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

Chapter 15 The Destiny that is You

Let me ask you a question.

Why did you decide...

to work with me?

It's probably the same reason as you.

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.

This is exactly why Ji-a warned you.

You shouldn't have done this.

You're not Ji-a.

You don't even recognize your master?

What a scumbag.

- I let you go, then you dare to do this? - A scumbag?

I had no reason...

to stick around other than the bladder cherries.

To be honest, you really disgust me.

You're the definition of inferiority who is neither deity nor human.

You talk too much.

You've lived too long.

Go and die.

Your family must be waiting.

Dad! Dad!

When was that?

I used to have something I wanted to protect with my life.

Dad, where have you been?

What did you get? Dad?

My children, my wife, and my mother.

Dad.

I don't even remember their faces anymore.

Darn it.

Did you see that?

This is strange.

Those who filled my cup...

were always those who begged me for more time...

to live longer.

"Just one more day. Just one more year."

Don't brag so much about having no friends.

I don't trust anyone.

It sounds more like you couldn't be trusted by anyone.

It means I have nothing to protect.

That's what made me stronger than you.

I'm stronger than you...

because I have something to protect.

Really?

Something must've happened with Ji-a.

My other half woke up again.

What?

Sit down.

If you leave before I finish this,

you can forget about our alliance.

This is my only chance to drag him down to Samdocheon.

Am I going to give up this chance to go help Ji-a? Or...

Don't worry.

That thing only comes out when it feels threatened,

like when it sees blood.

It's highly prone to protect itself.

Nothing bad will happen,

at least to Ji-a.

This is the difference between us.

I'm not sure. You also have something...

you'd die to protect.

What about that thing inside Ji-a?

Rumor has it that, if it dies, you'll be pretty worthless.

You put some thought into it,

but why did you hide...

something so important in my lover, and cause this trouble?

You took one of its scales.

- And you want it back? - Will you?

- If you return Ji-a. - We attack Taluipa first.

Don't...

Don't come any closer!

Don't come.

I came closer.

What will you do?

Will you kill me?

If I die, Ji-a dies, too.

Do you want to try?

Do you think...

I won't?

As you've seen, you get one chance.

If you miss, it'll be my turn.

Now I'm going to count to three.

Make your decision.

One.

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

I think it's fate.

Two.

A guy who's after my life is much closer than I expect.

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

I want to keep you safe, too.

Three.

Man, I knew it.

Nam Ji-a!

Wake up, you brat.

Why are your hands so bloody?

Your cute outfit is all ruined.

Ms. Kim?

Yes, it's me.

Do you recognize us now?

Jae-hwan.

I'm fine.

I'm not hurt.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

It's okay.

We're all safe. That's all that matters.

It's okay. It's all right.

Oh, no.

No.

It's okay.

How are we going to catch that old woman?

What do you know about her?

That she can simply blink,

and turn any mountain deity to stone.

And she can see 1000 ri ahead with those eyes.

About her clairvoyance...

How much can she see?

For example, can she see my face?

She isn't a CCTV.

She can just read the general flow of this world.

For example, she may not know what exactly we're talking about,

but she'd know we're together right now.

So she could miss out on the details.

We'll have a chance if we could cover her eyes.

How?

Didn't you send this to put me to sleep?

Rang took just a sip, but it still worked like a charm.

Would that old woman drink this?

She might.

If I can take advantage of the only one she trusts.

Who?

Hyeonuiong.

Hyeonuiong is a man who'd even feign death at his wife's word.

He's not, anymore.

Saving Ji-a against her will is proof of that.

So he'll put the old lady to sleep before we get there?

Once she falls asleep, you finish the job.

When do we do it?

Tomorrow.

Be there by noon.

When we're done, take over the Samdocheon River as promised,

then Ji-a and my ill-fated relationship with you ends there.

Fine.

Am I worrying too much?

This is going a lot easier than I expected.

