Moon River
Episode 1
The Man Who Beat The Invincible
What the...? Someone's in here!
"What's the distance between us?"
"My heart races when he does."
~ Saved ~
Who are you?
Hey! Where are you going?!
Hey!
Our paths shall cross next time...
- 2211 - This is 223, at Dream Building. Over.
Pardon Me.
Thank you.
Ex.. Excuse me...
Was he real?
Right down to the plum blossom in my hand...
sit only made him seem even more unreal.
Miss Park was found locked up in the company's storage room.
The accountant had gone missing after she exposed that her company President, Jeong Yun Ho,
had cheated millions of dollars from small shopkeepers who thought they were investing in a shopping mall.
Meanwhile, Jeong Yun Ho was found hanging from the building wires in his underwear.
An anonymous call played a crucial role in catching the culprit,
but the police refused to comment on the details.
It should be noted that a paper plum blossom was found in Jeong Yun Ho's sock.
Yes, this plum blossom branch always appeared wherever he had been.
I even have pictures of his masked face.
But the question remains...
When I first read about him,
he was only a fragment of history... or, a fabricated story of troubled times.
But then, he came back to the present.
During troubled times, the common people always suffer the most.
And a hero rises in the name of salvation.
So, the man in the book, called Iljimae, emerged as a hero from such times...
13th year of King Injo, Hanyang
One year before the Qing invasion of Joseon
It was during Injo's reign of Joseon.
Ming, once the strongest country of the Northeast, was waning.
The Qing from Manchu was starting to gain power.
Meanwhile, in Japan, the Edo period was established after the Imjin war,
forging a strong centralized government.
In Joseon, the Western faction drove Prince Gwanghae out in a coup
and enthroned Prince Neungyang as the new King Injo.
The Qing was secretly plotting to attack Joseon,
who looked down on them and called them barbarians.
Congratulations!
I'm not fit for this important position.
Who else but Your Excellency (*Kim Ja Jeom) can take on this job?
But you're the only one who can handle such a job. Please accept this small gift.
Thank you, but you shouldn't have.
I heard that the position of Assistant Chief of Personnel is still vacant.
I'm meeting some officials tonight to discuss that.
It's a very important position, so the appointee must be chosen with great care.
That's right. I'm trying to find the perfect candidate.
And what's this?
- It's a chamber pot. - A chamber pot?
Now that I'm old, going to the restroom at night can be troublesome.
It'll be useful.
It's made of genuine silver from Dancheon.
- Silver?! - Yes, Your Excellency.
What a luxury for my butt!
Doesn't His Majesty select the Assistant Chief of Personnel?
Who's the one who made him King?
Yes, of course.
After the coup, the Western faction had complete power over the government.
Profiteers with connections got government jobs over talented people.
Politics were filled with corruption, conspiracy, and tactics.
You could smell the rotting stench of corruption as far as the heavens.
The common people were naturally defenseless
as thieves rampantly took advantage of the chaos.
The Haedongcheong gang of Hanyang and
the Bongseoni gang of Pyongyang were two rivals gangs engaged in a bloody turf war.
Get him!
They would fight openly on the streets.
If the ones in power had attempted to arrest them with even half the speed
they used against their political adversaries, none of this would've happened.
Anyhow, their rivalry was about to take a new turn.
This monster was known only by his nickname, "Bulgasari."
What the hell's this?
He was the Bongseoni gang's most deadly weapon,
sent to end the war with the Haedongcheong gang.
His nickname meant "Invincible"*, and he lived up to it. (*impossible to kill)
He readily harmed the innocent, and no one could stop him!
He hides during the day and appears like a bogey at night, terrorizing people.
Most of the victims are from the Haedongcheong gang?
They were at first, but now he's killing people randomly.
My guess is that Bulgasari is connected to the Bongseoni gang.
If we catch him, we'll pick up clues to the Bongseoni gang.
Let's go.
- Seon Dal! - Hey!
Cha Dol, do you think Bulgasari will really come?
The tavern's dead quiet.
He always drinks after killing people, so he'll come for sure.
All the other taverns are closed because of him.
