FIVE YEARS LATER, 1920
JAPANESE ARMY 19TH DIVISION HOERYŎNG GARRISON CAMP
What the heck?
Who is it?
State your name and rank!
Sugiyama?
Where's Major Minami?
So tell me.
What happened to the rest of the troop?
How are you the only one who returned?
Yesterday,
we went on a scout mission to Orangkae Pass.
Then
we ran into them.
Who's "them"?
Demons.
Whoa.
What is it? Who are you?
You are currently obstructing the way of the Imperial Japanese Army.
If you want to live, move aside!
This Invader's Pass is the path that leads into Myeongjeong from Hoeryŏng!
This means
if you so much as take a step forward,
you will be invading our land!
Any of you make a single move,
and I will crush you all into dust!
What is he saying?
He lost his mind after losing his country.
-Is he insane? -Should we kill him, sir?
March on.
Forward, march!
Sir!
I repeat!
Load your guns!
If you so much as take a step forward,
you will be invading our land!
Any of you make a single…
Fuck this.
Kill them all!
-Kill them! -Charge!
So,
you're saying that you didn't fight back until you were annihilated?
No, sir! That's not true at all, sir!
We fought back as proud soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army.
Fire!
Return fire!
But
as I just told you, sir…
they were demons.
The man called Choi Choong-soo…
used to lead a righteous army in Joseon.
Despite his old age, he's still got a perfect aim with his bow.
And the sword he wielded was…
strong enough to cut through the mountains and stop the rivers from flowing.
Help!
You only thank me at times like this, you old geezer.
Kang San-gun
is a hunter from Mount Seorak,
known to be the last remaining member of Joseon's Tiger Hunting Force.
His tiger-hunting skills were so incredible
that he was dubbed "King of the Mountains!"
You were defeated by a Joseon general who wields a sword and a bow
and a hunter who catches tigers?
Are you kidding me?
I wish I was kidding, sir.
Then the members of my squad would still be alive.
Man, I saved a bunch of men today--
Hands in the air!
Hold on. Chotto matte, okay?
I'm not good at dealing with blood and gore, okay?
So I'm going to close my eyes.
They are closed, Choraeng-yi!
Where is he?
Who goes there?
All of my squad members were murdered by Choraeng-yi.
Choraeng-yi, as his name tells you, used to be a clown in a troupe.
He moved so nimbly that it was almost impossible to shoot him.
A flying tiger, that's what he is!
It's over.
Don't lie to me, asshole. I can still hear the screams.
Dude.
Don't blame me for that.
Geumsu is here.
Then there is Geumsu!
A man truly worse than a beast!
There is nothing I know about him.
Besides the fact that he is absolutely unkillable.
So you begged them for your life.
That's how you survived.
Am I wrong?
Am I?
I don't need a soldier who begs the enemy for his life.
Take your own life.
I'm sorry! I'm truly sorry, sir!
I don't need to listen to this!
Keep your honor as a soldier.
I know who their ringleader is!
The face of their ringleader…
I saw it with my own eyes!
What did he look like?
Tell me what their ringleader looks like!
That…
that man…
You're the only one left.
Do you want to join them?
No!
Then forsake everything you own. I'll let you live.
Forsake your conscience, your beliefs, and your country.
Then I'll let you live.
At least you're better off than us.
You still own things you can forsake.
The man's face…
you will soon see it for yourself.
You coward!
I wanted to live, even as a coward. Please…
Konbanwa! Nice to meet you.
I said hello, you rude bastard.
Are you independence fighters?
Are you independence fighters?!
No.
We're bandits.
SONG OF THE BANDITS
GYEONGSEONG, AUGUST 1920
I asked you to see me out here even though you may find it discourteous
because there is something I must tell you.
Sure. What is it?
Will you…
do me the honor of marrying me?
Why did it take you so long to ask? I've been waiting forever.
What?
Yes. I will marry you, Gwang-il.
Wait, do you really mean that?
You will marry me?
I will love you…
for the rest of my life.
Hee-shin.
Me too.
I will only love you, Gwang-il.
Put your back into it!
These are some good guns. Subarashii.
Right. Did you hear?
Hear what?