No, he took the bait.

I just need to bring him to Samdocheon.

Didn't they have a son together?

How do you know that?

I know. I just do.

How will this story end?

A happy ending, for sure.

The president was here.

He had the same condition as Ms. Kim.

He said he could live if he killed me.

Where is he?

He's dead.

I shot him.

I turned into the serpent, and I...

He defied his natural time and lived for centuries.

Even if it weren't for you, he wouldn't have lived to see tomorrow.

I almost killed Jae-hwan, too.

I barely managed to come back to myself.

You held out well.

I'm so scared.

It won't be long.

It'll all end tomorrow.

Don't you have to pee?

I don't do that kind of stuff.

Gosh.

You're already lying here in the middle of my restaurant.

Don't be so embarrassed.

But why are you so nice to me?

You even closed up because of me.

What goes around, comes around, doesn't it?

Did you say you lost your husband a long time ago?

What was he like?

When we'd grill fish,

he'd remove the spines and put the meat on my rice first.

One time, in the middle of winter,

I suddenly said I wanted some honey rice cake,

and he climbed over a hill in the snow to get me some.

He could've called a delivery service. Why did he go that far in the snow?

What about you?

Why do you keep lurking around me?

Whenever I eat your food,

it gives me butterflies in my stomach.

It feels very...

familiar and nostalgic.

How many people died last night because of the serpent?

903?

Get all reserve personnel on it.

Tell everyone to hold out for one more day.

Honey!

When your eyes get blurry.

When you have to calm yourself down.

A great cure for your stomachache!

Is something bothering you?

It's about time my old woman ran out of her arthritis medicine.

Whatever. I don't care.

Go back home. You've already done enough.

Forget it.

You'll regret it.

I do regret it.

Why did I think I could change her?

Why didn't I leave when we lost our son?

Because you loved her...

I did.

I thought it was love.

We had nothing in common from our personalities to tastes.

We couldn't even share a bowl of tteokbokki together.

I always get the mild one.

She gets the spiciest one.

You should've shared the medium one.

That's what married couples do.

We were just too different.

So are you just going to sit around and watch?

Mr. Lee might die...

instead of that young lady.

Otherwise, my old woman wouldn't have let her live.

Stop her!

If I could stop her,

things wouldn't have come to this!

Even so, we can't lose...

Mr. Lee like this.

Goodness.

Lee Yeon

Hey, it's me.

I need to see you.

You can tell me over the phone. I'm ready to take this.

It's a long story.

I just went to see the serpent.

Is that so?

Okay.

What does this mean?

Is she dead or alive?

What do you mean?

Why would you eat the serpent's scale?

If I eat it,

the serpent inside Ji-a will be transferred into me.

And then what?

I'll take that thing,

and jump into the Samdocheon.

No. Never.

Forget that plan. There has to be another way.

What's at stake...

isn't just Ji-a.

Countless people are dying from this plague.

I've thought about everything I could,

but this is the only way to catch that thing.

I'll do it, then.

I'll eat that scale and jump into the Samdocheon.

You can't handle the serpent.

Don't do this.

Please don't do this.

We won't be able to save your soul.

You wouldn't even be reincarnated!

I know.

Then will you stop saying you'll kill yourself?

Sin-ju.

You...

have to understand me.

I'm telling you everything because it's you.

You're so mean.

Mr. Lee, you're so mean.

What brings you here?

Thanks for the gift.

- "Gift"? - You sent the president to me.

If you knew, why didn't you tell Yeon?

I would've done the same.

If I were you, I would've already told him.

I didn't, and I'm not going to.

Why not?

Because Yeon cares about you.

He'd be devastated if he loses you.

Do you know what it means for him to join hands...

with the serpent?

- What does it mean? - He'll save you and kill himself.

He'll die...

because of you.

He came up with the idea to kill himself to save me?

Isn't it obvious?

That being said,

give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you...

right now.

