Father!
Mom!
We must go to Yijinpo.
Help us!
Help us.
What are you doing?
Go on without me.
I'll be right behind you.
Goong-bok.
Don't kill us.
Who's there?
You must escape now.
I have to go back to Chunghae. I must go to my father.
No, you'll be in danger.
I'll escort you to Yijinpo. We must go now.
Go.
Hurry.
I can't go any further.
Please be strong.
We'll soon reach the military base.
The pirates couldn't have reached that far.
Let's rest.
Goong-bok.
Why did that pirate spare our lives?
I couldn't see his face, but he looked about your age.
Maybe he knows you.
My lady.
We must go now.
I'll never forget that you saved my life tonight.
The shipyard's been burned, and all the workers have been kidnapped.
Cotton goods and seafood that were collected as taxes have also been stolen.
They've also taken our women.
Commander, give me the authority to command the ship that chases them.
Let me go and avenge my father.
It is too late.
Commander.
Reinforcements and food will arrive in a few days.
Reorganize the troops and give aid to the people.
Is he the foreman of the Chunghae Shipyard?
Yes, we caught him trying to escape to China.
But we lost his son, who was colluding with the pirates.
- Execute him. - Yes, sir.
Commander, please spare my life.
Commander, please!
They colluded with the pirates and repaired their ship.
They should be executed.
The law prohibits the execution of juveniles.
But those who collude with pirates will be punished without exception.
Exile them to a deserted island, and let them starve to death.
These are the goods we took from Chunghae.
Any slaves?
We have twenty men and thirty-five women.
- Send them to the slave market in Yangzhou. - Yes, sir.
Captain, it's me, Joong-dal.
Please take me under your wing. I'll serve you with my life.
Captain... please spare my life.
Please spare my life.
Untie him.
Thank you. Thank you, Captain.
Goong-bok.
We're going to die like this?
I'm going to escape even if it kills me.
I'll swim if I have to.
No, Yon!
No!
- I'm going to go. - No!
I can't die like this.
Stop it!
Yon...
Yon.
Goong-bok.
Are you awake?
Goong-bok.
You two must have long lifelines.
Don't get up.
Yon...
Yon.
Don't worry. He's alive.
What happened?
Lady Jung-hwa saved your lives.
She told them you saved her life.
That's what saved you.
But you're not completely free of the charges against you.
The commander ordered that you be sent to a horse ranch in Mujinju.
That's right.
Lady Jung-hwa sent this to you.
She went to Mujinju.
MUJINJU, PRESENT DAY GWANGJU
We're from the office of the governor of Chunghae.
Follow me.
- Gather all the men. - Yes, sir!
This is what happens if you try to run away!
Begin.
Please forgive me.
I'll never run away again.
Spare my life.
Begin!
Who are they?
They were shipbuilders at the Chunghae Shipyard.
They're guilty of colluding with pirates.
- No, we never colluded with pirates. - Shut up.
Everyone here was to be executed
for committing heinous crimes.
Their identities have already been expunged.
They're no longer considered living.
If you don't want to lose your life,
then do as you're told.
If you're caught running away,
you'll be drawn and quartered as you've seen.
Are you asleep?
I figured we were saved when we escaped the island,
but this place is worse than the island.
We'll be worked to death here.
We would have been better off starving to death on the island.
Get some sleep.
I heard the news of your father's death.
I'm sorry for your loss.
We came to ask a favor of you.
What is it?
Since our father's death, we have no way to provide for ourselves.
Please take us under your wing.
I've heard about your academic ability and martial arts skills.
I'll put in a word with the commander at the military base.
I'll succeed and repay your kindness.
Jung-hwa, I'd like to take you in,
but I'll soon be transferred to Wonkyong.
I'll find a place for you to stay in Mujinju.
She's the one I spoke of.
- What is your name? - Jung-hwa.
I hear you're very well learned in poetry.
Can you tell me whose poem that is?
It was composed by Wang Wei.
What does it mean?
White stones of the valley are exposed
Red leaves are scarce in cold weather
Rain has not touched the mountain roads
But blue rays soak my clothes
I'll take her.
- Hyang, are you out there? - Yes.
