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

The Book of the Dead

Name: Nam Ji-a Birth: March 3, 1991

Death: Today

Chapter 14

Yeon.

Yes, it's me.

I'm sorry.

My body wouldn't move as I like...

on my way to the inner room.

It's all right. You've held out just fine.

I can still feel...

how it's creeping around in my head.

Let's hurry.

I want to remain myself...

in the last moments of my life.

So I can...

stick with you.

Let's finish this.

Let's put an end...

to this tiring fight.

Hey, are you okay?

Let's go.

Why?

Why do you do this?

What?

Do you enjoy making a mess of the world?

Is that it?

No.

To be honest, reading books is much more fun.

Then why are you doing this?

I want Lee Yeon to die.

He's not just going to die, even if you do this.

That's exactly why.

He never gets tired and keeps coming at me.

He keeps trying to defy his fate.

There's no turning back now.

He and I both have already crossed the line.

Mr. Lee!

Are you hurt?

Not really.

Okay. Then it's time for you to get hurt.

How dare you trick me?

This was the only way.

Shut up.

You should've known, when he gathered us to tell us the strategy.

Like you knew.

If he had the sword,

he wouldn't have talked so much.

He would've started swinging first.

What did you say?

Mr. Lee is a man of action,

or something like that.

So did you find the answer you were looking for?

Well, sort of.

What was the answer?

- The key. - What key?

The key it needs to get in and out of its vessels.

Then can we drag it out of Ms. Nam?

That's not good enough.

Sorry?

I'm going to bury it for good,

so it'll never come back.

Stop right there.

Don't you hear me?

You'll lose everything once you walk out that door.

I'll make sure of it!

What do I have?

Position as lord of Samdocheon, powers to rival a deity,

and eternal life, I gave it all to you!

That's not what I want.

I want my wife and son.

Honey.

Living an eternity with you...

is my biggest punishment.

Stop right there.

I said, stop right there!

Goodness.

- Mr. Choi. - Yes?

Did anything happen?

Are you okay?

What did Mr. Choi say?

A police officer died.

- What's the cause? - He had a heart attack.

But when Mr. Choi did CPR,

he saw weird spots covering his entire body.

Also, he vomited an egg.

An egg?

Don't tell me they're with Mr. Choi right now.

Where are you?

How can something so awful happen to me at this age?

I saw a man die right in front of my eyes.

- It was right in my face! - We told you not to...

Get away from him right now.

Okay.

Did Mr. Choi go to the police station?

Yes. He gave first aid to the deceased.

Is everything okay?

For now.

You need to see this.

Dead Bodies Covered in Spots

An Outbreak of Mysterious Deaths

The death toll is spiking exponentially.

I need to go out for a bit.

Where?

You can go home now.

But don't go alone. Go with them.

Yeon, you must hurry.

The old woman changed Ji-a's death date.

Traditional Korean Cuisine Snail Bride

What's wrong?

Everything is unfolding just as he warned.

What did he say?

He'll spread an epidemic,

and kill everyone dear to me.

Wait, my mom and dad.

I'll go. Please go home as Mr. Lee said.

- But... - Don't worry.

Mr. Lee Rang, please.

Say, "Please escort me home."

- Over my dead body. - Then die.

It's not on me if the serpent takes you.

You're both on the same boat to me.

Don't you think that applies to you?

The female serpent.

Let's go our separate ways.

As you wish.

What a tough cookie.

What does Yeon see in her?

What? What's going on?

This...

Mr. Hyeonuiong?

Thank goodness.

I got here just in time.

My dear, are you hurt?

I'm fine.

The ones from Samdocheon have begun to make a move.

I'm relieved.

It seems things will get serious very soon.

Granny.

Choose the words you blurt out of your mouth very carefully.

I'm just as lousy as you are now.

Did you tamper with the book?

Did you choose to make me your enemy?

Did you really choose the path...

that you'll never forgive yourself for?

No matter what you say, I won't revoke what I wrote down in the book.

That's...

what I've chosen.

Why is it Ji-a over the one who caused this plague?!