The Independence Army won again, you know?
It seems they crushed the Japanese real good this time, you know?
Yeah? That's good news.
I mean, they are on a winning streak.
Jeez, we might actually gain our independence.
I'm actually surprised.
I don't know about that, but Joseon people in North Gando
will breathe easier now.
Oh, you're right.
I became a patriot without even realizing it.
That asshole is at it again.
It's an addiction at this point. Look at that thievin' asshole.
How long has he been doing that?
What do you mean? He's been like that since day one.
He steals those and sells them behind our backs.
Can you see how seriously obsessed with money he is?
Assholes like him are the ones who sell off their country!
Man, he's such a damn traitor.
You're laughing?
Don't just laugh. You should go talk to him about it.
"If you keep this up, I'll snap your wris--"
Fuck!
-Are you all right? -Yeah.
I must have gone overboard with my gun earlier.
I'm fine.
Are you sure you're okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
Anyway, Yoon,
if we are going to gain independence, I wish it would happen soon.
I can stand everything here, but…
the food is just shit.
It doesn't suit my taste. It makes me homesick.
What's the worst thing about this place?
You know, I'm just saying that it'd be nice to gain independence.
If not, then fine.
What is this independence nonsense?
Dude, do you think it'd be that easy?
There's no way it will happen in the next ten years.
The shaman came by, like, two days ago and told me everything.
I don't buy that spirit bullshit.
You look more like a general than a shaman and never get anything right.
Your spirit said I'm going to get married, punk.
It didn't happen only because you didn't do a ritual.
I gave your stingy ass a good price…
I should just…
Do you do rituals too?
You're talented.
Yoon, this asshole is insane.
He gathers the village people all the time and says,
"A ritual will expel the evil spirit from you!"
What was it? Ten won per session? Am I right?
It's supposed to be 20 won, but I cut the price in half.
I did my best to negotiate with the spirit for three whole days.
Twenty won?
-Cut it out! -Come on, guys!
Thirty won for my father's sending ritual.
And another 30 for my mother's!
You took 60 won from me.
Come here, you son of a bitch. I will pull out that wicked tongue…
Sometimes, when I watch them,
they scare me more than the Japanese.
They fight every time their eyes meet. Every time.
They would've joined the Independence Army instead of us if they were sane.
Let them be. You know they always wind down.
Yes, and they get back at it again.
Then they use up the ointment. Waste of money.
You should step in and…
Forget it, for heaven's sake!
Mr. Choong-soo! They're fighting again, Choong--
Where did he go? I haven't seen the geezer for a while.
Darn it. He must be hiding somewhere again.
Stop fighting, you punks!
Here you are again.
Why did you come up here? It's a rough climb.
It's a rough climb, so I was worried about you.
You can see Joseon so well from here.
That's why they call it Invader's Pass.
You know, back in the day,
the barbarians stood right here
and looked down at the Joseon lands, fueling their ambitions to invade.
But now, the situation has reversed.
It's now a place of sorrow for those who had to leave their homes behind.
You miss it, don't you?
My heart aches for it.
I miss every nook and cranny of my hometown.
I would have seen, touched, and felt the things that were important to me
just once more before I left if I had known I'd be away for so long.
Are you thinking of that lady again?
It's strange how she comes to mind whenever I'm here.
She was my first in everything, you see.
Is that right?
What exactly were those things?
She was the first member of the gentry
to ask my name, not my master's, hold my hand, and smile.
And she was…
the first person to make me feel happy just by looking at her.
But I'm sure she doesn't remember me.
So,
does your heart ache as well?
I regret it a bit.
If I had known I would miss her so much…
I would have seen more of her.
I regret it. Just like you.
-Is this the place? -Yes.
Let's go in.
Hee-shin.
What brings you all the way here? I wasn't aware that you had plans today.
An urgent meeting came up concerning my business trip.
Oh, I see.
This is First Lieutenant Han Tae-ju. He is my subordinate…
I mean,
he is my friend.
We've been assigned together recently.
Hello.
I've heard a lot about you. Congratulations on your engagement.
Thank you.
Would you mind if I sat with you for a minute?
Not at all. Please.
My friend.