Take her with you.
She'll show you to your quarters.
Go with her.
What do you think of her?
This is for your trouble.
You'll be staying here.
You'll be schooled in dancing and musical instruments,
as well as poetry and painting.
Why do I have to learn to dance and play instruments?
- You really don't know? - No.
You and the girls you just saw will someday be
mistresses of noblemen in the imperial city.
Goong-bok! Jung Yon! Follow me!
Now!
We lost two horses last night.
What happened?
That can't be. I made sure all the horses were there.
Shut up!
Tie them up.
What happened? We found them in the valley.
Enough.
A horse's life is more valuable than yours.
If this happens again, I'll tear you to pieces.
Let them sleep in the cold, and don't give them any food.
What are you doing?
Follow me.
Drink it.
It's horse milk and blood.
But how can you...
It tastes better than it smells.
Your eyes betray you.
You don't want to live?
Wake up.
Wake up!
Drink it.
What is it?
Just drink it.
What is this?
It's horse milk and blood.
I'd rather starve than drink this.
We won't get any food for another five days.
Drink it if you want to live.
We have to live.
We have to live and get out of here.
Drink.
It's hot.
Did you drink it?
Yes.
You'll die if you get caught.
Be careful.
Why are you being held here
when you're so skilled in martial arts?
I guess that horse milk is making you see things.
What martial arts?
If I had that kind of skill,
I'd cut the ranch foreman's throat and run away.
That's right.
You drank horse's blood too.
You fools, you guys were dragged here,
but I came here on my own two feet.
Why would I run away?
What do you mean?
I heard all the hands here were criminals.
Their identities were expunged.
They're as good as dead.
There are countless men out there after my head.
Why should I leave this place?
This place is my hideout.
Got it?
Now, get out of here.
We want to learn martial arts.
But you're just slaves at the ranch.
I have to get out of here alive.
I'll learn martial arts and find a way out of here.
So you really plan to slit the foreman's throat?
Forget this nonsense and go to sleep.
My parents were killed by pirates.
And I was wrongly accused of colluding with pirates.
If I can get out of here alive,
I'll avenge my father's death.
This world is hard enough just to survive.
Don't get any silly ideas.
We've brought the merchandise Madam Jami requested.
Well done.
Please come in.
- Wait here. - Yes, sir.
Let's go.
With that makeup you look like a prostitute.
Hands.
It's been said that a great beauty
has 3 whites, 3 blacks and 3 reds.
Your complexion, teeth, and hands should be white.
Your pupils, eyebrows, and eyelashes should be black.
Your lips, cheeks, and nails should be red.
It is easy to use rouge to make your lips and cheeks red.
But in order to have white hands,
wash them in hot and cold water day and night.
Be sure your hands have a pleasant aroma.
Begin.
Goong-bok!
- Soon-jong! - Yon!
You must be suffering a lot.
What brings you here, sir?
I no longer work at the governor's office.
Father is now a merchant official.
He supplies the Mujinju government office.
We're here for horsehair today.
I'll be coming here every other month.
I bribed the foreman here.
You'll suffer less from now on.
Thank you.
He says this is a painting by Wu Daoxuan of China. Is that true?
It is.
It is a painting by Wu Daoxuan.
His style deviates from traditional brush styles.
What would be the value of this painting?
It is a valuable treasure that can't easily leave China.
It will be very difficult to find a painting like this, even in the imperial city.
You may leave.
Name your price. I'll pay you accordingly.
How could you trust a little girl's words?
She is well trained in poetry and painting.
And she has excellent taste in paintings.
I can trust her opinion.
I knew I had no one to count on,
but I'd never imagined this.
What happened?
I was the best in martial arts contests,
and the commander acknowledged my skills.
I thought I'd be advancing to the position of captain.
But they've slighted me and promoted
a younger man who's inferior in martial arts.
The only thing he has over me is that he's of noble descent.
Jung-hwa, put in a word for me with Madam Jami.
What do you mean?
I'd join Madam Jami's private army,
before I'd waste my life away as a lowly military officer.
I'll be able to enter the imperial city,
and be successful if I win Madam Jami's favor.