- This is the only one that's still open. - Really?
Yesterday, he got drunk and ate a baby because they didn't give him a snack.
He ate a baby as a snack?
I wonder how many he'll kill today?
Hey losers!
He must really be here!
What is this?!
Seon Dal, hide! Hurry!
That way!
Is no one here?!
Bring me liquor! Where's the liquor?
Let go! Let go of me!
Let me go, you worthless creep!
- Let me go! - I'll snack on you tonight.
I ate a baby yesterday, but it wasn't very tasty.
Enough!
Put that child down.
What did you say?
I told you to put him down.
I can't do that.
I'll kill you!
I'll tear you to pieces!
The world is better off without people like you.
Please don't. Please don't kill me.
Watch out!
This way! The door's been broken!
- It's this way! - Bring the torches!
Yes, Sir!
- It's this way. - Over there!
Everyone, stay where you are!
- See if there's anyone else. - Yes, Sir!
Search everywhere.
- Yes, Sir! - Go to that side!
- Is this Bulgasari? - Shine the light on him.
I think it's him.
Come out.
Officer Gu!
What are you doing here?
- Is that you, Cha Dol? - Officer!
Who knocked this guy out? Did you see him?
- Well, um... - That person...
Huh? He was drinking here a minute ago.
Where did he go? He was just here.
What did he look like?
It was a young man wearing a commoner's hat.
He drew out a sword from somewhere.
He must've gone through the back door.
- Go after him. - Yes, Sir.
- Follow me. - Yes, Sir!
Is he dead?
He's still breathing, but he won't be able to use his strength anymore.
The person who did this has amazing skills.
That young man...
I think he used the Jangbaek sword method.
- The Jangbaek sword method? - Yes,
I'm interested in martial arts, so I can tell, just by looking.
No one in Joseon can match this person's verbal skills.
He's got no manners.
But it's my understanding that no one uses the Jangbaek sword method,
ever since Kang Se Wook died three years ago.
There is only one...
known as Iljimae.
- Iljimae? - Yes,
- He was Kang Se Wook's last student... - Wait!
I wondered where I had seen him before. That's right!
He was the young man who caused a commotion at Kang Se Wook's cruel execution.
- Are you sure? - Yes, I'm sure!
So, the young man's name is Iljimae?
- Yes. - Ah, Iljimae...
Iljimae.
Iljimae has returned after disappearing three years ago?
It appears so.
And it's been three years, since the plum blossom branch appeared in Hanyang.
That's right. Iljimae was back!
Seon Dal...
Let's take a rest.
My legs are shaking.
Seon Dal...
Seon Dal, how did you know it was the Jangbaek sword method?
Well, I recognized it the moment Iljimae slammed his hand on Bulgasari's head.
But if he used his hand, how can that be a sword method?
You may associate a sword method only with swords,
but that's not the case. A sword is an extension of the hand.
- An extension? - Yes,
You can say that the hand extends out to become the sword.
So, before warriors learn a sword method...
they learn the fist method...first...
When Iljimae struck Bulgasari's head,
he used the "thunderbolt from a clear sky" Jangbaek method.
Anyhow, we would've been in big trouble, if it weren't for Iljimae.
Did you see inside Bulgasari's throat?
When he tried to eat me, he opened his mouth wide,
and inside his mouth, his uvula was dangling...
Just thinking about it...
But wait!
Seon Dal, what were you doing at the time?
Well... I told him to shut his mouth.
That's all?
We've rested too long. Let's get going.
Oh, mouth...
But then... that's when Iljimae appeared.
What? Iljimae?
Maybe, because I kept my nerve and looked fiercely at Bulgasari,
guess what Iljimae said?
- What did he say? - Iljimae said...
"Hey, you! Put that brave child down!" he shouted.
But Bulgasari was really going to eat me, so he opened his mouth wide.
That's when Iljimae jumped up and kicked Bulgasari's mouth!
Guess what Bulgasari did then?
He turned red and tried to catch Iljimae.
Like this... and this!
But Iljimae dodged him! Like this!
Bulgasari got so angry, he took out his sharp dagger and
flared his nostrils shouting, "I'll tear you to pieces!" swinging the dagger.