Go save us a table.
Of course.
Well, I hope you have a good time.
Have a seat.
Are you going on a business trip?
You didn't mention it to me.
It was scheduled at the last minute, so I didn't have time to tell you.
I'm heading to Myeongjeong to attend the groundbreaking ceremony
for the Cheondo Light Railway on the 30th
as the representative of the Railway Bureau.
Myeongjeong… Myeongjeong is a dangerous place.
It's occupied by insurgents, you see.
Be careful.
Ask the Government-General Office for some guards to escort you.
Yes, I will do as you say, Major.
Thank you for your concern.
Don't thank me.
I'm only worrying about my future wife. You don't have to say that.
Hee-shin,
I'm sorry, but your meeting today…
can you have it somewhere else?
What do you mean?
Independence fighters will be here.
What?
There's a man named Jang Seok who runs a tailor shop in Block 1.
We received intel that he'll be meeting an independence fighter here today.
That's why I'm here with my men.
Is that right?
Yes. So please leave this place at once.
You and I both serve our country as patriots,
but my job is a little rougher than yours.
To be honest, I don't want you to see it.
Right. I understand what you're trying to say.
Then I will get going.
Take care of yourself, Major.
I love you.
Hee-shin.
I love you too.
Get him!
Hey!
You bastard!
You've got some nerve, asshole!
Get up!
You Joseon dog!
Don't look.
Don't look and just go.
I will be in touch.
I think there was a leak.
They knew everything, the time and place,
and even Comrade Jang's identity.
It's highly likely that the leak is from within.
Please be careful, sir.
And be extra cautious when dealing with people.
The war funds we were going to send to the North Route Army…
Comrade Jang Seok had it, right?
You were going to receive it today and deliver it to the North Route Army.
Yes.
This is bad.
How do we gather over 100,000 won in two weeks?
There is…
a way.
What is it?
On August 30, the Hoeryŏng branch of Joseon Bank will send 200,000 won
to the Myeongjeong office in Gando for railroad construction.
We can snatch that money and deliver it to the North Route Army.
Are you suggesting that we raid an armored truck?
That's too dangerous.
If one of us gets captured by them, our entire organization might--
Don't you worry about that.
I will be working alone without the help of other members.
How could you possibly do that?
No!
Let's find another way.
I won't put a member's life at risk for such a reckless operation.
-Sir-- -Comrade Nam!
Will you please stop humiliating me?
It torments me that I had to match you with Gwang-il.
I am so tormented and ashamed that I cannot bear to face you.
This operation is off.
One rifle. 200 bullets.
One grenade.
Five potatoes. Six buckets of millet.
A pair of straw shoes.
Those are…
all that is supplied to our comrades fighting in Gando.
And they are supposed to last for six days.
You say you won't put a member's life at risk for an operation?
We have to do something.
Sir, we have to put our lives on the line
so that our comrades fighting in Gando will have one more meal,
take out one more enemy…
and live…
for one more day.
Then let's do this.
You can rendezvous directly with the North Route Army.
-But let someone else rob the truck. -No.
We don't even know who sold out Comrade Jang Seok.
The plan might leak--
I'm talking about an outsider, not one of our own.
It's a dangerous task,
so someone more dangerous should take it on.
-Who are you talking about? -There is someone.
Someone who would do anything and kill anything for money.
Enjoy.
I asked to see you gentlemen like this
because I cannot fulfill both of your requests.
Now that I have you two with me here,
I'd like to make an offer.
Mr. Park Chun-ho.
You asked me to kill Mr. Kawaguchi here, correct?
Why would you ask something you already know, Eon-nyeoni?
Mr. Kawaguchi, you asked me to kill Mr. Park, correct?
That's correct.
They say life and death are decided by fate.
It means a person's life is in the hands of the heavens,
and the length of one's life cannot be determined by man's will.
So I plan on leaving the decision up to the heavens this time.
We will set the starting bid at 100 won.
You mean you will only fulfill the request of the person who pays more?
Yes.
Make your offer.
Whoever bids higher wins.
This is why they say friends are more dangerous than strangers.
How is that the heavens' decision?
It is the heavens' decision.
To me, money is the heavens.