Were you able to slay it with a sword?

My sword doesn't kill you.

What's inside the girl is the problem.

You have to catch that to cut down the one outside.

To do that,

the girl must die.

I'll say it one last time.

Put everything back to its place.

This is the rightful place.

This is how we end this.

No.

No one can...

take Ji-a away.

I don't care if it's you, Granny.

It's already out of your hands.

Come.

That means until I die,

things like that car accident will keep happening.

I'm glad I said "goodbye" to Mom and Dad.

I'm sorry.

Why should you be sorry?

You saved my life.

I tried my best to stop her,

but this was all I could do.

Where is Yeon?

He went to settle this with her.

Will he be okay?

I'm not sure.

She's never changed her mind...

when it comes to something she thinks is right.

Yeon knows that, too.

Then because of me, he...

He's putting everything he has on the line right now.

I'll pay with my life.

Give me three days.

If I don't catch that thing in three days,

slay me.

I can't do that.

He's already out of control.

I have its scale.

- It's too late. - I can catch it. I can catch the serpent!

How many lives do you think it'll take in the next three days?

Who can say their lives are less worthy than the one you wish to protect?

Let her live.

Please don't kill her.

I'll do anything.

I'll do whatever you tell me.

Grab the sword instead.

Stop acting like an idiot. Just be yourself and fight me!

Please.

Yeon.

I wouldn't have started this if I could undo it.

How could you do this to me?

I lost my son and my husband.

I can always lose you, too.

You'll regret this,

Granny.

Where did it all go wrong?

If it weren't for me,

Yeon would've been living his life as a mountain deity to this day.

No.

If I hadn't been born at all...

Dear, it's not your fault.

Why do you despise yourself,

and try so hard to deny your relationships?

I feel like it's all my fault.

We immortals are just like you.

We all live our lives leaning on certain memories.

For me, it was the son I lost.

For Snail Bride, it's her loving husband.

And Yeon could go on because of you.

The serpent said...

I'll end up...

killing Yeon with my own hands.

That's why you two are putting up a fight to protect each other.

Both you and Yeon.

Either way, it's a dead end.

Darn it. This thing doesn't light up.

You said you were going to quit.

I tried just about everything to quit smoking.

I tried taking eundan, nicotine patches, and chewing gum.

There's even medicine these days.

What I'm saying is I couldn't quit, even after all that fuss.

What are you saying?

What if nothing changes, no matter how much you struggle?

What if only one of you can live?

So nothing will...

change in the end.

Want me to blow on it?

This is already on you.

Or do you want this car?

Gosh, there's no point in talking to you.

And you,

do something about that runny nose around me.

I have a weak stomach.

How long have you been wearing that? Did you even wash it?

Run to the store and get new clothes.

I'm highly concerned about my hygiene.

I'm going to the bathroom.

Hey, why are these stickers on me?

I'll kill you when I get out!

The weather is nice.

It's very sunny.

Here's your coffee.

This tree has grown a lot.

You're right. It grew up so well.

So what's on your mind?

As all these years passed by,

where in the world were we?

Tell me about it.

Apparently, we've been missing for a long time. Isn't it odd?

All I remember is being asleep.

It's weird we don't have any bedsores.

And Ji-a looks anxious, for some reason.

I thought of Ieo Island's legend.

Ieo Island?

A fisherman accidentally drifted into a fantasy island,

and when he returned,

a hundred years had passed.

But I'm grateful Ji-a grew up well, just like that tree.

Is this all we have?

It's delicious.

I want some naengmyeon.

Yu-ri.

When is she coming back?

I'm thinking about a good time to bring her back.

Why do you only think about it?

Once I've thought it through,

Yeon will end up losing something.

It's been 600 years.

I'm going to put an end to this tiresome fight once and for all.

What if you fail?

Rang.

That's why I need you.

If anything happens to me,

I want you to finish this.

I want you to be my final weapon.

I refuse.

I don't care if the serpent destroys this world or kills your woman.

We want to protect different things.

- Rang. - You can protect her.