- But the man who fell to the ground was... - Who was it?
It was Bulgasari, not Iljimae!
What happened then?
Just when Bulgasari's dagger was about to touch Iljimae,
he turned around and put his sword against Bulgasari's dagger like this.
- Then he said... - What?
"The world is better off without people like you."
Ouch! Who the hell's this good-for-nothing?
What? Good-for-nothing?
It's me, Good-for-nothing!
You little pebble.
I told him to look for Iljimae, and he's been here telling a useless story.
- Let's go. - Ouch! Seon Dal...
Iljimae must really be something, if he was able to defeat Bulgasari!
You're right!
Hey, kid.
Are you talking to me?
- Were you talking about Iljimae back there? - I was.
Did you really see Iljimae?
Didn't you hear my story? Should I tell it again?
No, that's all right.
Would you know where I can find him?
Bae Seon Dal and I are looking all over for him too,
but we haven't found him yet.
If you happen to run into Iljimae again, would you let me know?
If you come to Namchon, just ask and anyone can show you to Yeom Jin Sa's house.
For free?
Will that do?
Okay, I'll take the job.
But, why do you want to meet Iljimae?
Because...
I think he's someone I know.
Anyhow, I'm counting on you.
Hey...
Hey, Cha Dol!
You little pebble.
I still didn't hear anything out about Iljimae today.
But Seon Dal, why are you so determined to find him?
Seon Dal...
What's this?
This drawing... it looks like Iljimae!
Yes, it's Iljimae.
And what did you draw here?
I've encountered Iljimae twice so far.
That was my first encounter with him.
Hey, you! I rebuke you on behalf of the heavens.
Then, this is Iljimae's foot,
and the one getting kicked is you?
Our first encounter wasn't that beautiful.
That was our second encounter.
Dal-ah!
Dal-ah! Dal-ah!
Dal-Nim*! (*Moon!)
This is when Iljimae beat Bulgasari.
Yes, that's right.
Seon Dal, but why...?
- Cha Dol, I've decided! - Decided?
I think Iljimae and I are connected by fate.
One that must not be taken lightly.
Until now, I didn't know my purpose in life,
but now this comes to mind.
Maybe, I was born in order to reveal Iljimae to the world.
From now on, I'm going to follow and record Iljimae's achievements one by one!
- Iljimae's achievements? - That's right.
Yes, where he came from and where he's headed...
I'm going to follow his path!
Here, here. Calm down.
And sit.
Fine! Then, I'll join you!
Huh? You?
Wherever you go... isn't that my path, as well?
Besides, Iljimae is my savior.
Who else should do it, besides me?
How can this little pebble be so good with words?
And so began Bae Seon Dal's extensive record,
at Cheonggyecheon creek just before the start of spring.
There was no square, fountain, lights, or walkways...
only rugged shacks were to be seen along this poor man's creek.
Something floated quietly down in the middle of the icy creek.
Oh, my. What's that?
Something red... I think it's a piece of meat!
I'm gonna eat it.
Oh, dear! It's a baby!
Oh, no! What should I do?
Hey! Hey!
What's that? What is it?
- I think it's a newborn baby. - What?
Is it alive? Is it breathing?
He sounds asleep.
His umbilical cord is still attached.
We should find someone to breast feed him. He must be fed!
He's as cold as ice.
Perhaps we should try to find his parents.
Would they be happy to have back the baby they abandoned?
- Would they? - Then, what else can we do?
We don't have any breasts for him to suck on.
We only have something that looks similar.
I don't want to hear it! Give him to me!
The baby was Iljimae, of course. It was truly an act of providence.
The newborn could have frozen to death on the Cheonggyecheon creek,
if it weren't for these two men.
Who could've abandoned this baby?
Huh? Abandoned!
In order to answer that question, we must go back 21 days.
At the time, the plum blossoms had arrived in Hanyang earlier than the spring.
Since flowers don't discriminate,
they brought news of spring to the streets, the police station,
and even to the northern town where the high officials resided.
One woman looked especially sad as she looked at the plum blossoms.