Darn. Forget it!
I'm out.
110 won.
Mr. Kawaguchi bids 110 won.
Make your offer.
Yeah, whatever. Let's do this.
120 won.
We'll reopen the bidding at 120 won. Make your offer.
130 won.
-140 won! -140 won!
150 won.
150 won!
One hundred…
and 55.
155 won!
160 won!
Mr. Kawaguchi has made a bid of 160 won.
-What do you say to that? -170 won.
That's it. I'm all out of money.
Mr. Park Chun-ho bid 170 won.
Make your offer.
One hundred…
And?
No! 200 won!
You're a dead man now!
You crazy bastard! Do you want me dead that badly?
Mr. Park Chun-ho.
Calm yourself and sit back down.
It's not over yet.
Mr. Park Chun-ho bid 170 won,
and Mr. Kawaguchi bid 200 won.
Then,
it is only right that I should fulfill Mr. Kawaguchi's request.
However…
Mr. Park Chun-ho has been my friend for a long time.
I cannot betray a friend for a mere 30 won.
I am sorry.
What did you just say to him?
It looks like
I won, seeing his expression.
Am I right?
Yes. You won, my friend.
The heavens have decided.
Really?
You're a dead man now, prick.
That's what the Japanese get for crossing Cheonggyecheon to do business!
How dare you, Josenjing bitch. Do you think you can get away with this?!
I am a Joseon-born woman,
so I don't do anything that I can't get away with.
So, Mr. Kawaguchi,
go home…
and screw yourself.
Damn it!
Take out your guns!
Yes, boss.
Kawaguchi's men will barge in any moment now.
There's a back door, so you can escape through that.
And if you have anyone else you want dead, find me.
How about the money?
Leave it on the table. I'll take it later.
Okay.
Fire!
It's her! Get her now!
There she is!
Don't lose her!
Die!
Kill her!
Your share. 17 won.
And tomorrow's schedule.
The man who killed your parents.
I heard he's in Gando.
Do you want me to find out where he is in Gando?
It's fine. You don't need to bother.
What kind of answer is that?
Didn't you take up this profession to kill the man that killed your parents?
Fighting through life tooth and nail has changed my mind.
Revenge, grudge, all of that…
I realized that they are useless.
Taking care of myself is all that matters.
Don't bother looking into it.
Don't look for him either.
If I ever happen to run into him,
I'll kill him then.
Good night.
DANSEONGSA MOVIE THEATER, 11:30 A.M.
You damn fool. You can't even open the door properly!
I hired you because you're of the gentry, but you're useless!
-Apologies, ma'am. -Move, you fool.
-Hey. -Where's Yoon?
I think he's doing something up there.
Don't laugh!
Straighten your back.
Spread your legs out.
-This is good. -Yes, sir.
Oh, nice. What's this fool doing?
-Load the gun. -It's loaded.
Fire.
You've got to be shitting me.
This gun's messed up.
Hey. Don't do it. Hey!
How dare you desecrate the holy shooting range?
Stop smiling!
Hey!
I have some incredible stuff. Do you want to see it?
Stop talking nonsense. Where's Yoon? Bring him.
Are you really going to be like this, sis? You'll hurt my feelings.
I don't care if I hurt your feelings or your face, so go and get Yoon already.
You lot are in big trouble, all right? You're all about to starve to death!
What are you talking about?
Why would we starve to death?
So the Japanese Consulate has forbidden all arms trade,
so even if we bring you arms, you won't be able to sell them?
You know what happened recently in Bongo-dong.
The independence armies have been crushing the Japanese.
I think that had a big influence.
They can't dispatch their main forces here since that would cross China.
And they can't take them out one by one since they don't know where they are.
So, they will disarm them instead?
What are the independence armies going to do about this?
They made connections in Yeonhaeju.
Don't we have connections there?
The Czechs have a strong hold over the area, so it's hard.
I heard they're selling weapons dirt cheap to save up for their trip home.
If you buy a pistol, they will throw in a rifle and a cannon and everything.
Crazy idiots.
And the Fengtian Clique?
They're not the Independence Army, so you can sell to them.
The Fengtian Clique won't buy our weapons anymore.
