Yes. Another feature shot of fatherly Chun because this man keeps getting..um, awesome-er! Subtlety and passion are displayed vividly on my screen. What’s there not to love?

I could watch these two all day!

Prince Yi San bestows Dong Soo with a sword, giving him the title of a porter soldier. It’s a low rank title but the important thing is he’s able to go in and out of the palace at ease. Dong Soo promises to find out the truth behind the josam (fake ginseng).

On Pig’s side, he’s worried about the josam leading back to his tail. Yeo Woon says the military ship carried approximately 600 kg of josam, that is more than Hoksa Chorong can handle. It’s not a pretty picture for any one of them if the truth comes out. In conclusion, Hoksa Chorong will retract their involvement.

The queen’s father, Kim Han Gu, visits his daughter. She’s awake but once she finds out what happened, she instructs the palace doctors to zip their mouths regarding her health. Queen Jeong Sun turns to her father, “I’m hungry…what should I do?” Han Gu bursts out an evil laugh. What? What?

Back at Samo’s butcher shop, Sword Saint tells Dong Soo to quickly solve this matter. Ji Sun offers her help and Dong Soo, logically, denies her. Girl just stay in this house and don’t wander off to get yourself kidnapped. That’s the biggest help. Not reading my mind, Sword Saint sides with Ji Sun, “Let’s settle it like this. She could be of some help this time.”

Bat (why, WHY IS HE STILL WASTING THE SCREEN TIME!!) fumbles around to hold his wine cup. Yeo Woon doesn’t care and Bat Senior can only tsk tsk at the sight. Just die Bat! End your pain, my pain. Our Pain.

Jin Ju wakes up from her sleep and comes outside to see Chun fixing her shoes (aw! aw!). He flings the shoes towards her and tells her to get ready, they’re leaving. Jin Ju makes an upset face at his crude behavior and shuts the door. Chun breaks into a smile at her childish behavior. These TWO ARE. SO. CUTE!!

Later, they eat breakfast together. It’s more like Chun staring keenly at his daughter and neglecting his food. Jin Ju nibbles away while trying to explain why she’s eating his prepared food. “It’s not delicious or anything, I’m eating merely because it will help me get better…” Chun continues to be nice and places food on her spoon. He’s melting me…and Jin Ju honestly asks him, “That sword of yours, how many people has it killed?” Chun wonders why she wants to know. But Jin Ju quickly dismisses her curiosity, afraid that she’s starting to care for this evil Ajusshi. You’re totally a mush now. hehe =P

Reading her mind, Chun unsheathes his sword and muses. Is she trying to say that the people who died under this sword are pitiful? Or is the smell of blood coming off his body is disgusting? Tears well up in Jin Ju’s eyes and she shakes her head. She’s thinking of her mother, what a pitiful life she has, living as an assassin. Chun appears shaken at her words. He’s melting too!

Dong Soo and Ji Sun head out to check on the merchants who was in contact with the fake ginseng. Mi So tags along because she knows her way around the market. Samo sighs as he looks at the mature Dong Soo and confesses to Sword Saint, “I know he’s satisfied now but I sorta missed the naive Dong Soo.” I’m with you here.

Sword Saint goes inside the house and Ji says she’s sorry for always being a burden. Okay. I’m quite unhappy at Ji for the past two episodes. Bring me back the hardcore Ji! She has lost all her fierceness. Boo!

Strolling along the street, Mi So is checking out the stalls while Dong Soo HOLDS the umbrella to shield Ji Sun from the harmful sun rays. DUDE! You must be kidding me. She survived three years without your umbrella! Give me a break! They stop by a stall which is selling ginseng. Ji Sun smells the products and asks the owner where he bought them. The owner is wary, thinking that they are to arrest him. Dong Soo tells him to ease up, they’re not officers. He confesses that these are nasam, the real expensive ginseng.

The kitchen lady reports back to Pig about Cho Rip taking away the residue. Pig doesn’t spare her life.

Dong Soo and the two ladies reach the wharf where merchants are waiting around for the next ship. They tell Dong Soo that it’s a warship instead of a cargo/merchant one. Dong Soo turns to Ji Sun and they both agree, something’s fishy, he better checks with the palace.

In the palace, Dong Soo joins Cho Rip, and both of them watch the guards burn down boxes of ginseng. Is it all? Dong Soo thinks there’s more.

At the meeting hall, Pig reports about the sinking military ship. He thinks the Japanese has started their invasive plan. The king looks troubled and calls Pig to verify the situation since he’s the Minister of Defense. I guess Pig has sorta deviated the guns away from his tail. The Queen’s father is displeased that the matter fell into Pig’s hand.

The King visits his wife, who is still faking unconsciousness. Coincidentally, Yi San is outside the door, offering his greeting.