I'll get Yu-ri back,

and save you.

Why are you laughing?

I don't think I'm cut out to be a good kid.

I'm leaving.

Keep the house safe, Geomdoong.

Why do you call me "Geomdoong"?

Si-yeong.

Why, hello.

What brings you here at this hour?

I came to have some samgyetang.

By the way, are you feeling okay?

What are you talking about?

I may look weak, but I do 200 squats a day.

Do you want to see my thighs?

Come on. Take a seat.

Sure.

Si-yeong.

Seven police officers were hospitalized just this morning.

What about Mr. Choi?

You already saw how he's totally fine.

I keep telling him to see a doctor, but he won't listen.

If he's fine,

shouldn't we be fine, too?

Let's worry about editing first.

Come along.

Goodness.

I'm sorry to bother you before you're open.

I've been feeling queasy all morning, but I feel so much better now.

What's wrong?

Why do you look so pale?

Do I have a fever?

Not at all. Goodness, you're so cold.

Give me your hand.

Your hand is cold, too.

How can a person turn this cold?

It's a snake egg.

He's asleep again.

Time to wake up.

Sir, time to wake up.

Sir?

Director?

What's going on?

He's dead.

Hey, call 119 now.

I'll get help.

What? Dead?

Everyone on our floor?

One second.

Breaking news. There's been an outbreak of mysterious deaths all over Seoul.

It's been two days since the first death from a hospital in Geumran-gu.

The authorities presume this is caused by an unknown disease...

that's highly lethal and highly contagious.

The victims were covered with red spots all over their body.

The autopsy result of the first victim showed...

serious damage on the inside, like his organs were...

mutilated by an animal.

Kim, a 32-year-old man, didn't have any pre-existing conditions...

What do you think?

It's tacky.

It's not my style.

Then it must be fine.

Where are you going?

To get a cup of tea.

To celebrate, I'll let you see him.

- See him? - Your boyfriend.

You can go see him.

Yu-ri.

Yu-ri, are you okay?

I need to see you now.

Now?

Where?

I'll go to you.

Come out.

I know you're hiding inside me.

Come out.

If you don't come out in three...

I'll kill myself.

One.

Two.

Three.

You crazy broad.

You're just a shell. How dare you summon me?

"A shell"?

You live in someone else's body without paying rent.

Stop acting like you're the landlord.

There'll be a new owner soon,

in a day or two.

Your body will soon be completely mine.

That's longer than I expected.

Why?

The Fox Marble disappeared a long time ago.

It's just an aftereffect.

That marble made me sleep too long.

Say your goodbyes in advance.

Once I take over,

the one who'll be trapped and asleep forever...

will be you.

That means until that time,

you're incomplete.

Darn it. What can you do, anyway?

What if I died before then?

You could never do that.

When humans have...

something they want to protect, they can do anything.

They can end up doing something crazy.

Help!

What's wrong?

- Miss! - Get up!

What's wrong?

Is anybody around? Someone call 119!

Is anyone there? What do I do?

Listen to this brat.

That's all.

You can go back inside.

That's all I wanted to know.

Girl.

Lee Yeon will be doomed because of you.

He'll never give up on you.

If you have time to be concerned about my love life,

look after your other half.

He couldn't get over his broken heart,

and seems to want to drag both of us to hell.

He wouldn't do that.

My death date was changed.

Do you think he didn't know the lady of Samdocheon would do this...

if he massacred innocent people?

Are you in there?

Yes, I'll be out in a second.

Yu-ri.

Are you all right? Let me see you.

I'm not hurt.

That's a relief.

I was worried to death.

How did you get here?

Did you run away?

Why didn't you tell me it was the serpent?

Where is Mr. Lee Rang?

He's up.

He won't say it, but he's very worried about you.

I'm relieved.

Let's go.

Mr. Lee will be thrilled...

We can't.

What?

We can't go.

Neither of us.

What do you mean?

I'm holding you down and stalling right now.

What do you...?

No.

Let me go.

I already said we can't go.

To celebrate, I'll let you see him.

Your boyfriend.

You can go see him.

Why should I do as you say?

Because if I see Sin-ju today,

he'll die.

Hey, Dad.

Hey, Ji-a. Where are you?

I'm away. Why?

A friend of yours came to see you.

My friend? Who?

I told you not to let anyone in.

No, it's because I know him.

Mom or you wouldn't know anybody.

Is it Yeon?

No, the fair-skinned young man I told you about.

The carnation.

What?

I told you.

I won't be nice to you anymore.

I won't let you do this.

If you hurt my parents, I'll...

Don't fight against your fate.

I can destroy everything you care about.

Who are you? You aren't her friend, are you?

No, Mom.

Don't do that!

I want to hang myself.

No!

You can't go out.

No, I have to go.

My parents are in danger. Please.

No.

Go to sleep.

How did you know I was here?

I just came back from Samdocheon.

It was the old woman's clairvoyance.

She changed Ji-a's death date,

thanks to that plague you spread.

She's still alive.

I just got off the phone with her.

Lord Hyeonuiong is protecting her for me.

Well, that won't last too long.

You said you were just there. Why didn't you beg her for her life?

I've begged enough.

It didn't work.

Once Ji-a dies,

your other half that's in her won't be safe, either.

So?

What do you really want?

Do you want to guess?

Your existence itself is destitution,

back when you were a human child, and even now.

You're so cursed,

it feels like the Almighty wanted to mess with your life.

That's the serpent.

Are you picking a fight?

No, it's the contrary.

What?

What if there's a better way to make up for your neediness...

than obsessing over Ji-a or me?

What if you took over a position that a lowly mountain deity...

wouldn't even dream of?

Try to make some sense.

The deity of deities.

No way.

I'm talking about the lord of Samdocheon.

Let's take down the lord of Samdocheon together.

That's new.

It's unexpected.

I can't believe you decided to betray that old lady.

If I can save Ji-a,

I can do anything.

So you're going to join hands with me?

Of course, even if it means I must team up with the likes of you.

What's the condition?

Let Ji-a go.

Take back your other half that's in her,

and don't ever look for us again.

That's my only condition.

Would you believe this isn't a trap?

I wouldn't if I were you.

What?

Then try to guess.

What do you think I'll say?

"No" is what you'd like to say,

but you'll end up accepting my offer.

What makes you so confident?

We're both at a dead end.

If you don't accept my offer,

you'll lose your other half,

and I'll lose Ji-a.

Then we'll both end up going to hell after a bloody fight.

That's all I've wanted since my last date with her.

Call me if you change your mind.

You have until sunrise tomorrow.

You knew the serpent went to kill them,

but you're holding me down? Why?

Did he threaten you?

Or were you mind-controlled, like when you stabbed Mr. Lee Rang?

- It's neither. - Then why?

Why did you do that?

Who cares about those petty humans?

"Those petty humans"?

I thought you came to see me.

I was worried sick about you!

But...

I was nothing but bait.

You took advantage of me.

- Sin-ju... - Stop.

If you say another word,

for the first time, I might regret loving you.

You must've been worried. They're both fine.

I erased their memories, too.

They won't even remember having met the serpent.

Thank you, Yeon.

It's all my fault. I was away.

It's not your fault.

I know you've been protecting my parents.

Thank you, sir, for protecting Ji-a in my place.

What are you going to do now?

I'll work with the serpent.

What?

What do you mean?

Because of my old woman?

Yes.

So she...

ended up letting go of you.

She gave me a chance. Another chance to fight.

Can you be more specific?

We got two more days.

You'll be safe in the meantime.

Then I'll be...

Of course. Why would you die?

I'm still here guarding you.

Then you're working with him to...

Of course, that's what it is.

I knew it, Mr. Lee.

- What was her condition? - Nothing.

I just have to bring in the serpent.

- Yeon. - Later.

I'll tell you the details later.

I'm going out to eat with Ji-a.

I'll get changed.

What if the ending won't change,

no matter how hard you try?

What if...

only one of you can live?

So the ending...

won't change.