What are you doing? Madam is waiting for you!
I know this is terrible for you,
but my son will soon be appointed as the Second Minister.
If word gets out that he had a child with a slave girl, it could ruin everything.
For now, go live where the steward takes you.
I'll contact you again.
Madam...
please let me see my baby before I go.
Since you must be separated, it's better not to form a bond from the start.
I will raise the baby well. Do not worry.
Madam, I have one last favor to ask.
Like the intelligence reflected in her eyes suggests, the slave knew how to write.
You may think she's just a mere slave, but she is none other than Iljimae's mother!
What is this?
When the child grows up,
please let him know how his mother felt about him.
The plum blossom blooms in the snow and shivers in the cold.
Because the words were so sad and touching,
even the Madam couldn't refuse
and looked upon the tearful young mother with pity.
Peek-a-boo!
Peek-a-boo! Peek-a-boo!
Shaky, shaky, shaky...
You like him that much? That much?
He's not even your son!
He may not be my son, but he's so cute!
He even farts well now.
Take him out now. Go!
It's time for him to eat. It's time!
Oh, my! Look at the time!
Where should we get milk today?
Peek-a-boo! Peek-a-boo!
Please give some breast milk!
- Please give some breast milk! - They say that people need a companion...
as much as they need food.
At first, Geol Chi thought the baby was a bit of a nuisance.
But as he watched the baby grow,
he soon found himself begging for milk everyday.
How come there are no women around at all?
Ma'am, do you have any breast milk?
My biggest problem is that I can't conceive!
Are you trying to make things worse?!
Go away!!
But your breasts are as big as your head!
Please give some breast milk!
But whatever happened to the mother who was supposed to nurse this baby?
Just then, a new name was added to the list of Hanyang gisaeng* (*female entertainers).
From now on, your name is Baek Mae.
Meaning, "White Plum Blossom",
it became the new name for the driven-out slave.
I doubt the gisaeng knew her story before naming her.
Seeing how beautiful she was,
it didn't seem like Baek Mae would have a hard time living as a gisaeng.
But, things didn't work out so smoothly.
It sprung from Baek Mae's deep disgust towards
all men who regard women as disposable playthings.
Pour me a drink.
- Can I have a drink, too? - This one is yours.
Here... drink it, I say.
Why, you... how dare you!
You wench! You rude, manner less wench!
But Baek Mae must have wanted to get along with her peers
because she used her literary talent to write love letters for them.
If I give you a jade hairpin, will you write a letter for me?
I don't need a jade hairpin. I'll just write it for you.
I took a bath with her. She still has mastitis.
- Her nipples were black. - Black nipples?
Then, she should be Black Plum Blossom, not White Plum Blossom!
What?
The other entertainers couldn't imagine
how it feels to lose one's own baby without even seeing him once.
They mocked Baek Mae behind her back and left her out.
Baek Mae.
There's a party at Minister Kwon's house. Go with us?
I don't want to.
It's a good job. He's very generous.
I don't care about jerks like him!
Watch your language! He's from the Ministry of Rites!
All nobles are the same.
They're all a bunch of thieves and beasts!
You're so... what good is a beautiful face?
Who's going to like you, if you talk like that?
Forget it, then!
Please give some breast milk.
How can there be so many women here?
- Please give some breast milk! - Oh, my!
He's asking us for breast milk!
What milk do we have?
But there are so many women in here.
How can you say there's no milk?
That's absurd!
He really does have a baby.
What are you doing? Don't touch him, if you're not going to give milk!
That beggar must've had a girl.
- Hey. - What?
Bring that baby here.
She must really be producing milk.
So, the rumor of Baek Mae having a child was true?
Despite what the others said,
as she held and nursed the child, only one thought crossed Baek Mae's mind
as always...
You're probably as old as this child.
I hope they're taking good care of you.
As long as you're safe, I don't care what happens to me.
Just for that moment, Baek Mae became the mother of an unknown child.
Little did she know that the child was actually hers!
Wow, by the way he's playing, he must really be full.
Thank you. Thank you so much!
Wait a second.
Wait for what?
A.. a.. are you giving this to me?