Chun walks along the markets, bringing home two uninvited guests. He doesn’t kill them! Argg…Oy! The influences Jin Ju has on him! This is bad! BAD!

It’s night time and Father Jin Gi sits down beside Ji, who is staring off into space. He cheers her up by saying that both the Sky Lord and Jin Ju have long lives. Don’t worry about them and take care of your health. He tells her about the Queen’s incident and Ji immediately notes that the josam are handed to Pig through Hoksa Chorong.

Rat underling has conjured up an arrow to blame the Japanese. The King confirms it’s indeed the type of arrow Japanese soldiers use but this single evidence alone is not enough to make a risky decision. He wants a thorough investigation from Pig. Pig doesn’t back down and asks for a bold request. We only see the King passes his decree to Pig. Then a guard comes in and informs them that the court maid (who was killed by Pig earlier) has hung herself out of guilt.

Dong Soo and Cho Rip take a look at the Royal Kitchen and the amount of ginseng remaining. They report back to Yi San, listing the clues: 1) the military ship that sank 2) the josam in the palace 3) the nasam out in the markets = are all related.

Yeo Woon is chilling at the entertainment house. Gu Hyang ponders, “Why haven’t you asked about that woman lately?” Yeo Woon asks why, is something wrong with her? No. Gu Hyang thought that he has forgotten about Ji Sun. He makes his answer crystal clear, “That’s never going to happen.” She tells him that with Ji Sun’s knowledge about ginseng, she should’ve guessed that the ginseng in the palace are josam.

Sword Saint, Samo, Dong Soo, and Ji Sun gather around the table to discuss their next step. To find more evidence, they will need to go to Anheung, the location where the ship sank. Again, Ji Sun insists that she come along. Samo asks, “If you leave, what about the business?” And bloody hell, do you know what Ji Sun say? “Isn’t there Miss Jin Ju?” I just lost my last strand of fondness for this girl. Is she alive these past episodes to KNOW that Jin Ju has been missing in action lately? What the heck! So now that your prince is home, you’re going to ditch your business and push it to another person?

The two guards Chun let go last time inform Bat Senior about the hideout…See! Just when you’re kind, it comes back to bite you. Ji is around the area and senses her daughter.

Chun and Jin Ju arrive at the old house where Samo used to live. The assassins chase them up to the bridge. Chun bites down his injury and fights with them, all the while pushing Jin Ju behind him.

Bat Senior appears…I just hate your face. There’s no taking it back.

Bat Senior: “Are you here to protect some treasure?”
Chun: “A treasure more precious than my life.”

I’m floored AGAIN. Did you guys pick up the tender feeling behind his words? The treasure he’s protecting…is Jin Ju. I actually pause this scene and rewatch to take in the full meaning. It’s beautiful.

The assassins charge forward, many VS one. So unfair. Chun unleashes his keen desire to protect his loved ones and lunges at them like a wild beast. He slices them as he goes…but then the bridge collapses unexpectedly. And when I say “unexpectedly” I mean it. Apparently, the bridge wasn’t able to hold up the weight and broke during THAT scene. And guess what? The director didn’t instinctively stop the filming, he continued, aiming to capture the live action and reaction. This unnerves me, seriously. Have some work ethics man. Re-watch this scene and you’ll see that the first guy who was killed, popped his head up when he saw his cast mates falling.

Ji grabs Jin Ju and takes her away. Chun sees her and says, “Quickly leave. You think I’m going to die? I don’t wish to leave my daughter and die!” Me — > O_O He said it! Check out Jin Ju’s face as she changes from concentration to shock.

They get past two assassins and Ji turns back to check on Jin Ju. When she turns around, Bat Senior plunges the sword through her. FREAK! FREAK!!

Jin Ju screams “Mother!” and Chun breathes in the situation, his body losing strength, his eyes blurring. He stumbles towards her and gets sliced by one assassin. I think Bat Senior just orders his coffin to hell. He softly mumbles to Jin Ju and she takes Ji away while he battles with Bat Senior. We don’t see the actual fight. Chun can easily kill the pest if he isn’t so exhausted at the get-go.

Using the ounce of strength left in his body, Chun drags himself to the riverbanks, where Jin Ju is holding her mom. He checks out her pulse and sends Jin Ju to get the doctor. Ji is gonna die, isn’t it? You’re sending Jin Ju away! If I were her, I would stick to my mama’s side until the last second.

Cut away from Chun’s family business, we have a smiling Dong Soo, a satisfied Ji Sun…and a teasing Cho Rip. I was emotionally charged a second ago…and now? I just don’t care. Bad, bad editing.

They (minus Cho Rip) board the ship to Anheung. On order of the Prince, Hong Do joins them as he attaches a letter to Cho Rip’s clothing. This dude is growing on me. At 120 mph!