Then I don't even need to think about it.

What's your plan?

I'll eat...

this thing.

I'll take the serpent in Ji-a in my body,

take the other half, then jump...

into the Samdocheon.

I'll make sure he never comes back to life.

If you jump in there yourself, you...

I know.

I won't be allowed to be reborn,

and I'll never go back to be with Ji-a.

I'm sorry to cause you trouble.

I could've gone to the hospital.

They couldn't help you.

This disease isn't what you people think it is.

It's very cold.

Hang in there.

This terrible fight will end soon.

So until then, hang in there.

I knew it.

Hye-ja, you aren't an ordinary person, are you?

Goodness, my lord.

I was wondering why you were closed today.

I'm sorry.

My goodness.

Come on out.

I...

Did you bring him here, knowing who he was?

What in the world are you talking about?

He's your husband.

What?

He's your husband from the past life, the man you never got over.

Is anybody there?

Hey! Someone's dying here!

Darn it. Darn it!

Are you okay?

- Goodness, you have spots all over. - Detective.

Get me to a hospital.

It's no use.

It'll only postpone death. The mortality rate is 100%.

Goodness.

What happened to you?

Wait.

Since when did detectives...

put on shoes that don't have a speck of dust?

Man, this darned dress code.

Who sent you?

Was it Yeon? Or...

What does it matter, on the brink of death?

I'm sure you aren't here to watch me die.

I like doing that a lot.

Look, I even brought popcorn.

I even take tours of funeral halls.

What do you want? Tell me.

You're dying.

How dare you try to make a deal?

Are you still stuck in the past when you had that serpent behind you?

Once the serpent dies,

this wretched sickness will also disappear, right?

Probably.

Get me out of here.

Why should I?

I've served him much longer than you realize.

Which means no one knows him better than I do.

So?

Are you trying to talk your way out of this?

And get well for free?

No, thanks.

I'm not such a good fighter, and I hate getting scars.

I get what you mean.

That's why you're here.

You don't want blood on your hands.

He ran away!

Who?

The serial-murder suspect.

Who let him out?

Well, the CCTV shows...

What? Why can't you say it?

It was you.

What?

Gopbun's Grilled Tripe

Let me take your order.

Yes, an order of grilled tripe set and a bottle of soju.

And lots of cheese.

Sure.

- Enjoy your meal. - Thank you.

That's a lot of cheese.

What?

You're so pretty.

Gosh.

Promise me.

What promise?

Let's return on the day of the first snow.

Okay.

And you'll spend Christmas with me.

We'll return to the beach where we went together.

Okay.

Also, on New Year's Day,

come to my house and have rice-cake soup with my parents.

And on my birthday...

What do you want?

Okay, I'll buy it for you.

And what must you do to keep all these promises?

I need to live a long life.

Cheers.

What is this?

- Did someone force you? - Why didn't you say it was your birthday?

People don't remember lunar birthdays these days.

Only their moms would.

It smells good.

I have two tropical fish in my apartment.

Do they have names?

Deok-bae and Chun-sam.

Both are of the Gyeongju Kim clan.

I promised to buy them a huge tank once I get paid this month.

Will you adopt them from me?

You need to make a wish first.

I want to eat cake from Jae-hwan again on my next birthday.

That was the last.

This might be...

the last bottle of soju we'll drink together.

I'll drink it little by little.

Why would you say that?

Earlier, the half inside my body said...

I have only two days at max.

After two days,

I'll become an empty shell.

That won't happen.

Won't everything be okay if I disappear?

Once I die, the serpent will be gone.

Then no one I love, including my family, friends, and you,

will be hurt anymore.

Don't ever think like that again.

But you know,

if that happens,

how will you live once I leave you?

Then...

I'll live a long time blaming myself,

thinking, "I failed to protect you again."

I feel the same way.

I don't think I can live a good life without you.

That's why we have to protect each other.

Let's never give the serpent what he wants.

Hey, Jae-hwan.

What?

I told you not to come.

Why are you here?

How did this happen to you?

How?

Don't touch me.