I won't stop you if you want to do that.

But I wouldn't recommend it.

You'll either die or get hurt.

Someone just tested it out.

I'll get straight to the point.

I have no intention of dying.

Not yet, at least.

Not yet?

If I ever hurt Lee Yeon,

I'm going to kill myself.

However, if I fail,

you kill me.

Yeon won't be able to.

Are you serious?

As luck would have it, we share the same goal.

We want to protect Yeon.

If you want to save your brother, call a truce with me for now.

Deal.

What do you want me to do?

Don't get involved in this fight.

Make sure you survive...

and keep Ji-a safe.

Keep an eye on her for me.

I'll protect her.

And Rang.

If I break his heart and make him go astray again,

nag him to do better.

I'll nag him as much as I can.

And start a family with the necklace thief.

This is my early wedding gift.

It's a brand-new apartment.

You've done a great job putting up with my short temper.

Mr. Lee.

I'm not going to thank you or apologize.

I've fed, clothed, and accommodated you plenty.

Mr. Lee.

May I ask you a question?

A long time ago, when the deity of my mountain came after me,

why did you save my life?

I wanted revenge.

Revenge?

I had spicy noodles with him one time.

But that jerk snatched the only egg I had,

and ate the whole thing.

Is that all?

What do you mean?

I always save the egg for my last bite.

What's this for?

Do I need a reason to buy a bowl of naengmyeon?

Why are you suddenly buying me this?

It's on you. I missed lunch.

That's ridiculous.

I know what you're thinking.

Don't be so annoying. Let's just eat.

You really do add only mustard, and not vinegar.

What?

Ki Yu-ri? She told me that.

She said you only add mustard in naengmyeon.

Did she?

That's something people only notice when they really care.

I saved her life.

If it weren't for me,

she would've been beaten or starved to death.

Who's that little boy at home?

He's Geomdoong, that black dog I kept in the past.

Even if he was your dog in the past life,

you can't just bring him home. What about his parents?

He has this stepdad, but he beat him and ticked me off.

Why are you laughing?

It's ridiculous.

You went around wreaking havoc like the Joker,

- but you've done lots of volunteer work. - Shut up.

You've grown into a good man, Bedwetter.

I'll kill you.

Give me your egg if you don't want it.

Why do you look so obviously unhappy?

I hate being around you.

I want to go home.

Home?

Do you have a home to go back to?

You've torn Lee Rang's body with your hands,

and you were abandoned by Sin-ju yesterday.

No one will miss you anymore.

No, Mr. Lee will wait for me.

And Sin-ju, too.

No, you fit in much better here.

Didn't people abuse you?

For quite a while, until your soul turned into tatters.

I can see the darkness in you.

Stop reading my mind.

That's why you're so creepy.

Things like you...

only bring others misfortune, even if you stayed by Rang or Sin-ju,

just like me.

So don't get your hopes up.

No one will save you.

I know from experience.

You must love naengmyeon.

At least this tastes good. What do you see in that woman?

What about her makes you want to risk your own life?

She saved me in the past.

She even risked her own life.

If I don't stop her,

she'll try to protect me again...

instead of herself.

She's a woman who keeps her promises.

Just ask her to protect you. She's doing it because she wants to.

No.

It'd be embarrassing to have her save me twice.

You fool.

So you're going to die instead of her?

Come with me tomorrow.

Where?

Samdocheon. Let's catch that serpent.

I need you to prevent anything unexpected from happening.

What's your plan?

You don't need the details.

I need your help in case of any accidents...

Let me give it some thought.

Hey, I saved your life twice.

Come on, it's us.

I'm glad you brought it up.

Is this the best you can do between us?

You won't even shed a tear, even though I just said I might die.

You won't die.

You're not human.

A gumiho can't die easily.

Gosh, the sky looks so nice.

It wouldn't be so bad to end the world on a day like this.