She favors you like a daughter.
She'll grant your wish.
I can't do that.
That's the only way to save our fallen family.
It may take longer, but you have to do it on your own.
Please leave.
We must send twenty horses to the military base in Mujinju.
You'll go with Sang-sun here.
You'll pay dearly if you get any funny ideas.
Yes.
Goong-bok, it's our chance to escape.
We'll have lots of chances to escape once we're out of here.
What's stopping you?
We have to obey the foreman's orders this time.
Goong-bok.
You and I only tried to run away to China when we were in Chunghae.
We've never succeeded because we had no plan.
Our immature behavior killed my father.
I'll never do anything rash again.
The horses look great.
Good work.
- Take them to the stable and let them rest. - Yes, sir.
They'll waste their lives away at the ranch.
They'll never get a chance to look around Mujinju.
I only want to feed them some good food.
Please give them a little time off.
I can't.
Come on.
If anything happens, I'll take full responsibility.
What are you doing?
It's done.
Go to the market and have fun until sunset.
Wait.
Here you go.
Father.
- Let's go. - Go on.
This is the market. They have everything.
Look at that.
Madam Jami owns this market.
She has hundreds of merchants working for her.
Something smells delicious.
Let's go.
Eat up.
And tell me if you want to eat anything.
My stomach will burst.
Hang in there.
I'll do anything I can to get you guys out.
How will you do that?
I'll become a merchant official just like my dad.
And when I make lots of money, I'll get you out.
I'll die of old age waiting for you to get rich.
Go ahead.
Take him away.
I want to talk to you.
What is your name?
Goong-bok.
Where do you live?
I'm a slave at the Mujinju Horse Ranch.
Follow me.
This is a training facility for
Madam Jami's private security officers.
Many of the trainees were slaves in the past.
How did slaves become officers?
It's not hard if you have the skills.
Jin-yang.
Give him a wooden sword and fight him.
Madam Jami hosts a martial arts contest every fall.
If you win the contest, you can join her private army.
Come any time you're ready.
Are you all right?
What brings you here?
What is it?
I got you something from Mujinju.
Good.
Wait...
This must be expensive wine.
But all I have to give you are horseshoes.
Teach us martial arts.
Why...
Fine.
I'll teach you as much as this wine is worth.
You've only just begun. Don't get lazy!
Another roll of horseshoes.
Wait!
When do we get to use swords?
By the looks of you, not in your lifetime.
Will you really teach us martial arts?
Of course.
I'll give you as many as lessons as the wine is worth.
Goong-bok.
What?
How long will you keep this up?
I can't do this any longer.
That blacksmith is playing a prank on us.
It's a cheap trick to make us do his work.
Yon.
Those brats.
Blacksmith.
I got you guys.
Please help us.
Help us.
You brats, you thought life was that easy?
I warned you not to get any silly ideas.
Are you having fun?
Not too bad, is it?
Help us.
Today's lesson is... hanging upside down from a tree.
Looks delicious.
Today's lesson is your last one for that wine I drank.
That's not fair.
Wine.
Goong-bok.
You have so many tricks up your sleeve.
Good boy.
Good.
Follow me.
Don't try to take any shortcuts.
You can take a life if you wield your sword improperly,
but if you use it properly, you can save a life.
No clue what I'm talking about?
You'll learn soon enough.
Well, get up.
Let's go get some horse milk.
So it can happen to us too
I never thought we'd have to say goodbye
I guess my love wasn't enough
I guess it wasn't enough
I'm sorry for everything
But to tell me to live as a stranger
To tell me to meet someone else
Your words still don't seem real
You're leaving me
How can you leave me
Don't do this
Please see how sad I am
What am I to do about all my regrets
I want to turn back time
Don't leave me
I miss you so much it breaks my heart
I know it's unforgivable to have feelings for you,
but I have never forgotten you for even a day.
I think it's time I let you go.
The lord is very fond of you.
You've left me all alone like this
You've left me so heartlessly
It still doesn't seem real
You're leaving me
How can you leave me
Don't do this
Please see how sad I am
What am I to do about all my regrets
I want to turn back time
Don't leave me
I miss you so much it breaks my heart