It's contagious.

Let's not see each other's ugly faces again.

I didn't think this would be our farewell.

I know. You should've died by my hands.

Now that it's come to this, try your best to survive.

You just made up with your brother.

Can you handle the consequences?

No.

Yeon will never forgive me.

I might never see him again.

It's still better than him dying.

That's enough.

People who live a sad life like you never have a happy ending.

The bladder cherries are gone, and I only have one human life left.

Don't curse me.

I'll use all my money before I die.

Bye.

You can protect her.

I'll get Yu-ri back and save you.

How could I not recognize him?

He kept bothering me, so I gave him such a tough time.

He must've known you missed him a lot, then came to find you here.

What's the point?

I finally found him again, but look at how he's doing.

This is too much. Seriously.

Do you think it's a coincidence?

What?

These complicated relationships...

all began to gather in one place around Yeon and that girl,

the woman from the past life,

his family, friends, and...

enemy.

I feel uneasy.

It feels like...

something we can't handle might begin to unravel.

You should stay here for a while. Stay with me.

Hey, send him away.

Don't stay. You might catch it.

I would've already caught it.

Maybe it's a latent period.

Come on. Beat him up.

I still won't leave.

I'll protect you. You'll need a caretaker.

I'm going to talk to him for a minute. Keep an eye on her.

How is Mr. Choi?

He coughed up an egg, but he didn't get any better.

What's with the egg?

There's a baby snake in there.

That's what eats people up.

I can't bear to see her die.

Never.

Everything will be over soon.

I just need him to take my bait. Then...

So until then, hang in there a little longer.

Give me a little more time.

Let's take down the lord of Samdocheon together.

Call me if you change your mind.

You have until sunrise tomorrow.

Just one more bite.

I'm finished.

Ms. Kim.

- Ms. Kim. - Ms. Kim!

Ms. Kim.

Fine.

Let's take down the lord of Samdocheon together.

Yeon and the serpent?

You must be kidding.

No.

Sorry?

He's committing suicide.

That idiot is...

going to kill himself with the serpent.

Lee Yeon, you'll fall into your own trap.

And now we're up on the same stage.

It's a stage...

we can't come down from until we're both dead.

What are you doing here?

You have to die for me to survive.

I'm going to end everything myself.

Don't do this.

If you do this, you'll...

Goodbye.

What?

There was no rain in the forecast.

When did you get here?

As soon as the unexpected shower fell.

To take me home?

I don't want you to get wet.

What about work? Are you all done?

It was an easy video, so I edited everything quickly.

Who in the world is trying to ruin Ji-a's reunion?

It's Mr. Choi.

- And me. - What?

I didn't drive today.

You're right. You left your car.

Your house is only 20 minutes away.

We don't have time to go on dates because of your parents.

Buy me a bowl of ramen.

Then I'll let you go.

Okay.

Isn't this too little?

It is. We're way short.

I said we should get two.

Do you know the two conditions that make ramen delicious?

One is kimchi. What's the other?

Someone who steals a bite.

I'll help you make it delicious.

You eat so well.

I want some soup, but I'll pass.

Why?

I might crave soju.

I knew you were smart.

Did you know it reaches 130 feet if you line up the noodles?

That's the height of 13 stories.

Are you showing off your trivia?

I don't even want to be half a bag of ramen away from you.

Is that sweet talk with ramen?

You're always cute, aren't you?

I've been known for being cute since my Mt. Baekdu days.

I am.

My parents are waiting for me at home.

And I have you in front of me.

All my hopes and dreams came true.

Who'll make your dreams come true?

How would it feel to live as a human?

I don't care if you're a human, or a gumiho.

We're here together now.

Tale of the Nine-Tailed

If I don't stop her,

she'll try to protect me again, instead of herself.

Don't do this.

You have to understand me.

I'm going to wait for you.

Just as you waited for me.

This is hell,

where I'm standing right now.

Do you know what it means?

If I fail, you kill me.

If anything happens to Yeon...

How did you...?

This was your plan all along.

No.

- I can't do this. - No!