What are you planning to do with Lee Yeon?

Didn't you hear us?

You heard us talk.

So will you really become a deity?

Then what?

I'll take the world...

and Ji-a for myself.

That's not what you said.

That was a promise I couldn't keep, anyway.

It's the same for him.

That being said,

come with me to Samdocheon.

Why should I?

If Lee Yeon doesn't come alone,

you'll have to hold them back again.

What if I refuse?

I wasn't asking for your opinion.

Should I call Rang and Sin-ju now?

They'll die if I say, "I want to die."

You've experienced it.

Just kill me instead!

That's not how you do it.

If I kill you,

there's no way for me to see you despair.

What brings you here?

I'm just a cook.

But I can't just sit by and watch Mr. Lee die.

Sit by and watch. Just sit there.

There's nothing you can do.

I can't do that.

What did you say?

Snail Bride.

Where are we?

The place where souls cross over to the afterlife.

And who am I?

You're lord of the Samdocheon.

Then...

you must know how blasphemous everything you just said is.

Yes, I know.

However, before you're the lord of Samdocheon,

you're also someone's wife, mother, and friend.

You were never a mom for Bok-gil or a wife for me.

Just the gatekeeper of Samdocheon.

You're wrong!

I was never...

someone's wife, mother, or friend.

Will you be all right...

after losing Yeon?

- What? - I don't mean his fate or whatnot.

I mean your heart.

He's given you his trust and relied on you for many years.

That's also probably because you adored him so much,

since he reminded you of the son you lost.

Did that old man say that to you?

Then...

I'm sure you've also heard what I did to my only child.

My son...

also begged me right there, just as Yeon did.

He begged me to save his wife.

Yes, I'm someone who even refused my son's request.

That's why...

you still can't forgive yourself.

How dare you?

I'm sorry if I stepped over the line. But...

If you say another word,

I'll crush those hands you cook with.

Glucosamine

He asked me to give you this.

Please,

don't abandon Mr. Lee Yeon or Lord Hyeonuiong.

Where are we going now?

I don't need you.

I'll give you a task when I return.

What?

How could you say that to Yu-ri?

She used you?

It was a mistake.

Yu-ri said she didn't care if those petty humans died.

That woman's parents are just petty humans.

You crazy jerk.

How dare you say that to her?

And she's in danger all because of me.

I regret it, too.

But I can't reach her to apologize.

You're finished.

Yu-ri can be very harsh once she holds a grudge.

Mr. Lee, then please talk to her...

I'm just like her.

I'll never let you date her.

Will she return safe and sound?

This won't do. Let's go.

Where?

Yu-ri, it's me.

Your car is here, so you must be inside.

I don't care if you're with him, so listen.

Once you come back, I'll hit you a few times.

Who said you could switch owners?

You've caused me so much trouble.

I have no one to get me naengmyeon,

and that boy is putting stickers on me.

- It's driving me nuts. - You came here to say that?

Maybe she's not listening.

Should we just barge in?

No, Mr. Lee Yeon would be furious.

Then let me say something, too.

Yu-ri, don't forgive this jerk.

Come on.

Yu-ri.

I'll apologize later.

Just come back safely.

And don't take to heart anything that jerk says.

Just focus on your safety.

I was going to propose to you when you come back.

- Okay, I get it. - Wait.

Yu-ri.

I'll save you.

Stay strong until tomorrow.

Yu-ri, I'll also...

- Let's go. - Hold on.

Guess who?

I can tell just by your hands.

What if someone disguises as me?

Then my heart wouldn't be beating this fast.

That's some pickup line.

Were you really single for 600 years?

Yes, I'm sure.

My eyes are for you alone.

You're the only one in frame.

So what are we doing today?

Today, we're going to be an ordinary couple. Look forward to it.

Here's a normal thing. Come to this side.

Why is it a claw machine?

This was one of my dreams!

With my fortune, I could just buy you the whole arcade.