Yeo Woon is watching this scene on his horse. He remembers his agreement with Pig. If he can guarantee Ji Sun’s life, they would proceed the earlier plan. Huh?

On the ship, Hong Do approaches Dong Soo and asks about the tomboy, where is she? Dong Soo lowers his eyes and deduces that he’s referring to Hwang Jin Ju. Hong Do is elated and repeats her name over and over. Dong Soo says she’s on an errand in Gaesong. Hong Do finds it weird, he saw her a few days ago, limping in the markets.

Cho Rip brings the letter back home. Sword Saint and Samo are suspicious now. FINALLY.

Dong Soo looks at Hong Do and asks what help he could offer? Hong Do answers humbly, “My drawing is not bad.”

Already surveying Anheung is General Seo Yu Dae (Beacon Ajusshi). He sees a group of men burning bundles and takes note of it. Another officer wants to show him the box of ginseng he found the day the ship sank, however, the content is gone. Ajusshi Seo questions the guards but their lips are sealed, thanks to Yeo Woon’s threat the other night.

Ajusshi Seo is prepared to punish them but Pig announces the king’s decree (that he asked for in the beginning) which suspends Ajusshi from duty until this matter is cleared. What the heck, old king!

Hong Do inquires info from the local people and finds out that the day the ship sank, a fisherman was nearby. They’re a step too late because Yeo Woon has scared the man away, far away.

Dong Soo bumps into Ajusshi Seo and he momentarily talks like the old Dong Soo. They learn about his dismissal and figure they need to find other evidence now that the fisherman left town.

Rat, Pig’s underling, has been following Ajusshi and reports back to Pig about Dong Soo’s presence, along with the Samini and scholar guy. Pig’s decision? Kill them. Unfortunately, Yeo Woon is right at the door. He hears the breach of their contract and looks pissed off.

Chun washes his hand at the river and returns to Ji’s side. She looks at him and then confesses the agonizing truth, “Jin Ju, that child….is not your daughter.” OMG. Here, take my heart and just grind it up. I knew about the possibility of her hurtful lie and I have mentally prepared myself…but Choi Min Soo is so amazing at what he does that I can’t stop my heart from aching. Just look at the dude! The pain in his face, the shadows under his eyes… Why? Just eat up your words!!

Chun’s eyes start to wander around, reeling at the horrible truth. He swallows down his own pain and consoles her, “It doesn’t matter if she’s my daughter or not. She is the child that has made my dying heart beat again. That should be enough…” and places his hand over hers. OH. MY. GOSH. JI!! You should’ve known Chun better than that! You should’ve known he would save Jin Ju if you ask him!

Night falls and Chun sits there with Ji in his arms. She asks for a favor and Chun guesses her heart. She wants to see Sword Saint. Woman, that’s the SECOND stab of the day. Please, please look at his bloody heart.

Chun: “You want to see Gwang Taek? In my heart, there’s only you Ga Ok. In your heart, there’s only Gwang Taek…That’s alright.”

Chun sends out a messenger bird. Sword Saint arrives promptly and sobs seeing a frail-looking Ji. He doesn’t believe that she’s dying and she apologizes for leaving earth before him. She has always wanted to travel around with him. Ji coughs up more blood and Sword Saint embraces her. These two men and their devotion to Ji….Sigh. Sigh.

Dong Soo, Ji Sun, and Hong Do settle down for the night. Pig’s assassin waits outside the door for an opportunity. However, before he can unsheathe his sword, Yeo Woon’s sword is already dancing at this throat. He’s forced to leave.

Ji Sun spots Yeo Woon and follows him. She thinks it’s time he return to their side but Yeo Woon insists that his life is at Hoksa Chorong. Can I be mean and say that I don’t have any heart left to care for…this couple?

The assassin tells Pig about Yeo Woon’s interference and Pig has a plan. We then see the assassin sets the prison on fire and kills all the guards. Yeo Woon is confused at his action.

Dong Soo is worried about Ji Sun but she waves off his concern coldly. He sees smokes at the cell location and heads over. Lo and behold, the assassin is pleased with his decoy. So…let me guess…Ji Sun is getting kidnapped…AGAIN?!

Yeo Woon rushes into Pig’s house. Apparently, Pig has been waiting for him too. Yeo Woon cuts to the chase, “You didn’t comply to our agreement. Today, I will take your head.” ROAR. Yeo Woon, if you kill him, you’re back on my good side immediately! I doubt it…but whatever.

Alice: Oh Ji! A white lie could’ve have been a beautiful one. Love is beautiful yet selfish. Love is strong yet fragile. Love is forever yet fleeting. What the heck is love? Pshh.

I need a drink tonight. Keep me company? Legal age please.