Once he realized we were closing in,
he decided to make Jae-yi his prisoner, hold her captive to force my hand.
Which indicates he acts under orders.
And a specific objective that will ensure the young mistress's safety.
We must capture him and get answers.
Someone is pulling the strings and we need to know who.
But more importantly--
He must be exposed for the imposter that he is!
It is the only way to repair your tarnished reputation
and regain your authority in the guild.
And by claiming that he is a fraud,
you also wish to be reinstated as grandmaster of this household?
I only wish to expose the truth.
For I am in possession of proof that he is not Hongrang.
Show it, then,
this proof you have.
Whatever it is, I demand you present it.
And I demand
to be rewarded for finding it.
What?
You were quick to turn on me once already, were you not?
I will reinstate you, then.
That is not nearly enough.
I ask for proper compensation.
State your conditions.
Disown me.
Because I love your daughter.
Disown me…
so that I can marry Jae-yi.
DEAR HONGRANG
There is written proof that Hongrang is not who he says?
That cannot be.
He has been caught in a web of lies.
Woven by
my husband,
his lowly stake, and his filthy daughter.
They have conspired against my son
to drive out the true heir and take over the guild.
I suggest we make haste to thwart your husband.
He has assembled a force to kill your son, my lady.
He cannot die.
You are to retrieve my son safely.
You cannot allow those assassins to lay a hand on him.
Assemble your men this instant.
You must save Hongrang, no matter the cost.
As for the wench he is with,
kill her.
How could you let this happen?!
Such a disappointing lack of duty.
You were supposed to protect him, but also watch for transgressions.
This would be an unfortunate moment for us to lose him.
Without the partition deed
we are no longer in position to remove Sim from his stronghold,
even with proof of his wrongdoing and who supports them.
Without that deed, we are no match for the Min Guild's resources.
We cannot battle on all fronts.
Do we have any word from our leader?
The orders are for us to find Hongrang and to bring him back at all costs.
We are also to consider this as an opportunity
to discover who is pulling Chief Merchant Sim's strings.
You keep close watch of the chief merchant, brother.
As for you, Deputy Leader, you cannot allow
Chief Merchant Sim or Min Yeon-ui's forces to find Hongrang before you.
You must pit them against each other.
Fuel their mutual hatred and rivalry.
Create false leads and bring them to clash to delay their progress.
Understood. Do you believe Hongrang will return of his own accord?
What matters is his return, not the manner in which he does.
But Sim Jae-yi shall not return.
Get rid of her and disguise it as Min Yeon-ui's doing.
- That way. - Come!
Hyah!
Ha! Ha!
So much hardship.
And hopelessness.
I disagree.
Because now I understand…
…just how much I was holding back all this time.
And how deeply…
I desire you.
I would accept any fate that allowed me to be close to you.
All I need is to be by your side.
You are my home.
But you are far from yours.
Perhaps you regret this.
Which is why it is hard.
Perhaps it is too hard.
Is that why you feel hopeless?
Not at all. Now that I have ridden far enough from those walls,
I can see certain things so much more clearly.
What bothered me was not the harsh words and cold treatment
that I endured from Mother or my father's indifference to it.
Or his exploitative actions,
his judging my value.
I endured all of it…
because I had never known otherwise.
Then you came,
and what was truly too much for me to endure…
was that I could not show you
how much I loved you in that household.
So even if things become more difficult and feel hopeless at times,
and I find myself regretting this decision…
my heart will endure each instant.
I will survive with you,
side by side, exactly as we are tonight.
Shh!
- After them! - Yes, sir!
We must be the first to find them!
Take their weapons and clothes and catch up to us.
Forward.
- Spread out on the flanks! - Yes, sir!
- Scour every inch! - Yes, sir!
- See anything? - No traces.
- Over there? - Nothing, sir.
The grandmaster's forces are approaching.
We must go back down.
I know that you wanted me to leave with you for my own good.
You have always watched over me.
I also believed that it was the best choice
for myself and everyone else.
But I was wrong…
…because now I finally know where my heart is.
Hmm.
If I could control one moment in my life, this would be it.
Because what I want most right now
is to be with Hongrang.
The woods?
I know that it is heartless of me to ask,
but I hope that you can live not for me or Father,
but for yourself.
Once Hongrang and I disappear,
Father will have no choice but to hold on to you.
But please,
do not put all of your trust in him any longer.
How wrong you are.
What I most strongly desire
is not to inherit the guild.
And the person I always trusted
was you above all others.
My heart belongs to you.
But you do not see how.
Or choose not to.
Because you prefer not to see this truth.
Grandmaster, sir.
We have suffered many casualties.
The Soul Reaper, he is responsible for these deaths.
No, my lord.
This seems to be the work of Yuk-son's men.
This confirms they will stop at nothing. We need to find Jae-yi quickly.
Yuk-son has no interest in bringing her back alive.
Find a way to distract his men from their mission immediately.
If I may, sir.
I say this with much respect. Our mission is to capture the assassin.
Finding young mistress cannot override that.
I do not only want to find her.
I intend to reclaim her.
Here you are, miss. Thank you.
Get rid of Jae-yi before Hongrang comes back.
Mm!
Jae-yi!
Hyah!
This girl…
I suppose I see a resemblance.
Did she say where she was going?
No, but she asked if there was an inn near here,
so I sent her over that way to the inn outside the village.
I thank you. Move out.
You did well.
Should anyone else ask about her,
please tell them the same thing.
Of course, my lord.
You said you could live
and that you would be fine with me by your side.
I will hold you, and you must endure.
Fight through this for me.
- Find them! - Yes, sir!
The foot of the mountain?
We found no traces of them there, sir.
You found traces of blood there?
Yes. And a poison arrow, also, with a trace of blood.
Which means we have to assume one of them is suffering its effects now.
Look for plants with antidotal properties, search from there.
- We should be able to find a trail. - Yes, sir.
- Go! - Hyah!
Seize him!
The target is hit!
Hyah!
Over there!
Search up here.
I ask you
to stop the hunt.
My orders are to ensure your return with us.
I will. I promise to return when I'm ready.
You've betrayed our trust.
- Why would we accept your word? - Her life is in grave danger.
If she dies, I will take my own life the instant she takes her last breath.
I only want to get her somewhere safe.
I will make my way back after that. All I can give is my word.
Please take it and leave.
I beg you.
Go, then.
Jae-yi!
I provided you with dozens of the best mercenaries in the region
and you still let them both get away!
My apologies for this failure,
but Yuk-son and his soldiers are causing us trouble at every turn.
Do not blame this on others!
We knew that Her Ladyship would try to interfere.
She has made us look like fools and lowly amateurs.
- We should be three steps ahead! - We are closing in on the target.
- Your patience will be rewarded. - I must take action.
I cannot stand around waiting like a child.
Get the horses.
So Hongrang
is not your son but an imposter?
He is.
Huh.
For the long years since he went missing,
I have encouraged your search with men, resources, and riches.
And you arrive here uninvited
to ask for us to find your daughter this fraud has taken?
I beg you for your benevolent assistance, Highness.
Of course.
Benevolence for your impertinence.
I have shown you favor
due to your willingness and ability to consider the higher values.
Yet you dare to forget your place as a lowly merchant
and display such insolent demands?
The nation's resources have been at your disposal for 12 years!
Do you think you deserve more?
Your Highness, I beg you for mercy.
If you recognize your offense,
leave this instant.
I would like to make amends and offer you a unique apology.
Allow me to be the one to reunite you
with the yin and yang artwork you lost.
Careful now.
Can you manage?
Yes.
There is an unoccupied house on the mountaintop.
It appears that you had no choice but to journey this far into the mountains.
I trust that you have your reasons.
Hmm.
Come here, beloved spouse.
Why would you call me that when we are not married yet?
Because I think a beloved spouse is someone you always want close.
Will you… be that for me?
Beloved spouse, please come lie down.
I want to see you up close.
For years
and years.
Eternal.
I promise…
I will not do that to you.
I will not make you feel lonely.
I will not keep you waiting.
I will always return home.
Home is at your side now.
Where you are.
You will always return?
Eternally.
How is it?
Do you like the taste?
Mm.
You need your strength. Eat all of it.
- You must be thirsty. - Mm.
Oh! It's floating away!
- Catch! - You rat!
Wait! I think I twisted my ankle!
Ah! Enough!
Stop! Here.
I have never looked at the stars
with such peace and wonder as this.
I would look at the sky for countless hours
sitting on that roof at night,
but I have never seen the stars as beautiful as they are now.
May I ask you,
what is the first thing you would say
if you saw your little brother again?
Mm…
"There you are."
Really?
"There you are"?
As if things were still the same
and I had not cried for him
all of these years.
How thoughtful.
And welcoming, as if he were simply home where he belongs.
I… hope he feels that.
Hold out your arm.
How beautiful.
Just like you.
You like it?
Then please think of me when you see it.
I am right on your sleeve now.
So if you ever find yourself
feeling afraid
or anxious,
and you do not even realize that you are in pain,
but your wound is bleeding again,
look at this.
Look at this flower and remember that I am by your side.
Excuse me.
Do you
perhaps sell hairpins?
There you are.
What is wrong?
I swallowed a fly.
One moment.
- What brings you to visit, sir? - I have a gift for you.
Sweet punch with ginger.
You are very kind.
- We do not have a gift to offer in return. - Please do not worry, and enjoy.
You bastard. What have you done?
Hmm?
Are you all right?
Do not worry. I am right here.
Young mistress, what have they done?
Is she still alive?!
Hongrang!
My son!
How dare you? Get out of my way this instant!
- Away with him. - Hongrang!
What are you doing? I want to see him! My son!
How dare you do this to him? Give me my son!
Why are you treating my son like a prisoner?
Give me my son!
Hold your tongue!
Tell all those assembled here
what you really are.
You will obey my order.
No!
Whether you tear or break his limbs off,
it does not matter.
But as for his torso,
you must leave his back unharmed.
What is on his back?
I could not tell you. I was too ashamed.
Even for myself,
I was hideous.
Contemptible.