But how can I put this?

I want to give you a token of my efforts.

Now look.

Don't fight the machine. Make it work for you.

Like this.

It's so cute.

- Do it again. - Try it again.

Help me.

Look. Like this.

- Press it. - Now?

We got it.

Ta-da!

Look.

It won't go in.

No, wait. One second.

No, hold your hand like this.

Let go.

This is my fight against this jerk.

Move!

How's the mint chocolate?

It's refreshing.

It's like a forest in my mouth.

How's the vanilla?

It's sweet.

It tastes like honey, too.

Do you want to trade?

How about mixing it up?

I must be...

deeply in love with you.

I've lived so many years,

and I've easily forgotten other names and faces I've met,

but I remember every single moment I spent with you.

Don't ever forget me.

How could I forget this face?

I love you, Yeon.

Is that so?

It's not that you left me,

but that I've forsaken you?

Is that why I ended up like this?

I've told myself endlessly that I'd never forgive you, even if I die.

It turns out...

I just couldn't forgive myself.

To you,

what kind of mother was I?

What did you wish for?

I wished for your safety.

That you won't get injured or hurt,

or cry.

You're so greedy.

If anything happens out of our control,

I wished you'd forget everything.

No, I'm going to wait for you.

Just as you waited for me.

No.

Human life is too short for that.

What did you wish for, Ji-a?

I made a wish...

to a very kind deity somewhere out there,

to bring us a sort of miracle.

"Please..."

"save us."

Hey, Granny.

What? Now?

What did you mean by that?

I've smoked for a long time.

There were only two of you in this world...

who nagged me to quit smoking.

- One of them was you. - And the other was your son.

He was the sweetest boy.

But...

he never said a word again after his wife passed away.

It would've been better if he blamed me outright.

Then he jumped into the Samdocheon River.

He even left the shoes I made for him.

That jerk.

He was trying to show me...

that he'd never forgive me.

You're wrong.

Even as he took his own life after the devastating death of his wife,

he didn't want the shoes his mom made for him to get wet.

I'm quite savvy about these things.

I'm going to quit smoking.

Do you really mean it?

I've lived long enough, so I want to do something I've never done.

What do you mean?

I mean there's a way to end this...

without letting you or her die.

What's that?

Great work, everyone.

- Great work. - Great job today.

Be careful on your way home.

Great work today.

- Goodbye. - Great job today.

When the serpent gets here tomorrow,

use this sword to slay Ji-a.

Slash her not gently, but almost enough to kill her.

- What? - On the verge of death,

that thing in her body will try to escape from her.

What about the scale?

Don't make use of it.

Let it go into the serpent.

When the two half-serpents become one,

I'll turn him to stone.

But what if Ji-a really dies?

I'll bring her back.

I'll have to pay the price for breaking the taboo.

Granny.

Put the sappy stuff aside.

Just bring them here on time,

both Ji-a and the serpent.

You know, I always knew you weren't such a bad person...

for a long time.

Let go of me, kid.

I enjoyed your performance.

Thank you.

You're also not human.

You're very sharp.

It doesn't matter. We're already closed.

I was looking for something.

If you've lost something, please visit the lost-and-found center.

It's okay.

I just found it.

And what is that?

The Moon Mirror.

Ever since my mom passed away,

I felt like an orphan.

But thanks to you and Jae-hwan,

I wasn't lonely at all.

Thank you.

Hang in there.

Please.

Ms. Nam.

Yes?

I think you should take it.

Is anyone dying?

Where are you?

I'm nearby.

You finally came.

Where's the cure?

Do you have time to worry about others? You're about to die soon.

Where's the cure?

It doesn't exist.

I was born as the plague. So I know how to kill people,

but I've never learned how to save lives.

You scumbag.

You're going to die soon.

I hope you fall to the depths of hell.

This is why I love you.

You're in such danger that you can't keep your body under control,

but you still never give up.

I'm going to have you.

That's absurd. I'd rather die before I become yours.

Now you'll wish you were dead.

Come out.

Don't work with Lee Yeon.

They're up to something.

I don't care.

You have a job to do now.

What are you doing?

The magistrate was attacked.

What?

What do you mean?

Who attacked him?

The serpent.

He's not dead, but something important was taken away from him or something.

You're him.

It's time for a quiz.

What was taken from the magistrate?

The Moon Mirror.

You...

How did you take up his form?

Didn't you miss this face a lot?

The poor boy who was killed by his mother, her only son.

Bok-gil.

My Bok-gil.

I chose this face just for you.

I knew it'd be useful one day.

How did you know about my son?!

Here's my second question.

Why did my other half go after the Moon Mirror?

No.

- Granny. - Honey, stay with me.

Sin-ju!

Why are you...?

I've been called by him.

One day, when the serpent in her calls,

you'll become my soldier.

Bok-gil was such a nice boy.

He was the first to talk to me...

when everyone else in the world despised me.

It felt like I finally made a friend.

But did you know?

I was the one...

who seeded his wife's body with the plague.

Why...?

Why did you do it?

He looked way too happy.

You scumbag!

Let's go. We need Granny for our plan.

It's too late.

Wake up, Ji-a!

We can both live. For the first time, there's hope.

Gosh, what a headache.

- Mr. Lee. - Sin-ju, you stay put.

Rang, come with me.

- I'm sorry. We're... - Not now!

You were just hypnotized, that's all.

Take Ji-a with you.

Wait a minute.

Let go.

I'll go on my own.

What about Granny?

Where is she?

Did you get her?

No wonder this is one of the four treasures of the deities.

That old woman lost her sanity...

when I showed up with her son's face.

She might be the deity of all deities,

but she'll always have a weakness...

as long as she has a human heart.

This was your plan all along.

It's all your fault.

You wouldn't give up,

so innocent people died, that old woman died,

and our dear Ji-a is dying.

Ji-a.

Please.

You still can't lay a finger on this body.

So just donate your body and die.

You have no other choice.

It's the only way she'll live.

Stop this.

Let her go.

I will.

Take my body.

What are you doing here?

Mr. Lee, you can't go in.

Never.

Yu-ri.

I came here to save you and Yeon.

But if anything happens to Yeon,

I'll kill you.

Don't!

- Ji-a. - Don't move!

You're still holding out?

No, don't do that.

Put that down, please.

I'll protect you, Yeon.

I'll do it.

Goodbye.

No.

No!

Get out of that body.

Forgive me.

It's all to protect you.

Yeon!

Don't come near me.

- Yeon. - Stay away!

No!

The Lee Yeon you know is now dead.

I win.

What is this?

Don't I look awful?

At the end,

I wanted to look especially pretty.

But still...

we won.

This is my present.

When one half gets weak,

you become weak, too.

It's evening primrose from a graveyard.

Yeon!

Darn it!

Rang.

Rang!

We are one now.

If you kill me, you'll die, too.

That's what I wanted.

Rang.

No, I can't do this.

Soon...

I'll turn into the serpent.

Let me die as myself.

Please, Rang.

No.

Save me.

I'll be reborn.

I'll return...

and find her again.

Don't make me laugh.

No one can come back once they've fallen into the Samdocheon River.

No.

No.

I love you.

No!

No!

He smiled,

like he was glad to have saved my life,

like this was his happy ending.

In the very end,

I think I may have heard him say...

Yeon!

...the word "love."

Tale of the Nine-Tailed

I can really do anything you ask.

- Please. - Something like that won't happen.

Get a grip! Mr. Lee wanted me to tell you that.

You'll get used to it.

You'll have to take the path alone now...

that we took together,

but it's time to let me go.

I love you, Ji-a.

I heard a rumor, so I came to see that old man.