Now that the Independence Army is bigger,
they're growing wary of anyone from Joseon.
The Independence Army is hope for us, sure, but they're just trouble to them.
Trouble that causes friction between them and the Japanese.
Oh fuck. It's so hard to do business in Gando these days. Shit.
Still, you need to find a way somehow.
We can't let all our people starve to death.
Speaking of, Yoon,
why don't we shift our business plan in a new direction?
I brought a great piece of information.
What is this information?
Recently, the Government-General Office
announced a ten-year plan for railways in Manchuria.
And the plan is
to connect Gilhoe Railway with Gyeongwon and Hamgyeong Lines
and get it done within ten years.
Gyeongwon Line runs from Gyeongseong to Wonsan.
Hamgyeong Line runs from Wonsan to Hoeryŏng.
And Gilhoe Railway runs from Hoeryŏng to Jilin.
Once it's completed,
Japanese military supplies, not to mention the soldiers,
will travel from Gyeongseong, through Myeongjeong, all the way to Jilin.
Then it won't be enough to block off Invader's Pass like now.
Think about it.
How can we stop them if they're transporting their main forces by train?
We can't, even if we get the Chinese to help.
If that Gando Line is constructed, a huge Japanese army will be transported,
and we won't be able to stop them by ourselves.
Why is this "great" information? It's not great for us.
Of course it's great for us.
Can you construct a railroad for free?
You need money.
It's all done with money.
I told you when you first came here.
Japanese money, Chinese land, and Joseon people.
Which do you think will take over this place?
So?
What are you getting at?
Japanese money is pushing its head in, trying to eat up this Chinese land.
Isn't it only fair that we Joseon-borns join in?
Let's…
Yoon!
Let's take all that money.
A manager from the Railway Bureau will be coming to Myeongjeong
to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Cheondo Light Railway on the 30th.
You're the client, right?
But the ceremony seems like an excuse. The real purpose of the visit must be…
-To inspect the site of Gando Line? -Exactly!
But the important thing is they will be sending money
from the Hoeryŏng Branch of Joseon Bank to the Myeongjeong Office,
just in time for the manager's arrival.
They will be sending money.
Construction fund for the Gando Line.
I want you to bring me that money.
That is my request.
You want me to rob money? The railroad construction fund, at that?
Well, how much?
It's 200,000 won.
200,000?
Yeah! 200,000.
Why? Is your heart suddenly racing?
Please continue.
I paid a lot of money to someone at the Myeongjeong Office for this intel,
so you can rely on it.
And I'll say this, just in case…
You would do well not to have any ulterior motives.
"A woman named Eon-nyeoni from Namsan Valley
ran away after stealing 200,000 won from the Government-General Office."
"Lee Yoon from Taepyeong-dong
is going to steal 200,000 won from the Government-General Office."
You don't want the rumors going around, so keep your boys' mouths shut.
Don't you worry.
I may work on the dangerous side,
but I live my life on the safe side.
Do you not trust me?
Gosh, you have to trust my boys. They know how to keep a secret.
Okay, fine.
Just this once.
I'll trust you.
Thank you. I am so flattered and honored.
Let me ask you something.
Can I?
Go ahead.
Is that manager in charge of the whole Gando Line project?
Yeah, probably.
And the manager will be attending the groundbreaking ceremony on the 30th?
Why?
Are you going to hurt them?
If, by any chance, someone gets in our way
and things do not go as planned,
then what will you do?
Isn't that obvious?
I'm going to kill them. They're trying to take our land.
I'm going to kill them, of course. They're trying to take our money.
That's what I do. I get paid to kill those kinds of people.
That's what I do. I kill those kinds of people
to protect this village.
I hope you won't change your mind.
I will kill them in front of everyone.
As brutally as possible.
That way, the world will know what will happen when they covet Gando.
Do you have to go that far?
I have to go that far.
We can't keep running away forever, you know.
For once in our lives…
we should live like human beings.
ALL PERSONS, LOCATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, TERMS, EVENTS, AND EPISODES
MENTIONED OR DESCRIBED IN THIS SHOW ARE FICTIONAL
ANY RESEMBLANCE TO REALITY IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL