Apparently an auctioneer has taken Seol-ki,
the child we've been looking for.
The trading floor will open soon. We must go there.
I don't believe this.
She can't expect to find the notice we've been searching for all of these years
just because she desperately wants it now.
We looked everywhere, didn't we?
Shut your mouth!
You know that neighborhood down there?
Apparently, a child's gone missing from it.
- What? - Yeah.
What if someone really is eating those kids alive?
Why does this keep happening?
Which household's child was it? When and how did they disappear?
A seven-year-old boy.
His maidservant says she watched him as he fell asleep.
But in the morning, he was gone without leaving a trace.
Another wealthy male child disappears again
under the same circumstances.
Twelve years ago, Hongrang disappeared. Sounds the same.
But you know what's so strange about it?
This maidservant supposedly said
that she'd seen a ghost that night when she went back to her quarters.
A ghost?
She had to come up with some excuse to save herself.
She didn't protect her young master.
But why would she say it was a ghost?
Who would believe that?
- What happened to that servant? - It's obvious, isn't it?
- She was either beaten, or-- - Is she still alive?
- I don't know. - Please find out.
I must meet with that maidservant.
All right, welcome, good sirs.
Feel free to look around.
Have a few drinks at the same time.
All right.
- I'd like to present the next boy to you. - Not another boy!
Why are you giving us a boy again?
Stop fighting.
Hurry up, bring him.
This boy may not look like much, but I must say that he is quite strong.
But didn't you search our home thoroughly two days ago?
I am visiting on an urgent matter. There was, uh, no time to give prior notice.
Urgent? What is it?
I am afraid we are suspecting one of your own.
One of my own?
Are you suggesting that someone in my household
orchestrated the kidnapping of my beloved son?
I urge you to gather everyone from your household out here.
We would also like to see the maidservant who looked after your son
on the day he disappeared.
That wretch…
…has been punished thoroughly and has taken to her bed.
I see.
We'll pay her a visit another day, then.
Attention, everyone!
I want every member of my household out here. Right this minute!
Yes, my lord.
What is going on?
What do they want? What's going on?
Oh, look! This time we have a girl for you all! A girl, look!
Now, now, now, hush now. Shh!
This is no ordinary girl because, look!
Right there. She is with child.
You get two for the price of one!
- Here, here! I bid 12 nyang! - We have 12 nyang!
- Thirteen nyang! - Thirteen nyang? Oh!
- Then, 15 nyang! - Fifteen nyang! Any more offers?
Is that all?
Ah, but this is such a rarity!
Look at the round, full belly.
I am certain she is carrying a girl.
How can you be so sure? We need to undress her to verify that!
- That's right, we must. - Hear, hear!
Come on. Take that off.
If you do not want to take that off, let us touch that belly!
It is a girl!
- This one sure is a girl. - Fifteen nyang is a bargain.
DEAR HONGRANG
All right, make it quick. Hurry up!
What is it? What's the matter?
Quick, come along. Huh? Come on.
- Oh, yes. - What's going on?
All right, stand there. Hurry up now.
Lift your heads, huh? Look up, everyone.
We have 15 nyang. Do we have another bid?
Eighteen nyang!
- Eighteen! - Eighteen?
That's too much! You take her. Take her.
We can't end the bidding of this rarity at a mere 18 nyang. Any more offers?
All right, if we have no more, 18 it is!
Come here, girl.
Sister!
Does that child come with her?
Since I'm feeling generous today, you can have him for just five nyang!
Wait.
There's no one here.
Do you think they may have already killed her?
Help me.
- Huh? - Please help!
- Help me. - Over there.
Help me.
This is insane. How can they do this to someone?
Hey, can you see me?
Wake up now. Wake… wake up!
Wait! We can't possibly dig her out of here.
I cannot just leave her here.
All right, then, but we have to be quick.
Fortunately, none of your servants seem to be at fault.
Ah, I wish you good night, then.
Good night, sir.
The government office will be paying us more visits,
so dig up that wench and get rid of her!
Yes, my lord.
- No. - Goodness, what is this?
Oh my goodness. What on earth? Where did she go?
- Wait, how is this possible? - My lord!
Oh no.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Whoa!
Come, quickly!
Hurry!
Wait! What's going on? I thought we were only gonna talk to her.
This was not part of the plan!
What do you hope to do? You can't possibly save every poor soul in Joseon.
She was buried up to her neck.
If we left her there, she wouldn't have survived through the night.
It's all right, children. You're safe now.
Do not look back. Just follow that man.
Look at this child! He's as strong as an ox.
This one should last many years, even if you ran him ragged.
He's like a purebred horse. Look how lean and fit he is.
This one will work long and hard for you, I can just tell.
Now, come, come, your bids.
Six nyang, it is.
Don't I have at least one bid?
One bid for this fine young buck.
Gentlemen! Attention, everyone!
Now we have a girl!
Oy.What is that?
Do you smell something?
Uh, have you been passing gas or something?
- Sixteen nyang! - Wait.
- Eighteen nyang! - Is that smoke?
- Fire! - Eighteen.
Go! Go, there's a fire!
The building's on fire!
Stop! Where are you going? Stop!
Let us out, please!
Let us out!
Damn it.
Heavens. Who… who are you?
Are you feeling a bit better?
Do not worry. You will never have to go back there ever again.
May I ask you something?
You said you saw a ghost that night.
The night your young master disappeared.
Can you describe to me exactly what it was that you saw that night?
This child was sold. Where did he go?
I have sold dozens of children. How should I know?
Seol-ki
was the boy's name.
S-S-Seol-ki?
He was a fair, handsome-looking boy.
He…
he was stolen.
I swear! It's the truth. A ghostly monster snatched him away!
What?
A monster?
The… the ghost was
around seven or eight feet tall.
A monster as tall and thin as a pole.
Its hair was long.
It came down to here.
It was white. As white as an old woman's hair.
But it wasn't just its hair that was white.
I looked at its arm, and even its skin was white as snow.
The thing had a human face, and it was devoid of color.
Lifeless and pale, like a… a sheet of white parchment.
Even its eyes were white.
I told you. Remember?
I had a very strange dream back then
in which I saw someone with white hair, white face, and even white eyes.
It wasn't a dream.
It was real.
The ghostly monster reminded me of something
that I'd heard about in myths.
It looked just like
a Snow Man.
That's what it was!
A Snow Man.
Do you know where it came from and where it went?
No, I do not.
Why on earth would you be searching for a monster like that?
I do not understand.
Because I must know
who did this to me.
Something happened to Hongrang before he disappeared.
It was about three months previous.
There was an instance where he disappeared for a short while.
My lady!
The child who was seen sound asleep in his room last
was found outside by the back door the following morning.
Young master!
What are you waiting for? Go and inform Her Ladyship!
- My lady! - My lady, we found him!
- My lady! - We found him!
The physicians were called in
but could not come up with a sufficient explanation for his symptoms.
In the end, they concluded that Hongrang had secretly left the house late at night
and fell unconscious under unknown circumstances.
But some started talking and said it was noctambulism.
A ghost disease where one rises and moves about while asleep.
They said those stricken by it would end up walking straight into the fire,
thinking it was a dream and
end up dying.
I had a dream. In it, I saw someone with a white face and long white hair.
Even its eyes were white.
Every now and then, Hongrang mentioned that dream to me.
The white person, the one in my dream, took me someplace very dark. And there--
Try not to think about that dream anymore.
Hongrang was trying to tell me something.
But I did not listen.
It has taken me this long to realize that.
We should get going, then.
We need to find that ghost. It must know something.
If what you're saying is true, it must be the one who took Hongrang.
The Snow Man.
I may have heard something about it.
Apparently, this pallid and slender monster
burns in the sun, which is the reason it only comes out at night.
Oosh, that is horrifying.
A creature as white as snow that melts in the sun, hence the name "Snow Man."
Let us search for it, then.
There, there. Come this way.
Child, come this way. Yes, there you go. Yes.
I know Seol-ki. He was with me.
What?
When was that?
A big, scary white person took Seol-ki and me somewhere dark.
Where was it?
It was a dark room, a-and it smelled like ink sticks.
There was a person there.
They said to take me back because they had no use for me.
That's why I'm here and Seol-ki is still at that scary, dark place.
Do you
recall a painter being there?
I don't know.
They covered my eyes like that.
All right.
Thank you, child.
As was expected, the Snow Man is on the move again.
In other words,
the painter has resumed his drawing.
I'm certain more children have vanished.
Let's look into that.
After you complete your rounds at Seokjae Market,
I suggest visiting the stores near Gwangtonggyo Bridge.
Recently, competition among the store owners has intensified,
which has fortunately led to improvements in quality and distribution.
Therefore, I believe it would be best to encourage them rather than deter them.
I will do that.
We shall leave within the next hour.
Do you have anything more you want to add to that?
I would ask you to please
look into Hongrang's past.
Sooner or later, nuisances will come his way,
attempting to leech off of him.
We must know what kind of life he has been leading,
who he has been associating with.
We need to know his faults so that we can be prepared
and take appropriate measures should anything unseemly be brought to light.
Her Ladyship is entering, my lord.
Do you know where my son is?
Were you expecting him to come here?
I cannot find him anywhere. I would like to see him.
You know that he is not a child anymore.
But shouldn't he be here?
How is it that he is not,
but this deplorable thing is?
Why do you still discuss the workings of the guild with it?
It is time you got rid of this.
Pluck this hateful stake out
and let my son take his rightful place in this family's household.
But, as of now, my lady,
there is no one who can perform the duties of chief merchant as well as he.
Everything from overseeing and managing the guild
to helping Hongrang take over.
None of it would be possible without Mu-jin.
Whyever would that be?
Most importantly,
the operations of the guild and its personnel are my responsibility.
Remember one thing.
It was my father who allowed them
to be your responsibility.
And the Min Family's Guild, where you perform your duties,
belongs to me.
If so, do you wish to present the partition deed
and have both the grandmaster and chief merchant
removed from their posts?
Do you really believe this will not affect the guild?
What will you accomplish by having your son inherit a guild in ruins?
Your son is nowhere to be found, but you do not seem concerned, my lord.
Find where Hongrang is this instant.
Yes, my lord.
Her Ladyship wants to see you, my lord.
You wanted to see me, Mother?
Ah.
My son.
- Where are you coming from? - I was at the library.
I had hoped that seeing the books I read as a child
would help me remember something.
Is there something wrong?
Not at all, my son.
I just cannot bear losing sight of you,
now that you have returned to me at last.
You needn't be concerned, Mother.
I have returned.
I will not disappear again.
Our high priestess.
She is Madam Gwigokja.
She favored me with the blessing to bear you.
As for this man…
do you perhaps recognize him?
Hongrang recognized my father.
An old memory came to him after seeing a portrait of Father.
Really? Please tell us what it was.
Well, it's rather hazy.
But I remember him sitting me on his lap and reading me something.
I remember the scent of pine.
Yes.
I remember it quite well.
Father always drank pine extract to treat his bowel condition.
Do you remember that?
Oh yes.
Yes, you are right, Hongrang.
Everyone knows what Min Ban-yoo looks like from the Min Family's Guild.
Even if they didn't know him,
they would certainly recognize him from his distinctive features.
Anyone could. What else?
He sat him on his lap? What grandfather doesn't do that?
How did he know about his bowel condition? And how he treated it using pine extract?
That's true, uh…
Even I did not know of such things.
What I am saying is the illness he had was kept secret from the public.
You know what, Hongrang? You have a birthmark on your scalp.
You are right.
How did he do it?
How did he come across such private information?
Just how well-prepared did he come?
What is he really seeking? What are his true colors?
He baffles me so.
Start at the kisaeng house where that bastard, Dok-gae, supposedly found him.
Search for everything you can uncover about him.
And make sure that nobody from the guild notices.
Yes, my lord.
Eat some more food.
Are you trying to force-feed her until her stomach explodes?
An empty stomach often leads to an empty heart.
I know it is hard, but you must wait.
We have found a way for you to go to Naju City.
You only need to stay here for a couple of days.
But we must be careful.
Her master has his men looking for her all over the place.
Yeah, it's complete chaos.
He's intent on finding them both. His son and this one.
Do not worry. We will help you get away from here.
I thank you.
When that lord's son disappeared,
there was a maidservant who was keeping his side.
However, apparently imposters pretending to be from the government appeared
and helped the maidservant escape.
It seems that some intruders helped the maidservant escape.
Why?
Were they simply trying to help her?
Or were they hoping she would tell them something?
If not that,
maybe they already know something.
It is fine. I am all right.
I just grazed myself.
I will tend to it.
You try to find that maidservant.
Have you searched over there?
Yes. Let us wrap this up and finish for the day.
I doubt you came here simply to steal some medicinal herbs.
I have no idea what you are plotting, but I warn you not to shame that name.
Do not engage in shameful deeds while bearing the name of my little brother.
Nevertheless, you lost him.
Why could you not protect the little brother you adored?
What did you do?
Did you do anything?
You could not find him.
What if I am him?
It would mean you are unable to recognize your own brother.
You do not know anything.
All you can do is cry
with this pitiful old piece of clothing wrapped in your arms.
Give that back.
Let's see if I'm your brother. Let's see if it fits.
Give it back! I said give it back!
Give it back!
Well,
you could never be him.
Because he would never do this to me.
They all wanted me dead.
They all clawed at me, wanting me to die. But not him.
He was not like that.
Never.
That child could even revive a dying heart.
My word.
Even the snacks here are exceptional.
Of course they are.
It was I, your humble servant, who made them.
You truly must be the young master!
Oh! You always had a sweet tooth as a child.
But you hated getting your hands all sticky from the snacks,
so you used to wrap something around them.
Like a napkin.
Or you had me put them in your mouth for you.
Someone thinks otherwise.
Someone?
Oh, you mean mistress Jae-yi?
Oh, you mustn't call her that. She's your sister.
Oh, she does not think so.
She would have me killed if I called her that.
I wonder why she's acting like that.
Maybe she's been grieving for so long that she can't believe it is really you.
Tell me. Has she always been so sour?
Huh?
Even a wee flower grows thorns on its stem
when bracing against the cold, howling wind.
Young master…
do you happen to remember what day it is today?
On this very day 12 years ago…
- How dare you make my son bow down! - No.
How dare you force him to bow to a lowly spirit like this! Huh?!
It was disastrous.
- An ancestral rite table. - Get rid of everything!
She did not care. She destroyed everything.
The only keepsake mistress Jae-yi had from Lady Ha.
She ripped those swaddling clothes to shreds.
Mother! Please!
Give it back! I said give it back!
Oh, Mother,
if by some chance,
you happen to see Hongrang
attempting to cross over to your side,
I beg you to encourage him to come back here.
To find his way home.
You cannot let him die yet.
We need him.
He belongs with us here.
Oh, Mother,
if you feel any remorse at all about leaving me here alone,
then send him back to me.
Even if you must force him.
I need him to come back.
Please.
Oh God!
Oh, my lord!
Those rotten bastards. They could've gone easier on you.
So that damned wretch tricked me and reported me to the government office.
Oh, my lord.
I am going to do everything in my power
to catch and end that scoundrel for good.
Wait a minute.
Ah, she looks familiar.
Where have I seen her?
Hurry. Go.
- Bring her. - You. You, woman. Oy!
Uh, pardon me.
Uh, that woman there. What is she doing here?
- May I ask what this is? - Oh, I see.
She is the daughter. It is her home, my lord.
What? That woman is the chief merchant's daughter?
- Sim's daughter, Sim Jae-yi? - Yes.
How do you wish to pay for disgracing my woman?
What else could he have been doing
with his half-undressed sister in a palanquin so late at night?
I am even certain he may have referred to her as "my woman."
- Yes. - You heard it too?
I certainly did, my lord.
If word spreads that the family's siblings are smitten with each other…
All of Hanseong will be turned upside down,
and Chief Merchant Sim will be absolutely beside himself!
Now,
I want you to keep an eye on that wench. Do not let her out of your sight.
See where the two lovebirds carry out their trysts,
if they have some sort of token of love.
You must bring me hard evidence of their affair.
Yes, my lord.
This is the place your informant discovered?
Are you sure he saw the maidservant here?
Where have they disappeared to now?
Of course they are. It was I, your humble servant, who made them.
This food
is from Min Family's Guild.
Sim Jae-yi.
- Welcome, how may I help you? - Do you have a room?
You wish to stay the night? Please come this way.
The peddlers will arrive around daybreak. Follow them.
They will take you to Naju City.
Please be careful.
Excuse me.
It's just
I remembered other things.
Uh, there was something written
on that white ghost's neck.
Written? You mean there were letters on its neck?
Yes.
Two characters, actually.
I cannot read, but the first character
was just a line drawn across like this. I remember that.
But the second one, I don't know.
"Han." It means
"one."
I have been wanting to tell you, but I was scared the ghost would return.
I thought it would come and kill me if I said anything.
I'm sorry.
It is all right. Thank you for telling me right now.
I should be the one thanking you.
I would surely be dead if it were not for you.
Take care.
I have found someone who might know something about him.
Excuse me.
Hello there.
May I ask you something?
Perhaps you know this man?
Did he order you to end me finally?
Or are you here to collect the last of my limbs?
No. I am not here to harm you.
This man did not send me here either.
May I ask… how do you know him?
We worked together.
When he was a foot soldier? Is that it?
Or before that?
That man is no ordinary foot soldier.
Then what?
He's not human at all.
He is a Hwi-su. A Soul Reaper.
"Hwi" meaning "rip,"
and the meaning of "su" is "life."
He had killed more than a dozen others before he sliced this arm off.
"Han," meaning
"one."
Written on its neck.
Common one.
Avoid him.
Avoid him at all costs.
One heart.
One flesh.
Do not offend him.
Whatever crosses his path he will rip to shreds. I warn you!
How could I let such a man go near her?
One hour.
One o'clock.
One…
What could it be?
Jae-yi!
Brother, what is this? Why?
I have been informed as to what you really are.
Soul Reaper.
And yet you raise your sword to me?
Well,
considering how you two are not related by blood,
this is rather naive, but earnest.
I wonder what is really in your heart.
You could do it.
But Father is coming this way.
Do you think he would approve of this?
Lower your sword. Please, brother.
I asked Mu-jin when you would be making your next rounds.
He thinks it would be a good idea…
if I joined you next time.
I could perhaps accompany you around all the art supply stores.
He believes that if I see some paintings,
it would help me develop a discerning eye for detail.
All right.
So you may come along, then.
Remember…
I saved you today.
You must not challenge him anymore.
I can take care of myself.
But, brother, why do you do this?
Tell me that you will not. Promise me.
Mm.
I could not ask her.
Honestly, I do not think she would have answered me anyway.
However,
I am certain now that the maidservant saw the Snow Man.
She was coming up with words that began with the character "han."
The maidservant must have said something.
She has seen them.
The markings that are on its neck.
The characters.
What? Snow Man?
What you are saying is Sim Jae-yi, that wench,
is searching for something resembling a ghost.
And that this being has markings on its neck
that begin with the character "han," correct?
I was coming home yesterday and my stomach started cramping.
I felt my bowels would burst at any moment.
Goodness me! And it was pouring with rain too.
But then the moment I squatted, out it all came. Plop!
Oh, come on!
Then I felt something behind me! Swish!
So I cried out.
"Who is there?"
And there was this tall, white-haired, slender-looking being
standing not far away.
The monster raised its claws like this
and began digging at the ground in such a frenzy. I took a closer look.
That thing was looking at me with its white, glowing eyes, and boo!
And blood was dripping from its pale hands. It was right by a grave.
Ever since my father saw that thing, he says he cannot look at anything white.
- He's even stopped eating white rice. - Really?
- Is that true? - That scares me.
It is so strange.
Many people seem to have seen it.
It was spotted here in the fields.
The womenfolk say they saw it here. The meat market owner, here.
And the village school boy, here. Which means…
it's right here.
Oh.
Children vanish when the Snow Man appears.
All the places where the creature was witnessed points toward--
A child's grave.
It only appears near the graves of children.
And every single day that someone saw it, the weather seemed--
It was always raining.
Strange.
Not a single person witnessed it during our investigation.
Yet rumors of it are now spreading like wildfire.
What does that matter? I guess it just drew more attention to itself now.
I suppose we should just wait for it to rain.
The air is so humid.
I think it will rain soon.
If it rains, then we go to a child's grave.
But how are we going to defend ourselves
against a creature that's either a ghost or a monster?
I will have a word with my brother.
What use is having a damned scholar?
That damned scholar is quite the swordsman.
This is a list of paintings the guild bought and sold.
Try to familiarize yourself with it.
ONE DEATH
I cannot read, but the first character
was just a line drawn across like this.
I saw someone with a white face, long white hair, and even white eyes.
A CHILD'S GRAVE
The character "Hong."
Hongrang.
Let us go. She must have had a head start.
The Snow Man?
Jjo-kkan. Jjo-kkan!
Jjo-kkan! No. Jjo-kkan.
Who did this? Who did this to you?
Jjo-kkan! Please wake up
Jjo-kkan!
What is taking Jae-yi so long? Huh?
We should go. She knows where it is. Come on.
Who did this?
Who did this to you, huh?
Jjo-kkan!
You.
You were the one who killed her.
But why? Why?!
Because she is useless to me now.
She told me what you lot are plotting and looking for.
That was the only thing that wench was good for.
However, it is my understanding
that you will remain quite useful even as a corpse.
When your little brother went missing,
500 nyang was the reward for finding his corpse.
So I shall kill you and present you at the appropriate time.
I'll not only retrieve the reward,
I'll also take all the credit for finding you.
Now, how shall I kill you?
I could carve out that face of yours that could be taken for a woman's or a man's.
Oh, no. Then the chief merchant wouldn't even recognize you.
Then how? Shall I peel your skin off from your toes up?
Just try.
You bastard, just try it!
You crazy wench!
How dare you
lift a finger…
against my sister?