Get some clothes for the baby.
Thank you. Thank you!
Look at this!
Thank you. Thank you!
Are you out of your mind?
Thinking that her baby was living at the nobleman's house,
Baek Mae thought of her imaginary child
as her own son drifted further away in front of her very eyes.
I can't believe this!
Hey, kid ! You bring me good luck!
We've seen this man before.
That's right. He was Officer Gu Ja Myeong who was ordered to arrest Bulgasari.
Hold on.
I'm so happy! Are you happy, too?
He was a rookie policeman.
After noticing the shabby Geol Chi carrying an expensive ornament, he followed the beggar.
Little did he know that this was the start of an extraordinary destiny.
Hey!
I'd like to talk to you.
Why? What for?
What's that on your back?
- It's a baby. Can't you tell by looking? - Why you!
What was that for?
Watch your mouth!
I may be a beggar, but I've done nothing wrong! Why are you hitting me?
Show me what's in your hand.
This?
I can't.
Look, I've done nothing wrong, so I'll be going.
Why you...you ought to be flogged!
Give that to me.
Damn it!
Where did you get this?
- Hey ! What's going on? - I don't know.
Gu Ja Myeong, who was still a naive young man at the time,
was getting dizzy from this unfamiliar scent of make-up.
And...
- Well... - You were looking for me ?
Did you really give this away?
I'll return it, if it was lost or stolen from you.
No, I gave it to him.
I gave it away because I don't need it.
I felt bad for that beggar raising a child.
See? I told you so!
Are you satisfied, Officer?
If you have nothing better to do, go wash your feet or something.
She told him to go wash his feet.
Can I go now?
Let's go.
I said, let's go!
Oh, all right.
Gu Ja Myeong only stopped there briefly,
but the moment where his eyes first met Baek Mae's,
(the memory) lingered on... long after the two were gone.
We usually remember the past with the title, "history."
But was there ever a time that began as "history" from the start?
All that remains is the collective time of the people.
They sometimes get tangled up together,
or go their separate ways until time is collected like a giant ball of yarn.
This seemingly coincidental encounter between Gu Ja Myeong and Baek Mae,
became a thread in time called history,
tangled up in a branch called Iljimae.
Therefore, shouldn't we point out a thing or two about Bae Seon Dal,
the man who recorded all this and made it into history?
Although it wouldn't be reasonable to rely on his conduct,
Bae Seon Dal was an elite who passed the civil service exam.
But he had his own reason for avoiding government service.
Unfortunately, this reason was in the field of martial arts and chivalry.
As you can see, Bae Seon Dal was cursed with a dull body that couldn't keep up with his vast knowledge.
He was only able to exercise his martial arts knowledge with his mouth.
They called him the Master of Mouth.
So, for him, the appearance of Iljimae, a man who practiced what Bae Seon Dal only came across in books,
was nothing, if not divine destiny!
Pick! And poke!
The nose, the eyes, and the vital spot.
Over here.
It's the vital spot. Got it?
- What about here? - Here?
That was how Bae Seon Dal and his young sidekick Cha Dol, traveled all over Joseon
to find traces of Iljimae.
Oh, it's hot!
- Let's take a break. - No, let's hurry up!
Rascal!
Bae Seon Dal, the great klutz, even boldly crossed the life-threatening icy ditch.
Bae Seon Dal recorded everything he saw or heard about Iljimae.
Next.
Of course, we must not forget Cha Dol,
who collected many stories for the lazy Bae Seon Dal.
Actually, if it weren't for Cha Dol,
could Bae Seon Dal the klutz have been able to endure the long journey?
No way!
Hey, you can't even read!
There are drawings.
No one knows the passion that went into this "Record of Iljimae"...
namely, that these two men compiled the stories of Iljimae's distinguished character.
Like a net that retrieved Iljimae's stories out of the swift current of time,
the book, recorded in eight volumes, brings back more Iljimae to us this day.
That is why Iljimae is still very real...
Return of Iljimae ~ Volume 2 Escape from Yodong
No matter what it takes, bring Iljimae before me!
Keep your eyes wide open and wait!