane.

- Who was it? - The red umbrella?

What are you talking about?

He's right.

The guy you met on that day was...

the guy with the red umbrella we've been looking for.

Why?

Aren't I the guest you were expecting?

Where did he go?

Lee Yeon?

Do you know me?

Where is Rang?

No idea. He was gone when I returned, and he won't pick up.

You have zero manners for your elders, so you must be her.

The necklace thief and the dog's mom.

The relationship of 99 points.

- What? - It's a thing.

Hey, it's Pyongyang-style naengmyeon.

That's for Mr. Lee. Don't eat it!

It'll taste bad if it gets soggy.

Darn it.

Goodness, you really don't look well.

Can you keep your distance?

You reek of rotting corpses.

It's the smell of death.

We lived much longer than we deserved. Both of us.

Want some?

No, thanks.

Will you give up your life for your petty pride?

Is it worth that much?

Do I look that desperate to save myself like you?

You don't.

You weren't like that, but you look full of regrets.

That's unlike you, Mr. Lee.

Let's keep it short.

Do you plan on defying our master?

Our master? No, your master.

You must be angry after the Darkness incident.

But it's just a misunderstanding.

He pushed me into the Forest of Agwi.

That was a misunderstanding?

He took things a bit too far while trying to catch Lee Yeon.

He wouldn't have left you there forever.

Bad news.

I can't deal with your lies anymore.

You know that, despite my condition,

ending your life is a piece of cake.

Wait. Wait a second.

This is odd.

Your master should've entered the scene by now.

Let me take a guess.

The serpent...

isn't home right now.

That was a good meal.

- What? - Get out of here. Get lost.

All he has is ice.

I guess he doesn't keep ice cream.

All he keeps is this rude imported fox.

I hate you.

I never asked.

Don't get near Mr. Lee.

- What if I do? - I'll kill you.

- Who do you think you are? - Ki Yu-ri.

- I never asked for an introduction. - You just asked me.

You don't look all that smart.

You two can communicate, right?

- I know him much better than you. - I wonder.

He only adds mustard to naengmyeon, not vinegar.

And he gets a rash if he eats crab.

He won't eat gimbap with cucumbers.

It's all about food.

But because of you, because of someone like you, he...

Don't say a word to Yeon.

What did he do?

Darn it. It's none of your business.

- You're laughing? - You can't kill me.

You shouldn't do that.

- What? - I saved you...

when you were dying after Lee Yeon cut you down.

You still owe me one.

Who are you?

Just a passerby. Your life seemed to be in danger.

Cut your bull.

You reek of rotting corpses.

I'm just a man who somehow lived quite a long life.

Why did you save me?

The reason isn't important.

Just repay my kindness.

There'll come a day.

You must stick to the rules.

A fox can't break away from a contract.

You brought back the serpent, thanks to me.

I did that.

All you did was put on a bit of a performance.

You wanted to use me from the start.

You knew Yeon is my brother.

What worth would a half-fox have otherwise?

Take the bladder cherry.

You must live to repay my kindness.

What do you want from me?

Hand over Lee Yeon. You have two days.

We need his body.

I should go.

Sure, go on. Get lost.

He pretended like he was the most tragic of all,

but it seems he wasn't all that unhappy.

If you're going to protect him, keep him safe to the end.

Give it to him.

It's for the naengmyeon.

What was that?

So let me sum it up.

The guy you're seeing right now is the suspect of the crime we've been after?

He's not the suspect. The culprit.

He's an ex-convict?

He was never indicted, but he committed a few more crimes of the same kind.

But you're still seeing him?

- Yes. - Why?

He waited for me to be reborn. He's my first love from my past life.

Past life is the story for our next episode.

Is it a figure of speech?

You like him so much that you feel that way.

Do you think it's a coincidence that the three of us met?

I think it's fate.

To heck with fate. Forget it.

Why are you telling us this?

You two may be exposed to danger.

Because you two are the closest to me,

in our past lives and this one.

Why do you keep bringing up that wretched past life?

You two are too educated for me to persuade you.

See for yourself.

What are these glasses?

It's the Tiger's Brows.

From the folk tale for kids?

That's right. Got a mirror?

Goodness.

Here.

Where are we going?

Somewhere very far from the palace.

Is it just you two?

We apologize, Your Highness.

We'll keep you safe to the end.

- Prepare our meal on one table now. - Pardon?

We aren't in the palace anymore. No one is watching us.

Forget the court's customs. Let's eat together.

- We can't do that. How...? - If you don't do that,

I'm not going to eat.

Your Highness!

Are you going out?

I'm going to get some air.

Don't follow me.

But don't go near the northern forest.

- Why not? - A thousand-year-old fox lives there.

Fox?

Your Highness,

have some fish.

Open up.

You have rice here.

Your Highness!

Ta-da.

You didn't have to.

Sit with us.

I'm fine.

- It's okay. Join us. - Sit down.

- Just sit. - Just sit. We'll make you look pretty.

It looks wonderful on you.

This was our past life?

Are we dreaming, or what?

I was just bewitched by something.

These aren't VR goggles, are they?

I can't believe it.

If we really had a past life,

I thought I'd be the princess, not you.

It's better than a eunuch.

Hey, I remember that little boy who called me "eunuch."

- Those are the same glasses. - No way.

We're all possessed by something after doing this show for too long.

Tell us. You didn't show us just to shock us.

Why did you show this to us?

A guy who's after my life...

is much closer than I expect.

He might be someone we already know.

Just as you two kept me safe in my past life,

I want to keep you safe, too.

Then what about your boyfriend? Who is he?

Want to come in?

Hi, you've never met a gumiho, have you?

Why? You don't believe me?

They were more shocked than I expected.

I knew it wouldn't be easy.

I get how they can't take it in.

Tell me if it goes wrong. I'll erase their memories.

Did you meet your brother?

No, it seems the serpent got ahead of me.

I see.

He used the Darkness to spy on us, so I'm sure he already knew...

that Rang will become a ticking bomb the moment he gets shaken.

Man, I thought we were about to get a lead.

Don't be disheartened.

I expected him to do that,

so I took preventive measures.

Where have you been?

I want to be alone.

Your body is...

Did you have a bladder cherry?

Please.

Just leave me alone.

That's for you.

Lee Yeon brought it.

This is unbelievable.

Yes, President.

What is it at this hour?

I'd like to ask you for a personal favor.

A personal favor? To me?

Just say the word.

All right. I'll come and see you tomorrow.

Yes, thank you.

Sleep tight.

Where is Ms. Nam? Isn't she eating?

She must've been tired. She fell asleep.

Is she staying here now?

Yes, it'll be safer here as a base camp.

Did you see him?

Not the serpent. But I saw a middle-aged man take Mr. Lee Rang.

He must be the one with the forehead tattoo.

We know where he lives, so that's good enough.

Make sure you be careful, too.

Okay.

Here, have some.

Why do I always get the drumstick?

Because it's the drumstick.

Thank you for the food!

Thanks for your hard work on this case and the Darkness case.

It's thanks to the Samdocheon elders.

That old lady never gives any information or things for free.

What'd she take? What were her terms?

I signed a slavery contract.

- What? - I'm going to sail a ship at Samdocheon.

I'll be driving the dead to hell.

People don't die early, so she needs help.

You have motion sickness.

I'm going to start working after I die.

Do you think dead foxes get seasick, too?

They do.

This is no good. Let's get you transferred.

I'll bribe the higher-ups.

I'm in your hands.

But I still have a while until I die.

Work things out with that necklace thief before you die.

She has a perfectly-good name. "Yu-ri."

Did you meet her?

Yes, she was more good-hearted than I expected.

You slept in.

Why are you so shocked?

You know me, right?

- Gosh, my stomach. - My tummy hurts.

- Want some coffee? - Make it quickly.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

I feel like I'm at a fancy café.

- Isn't it sweet? - It tastes like it's brewed by an expert.

It'd be great if life was as gentle as this coffee.

That's all I'd ask for.

Hey, about yesterday.

I've been looking everywhere for you.

Wrap it up and come to the office.

Come on!

This way. Come in.

Stop fussing over nothing...

Now say "hi" to him.

He's our new intern.

Nice to meet you.

How did you get in here?

That's my trade secret.

I looked everywhere. Where is it?

I don't know.

I haven't said what, and you already say you don't know.

That's what everyone says at first.

I really don't know.

Haven't you heard?

Everyone wants to spill their secrets when they see me.

What are you saying?

Look.

It's perfect weather to torture someone.

My name is Terry.

Terry, short for Terrius. Easy to remember, right?

You're 22, right?

He studied at a prestigious university in the U.S.

Who's your connection?

- Sorry? - Everyone who does an internship...

at TV stations has a connection.

Mr. Choi sounds like your agent, so it must be someone high up.

What are you talking about?

She's a bit feisty.

Careful. She's scarier on an empty stomach.

He isn't my dad. But my guardian is a big shot...

- in the same business. - He's in the media industry?

Yes.

I like that you're honest.

I'm Nam Ji-a.

See? That's much better, isn't it?

What a great first meeting.

Take good care of him, okay?

Okay, now. Hand over the materials I asked for.

Have we met somewhere before?

I'm not sure.

Why can't I hear anything?

He's more like a boss than an intern.

Unbelievable.

I can't believe anyone could have such perfect features.

If I get on the president's good side,

I'll become the youngest director ever.

He's finally begun to make a move.

The only way to prevent turmoil is...

Is sacrificing her the only way?

Honey.

Today is our wedding anniversary.

You forgot again? Do you even love me?!

You surprised me! Darn it!

What time is it?

Why won't you answer the phone?

And where have you been using my credit card?

I knew it. People never change.

Honey, what do you think I brought back for you?

Before I answer that, what do you think is behind me?

I don't know.

That hurts.

I told you not to go AWOL from your post.

I paid a lot for this.

Goodness. Look at your hair.

This isn't a nightclub!

I'd like to ask you for a favor.

I'm going to do everything I possibly can...

to save my life and hers.

What can I do for you?

First, please open up Granny's heart.

That old woman's heart?

She must know a way...

to get rid of the serpent.

She was awfully worried as soon as it awoke.

If she knew, she would've done it.

It might be something involving breaking the taboo.

Do I have something on my head?

- No. - No.

- Say what you want to say. - Hey.

Are you really human?

How can you be so calm after seeing that?

What did you see?

- Nothing. - Jae-hwan, are you getting fresh with me?

It really isn't a big deal.

If it isn't, then tell me. What is it?

Did you see this breaking news?

Breaking news?

A mummy was found at a construction site.

A mummy in Korea, not Egypt?

Terry, let me see that for a second.

Thanks.

Geumran-gu.

This sounds interesting. It's a great story.

Hey, Jae-hwan. Get on it.

- I have an interview in an hour. - Get me a camera.

- I'll go. - Sure.

May I tag along?

Listen up, intern.

This isn't a field study. It's a real case.

This may be a line on your résumé, but we do this for a living.

If you get in my way on the field...

Fire me.

I'll check the camera.

Where did you learn that?

I studied on my own, but I'm not sure if I'll be any use.

Can you shoot?

- Sure. - Even a dead body?

- I have to get the body on camera? - Yes.

To be honest, I'm not sure.

Why not?

The deceased wouldn't want that.

What do you mean?

No matter what it's for,

if my death was shown to the public through a camera,

it'd make me a little sad.

- You're good enough to take up a camera. - Sorry?

I believe those who get curious when they're faced with someone's death...

shouldn't take up a camera.

Does this mean I passed?

You passed.

- Why do you laugh? - I have a good feeling.

About what?

You, Ms. Nam.

Are you looking for a cat? A female Russian Blue?

Look behind the restrooms at Subyeon Park.

I heard it from the stray cats, so I'm sure.

You can transfer the reward of $200 to my bank...

Hello?

Darn it.

What brings you here, Yu-ri?

I wanted a drink, but couldn't find an open bar.

A drink?

If you don't want to, it's fine.

What are you doing?

Anastasia waited for you.

Don't get so friendly.

- Why are you chuckling? - He said he wants some,

the beef jerky you got.

You're one sharp dog.

I'll give you jerky for dogs.

Hey, Yeon, it's you.

It seems that kid is in a foul mood.

Wanted: Lee Rang

Look who's here.

I have a question.

Let me ask you one first.

You.

What do you take me for?

What do you mean?

Answer my question.

The lord of the Samdocheon River, the boundary between two worlds.

You use your clairvoyance to discern good or evil...

Wrong.

When was it?

This is what Yeon said when I asked him the same question.

"I hope you get rheumatism."

Show yourself.

Darn it.

Did you really think you could trick me?

I thought it might work.

You only took after your brother's worst side.

He never disguises himself.

He thinks it's undignified.

Disguise or not, they're both jerks' faces.

But I wonder.

Why did this sinful fox...

willingly show up at death's doorstep?

Should I send you to hell?

Let me off today.

I already booked for first-class, no?

Hey!

You punk.

Hell isn't a restaurant where you can come and go as you please!

I'm not scared of hell.

It wouldn't be scary if you go hand-in-hand with your brother.

Why? Isn't that what you wanted for those long years?

Murdering your own brother.

Indeed. You really do know everything.

Now that it's come to this, I'll be frank with you.

I wish to break the contract.

Why did you save me?

Just return my kindness one day.

Hand over Lee Yeon. You have two days.

We need his body.

Long ago, the Almighty gave you foxes...

more power than any humans have,

but you were also put under a restriction.

It was to prevent arrogant foxes like you...

from trampling and murdering mankind.

I don't care what you say to me...

if there's a way.

It's not impossible.

What is it?

Die.

As long as you're alive,

foxes are bound to their contract.

Don't try to break off your contract.

Unwind the tangle first.

- What? - Remember.

All contracts involve an exchange.

I'm scared that Mr. Lee might die.

I don't have friends or family.

I don't have anyone.

What do you mean? You have Anastasia and me...

If it hadn't been for him, I would've died...

in that illegal zoo.

I couldn't sleep by day with kids banging on the window,

and I was too itchy to sleep at night because of wild ticks.

I kept losing my hair, had to eat awful food,

and the zookeeper kept beating me.

What? Where is this place?

I'll go crush that zookeeper into ashes.

How can he beat you up?

Are you drunk?

What?

Sorry.

It's nothing to be sorry for.

I like that side of you better.

- Really? - Yes.

People used to call me the "Lunatic Fox."

I was called "crazy."

Really? You?

I lost three of my baby sisters in traps,

then completely lost my nerve.

Elaborate.

I bewitched everyone including hunters,

woodsmen, salt merchants, and so on.

And several people died...

because they got scared out of their mind.

You were a bigger scumbag than me.

The deity of my mountain got furious,

so I ran from him, and found myself in Mr. Lee Yeon's forest.

And?

My deity screamed at him in anger, demanding that he give me up,

then Mr. Lee said this.

What are you screaming for?

No. Everything that comes into my forest is mine.

That's when I made my decision.

I belong to Mr. Lee Yeon now.

That's why I learned the art of medicine,

- and I... - Come to bed with me.

- What? - Come to bed with me.

I especially love your ragged history.

Wait, there are stages in expressing your feelings.

For example, asking someone out first.

Or you know, something like, "This is our first day as a couple."

Let's skip the intro.

Sin-ju's Animal Hospital

I've never seen a stranger corpse than this one.

I had nightmares all night long, and barely got any rest.

- Is this a real mummy? - See for yourself.

Hey, don't get it on camera, okay?

You couldn't identify her because of her dry fingerprints.

If you want any informers, we need to know the details.

I never show anything without police consent.

The mass disappearance of the island...

Okay, fine.

Did she lose all her blood?

She's like an old tree deprived of sap.

There's no visible injury.

At a construction site?

The workers there found her.

She was barely hidden.

They wanted to show her...

instead of hiding her?

What if she died a natural death?

The construction was shut down for a while,

so she could've died alone and dried up.

A natural mummy was found in Gyeonggi Province back in 2002.

I remember. Lady Yoon of the Papyeong clan.

Lady Yoon had been buried...

in a tomb as thick as concrete.

The tomb cut off the airflow,

so her body wasn't decomposed, thanks to the vacuum.

But she was left at room temperature at a construction site.

It's impossible.

Then are you saying someone mummified her on purpose?

What are you looking at?

I think I've seen it before.

Her nail tips.

Detective Baek, I have to go.

All of a sudden?

Please pass on anything else to this guy.

Hey, Ji-a!

Do you know the woman who had these nails?

Did you see her, too?

That corpse only left with flabby skin.

Wasn't it marvelous?

Sir,

what are you?

What do I look like to you?

Seogyeong

The rebel of Seogyeong.

There was a trace of a mukhyeong on his forehead.

"Seo" as in "west," "gyeong" as in "capital."

You took my mom and dad!

It's the carnation I made.

Flip it over.

Ji-a, why won't you come and save us?

They're alive?

Where are they?

Give me the deity.

Then I'll return your parents.

You. I told you to wait for me, didn't I?

Ji-a, why won't you come and save us?

You're still the same.

Still very arrogant.

Do you think you're above everyone else?

At the very least, you're under me.

I'd love to trample you.

Your brother, your woman,

and her parents' lives are all in my hands.

What do you have?

Let me make a fair offer.

Lee Yeon, if you give me your body, I'll spare everyone.

Tale of the Nine-Tailed

Your woman and her parents' lives are...

all in my hands.

Is there a way to get rid of that thing in Ji-a's body?

I'm a little scared.

I want to kill him.

What do I mean to you?

You've been abandoned again.

I want to live.

Since we're on the topic, will you die for me?

I'm going to put an end to this tiresome fight.