What brings you here?
I hear you're taking merchants to Tibet.
And?
This trip won't be necessary.
Get out of the way.
It's a letter from the governor-general of Tibet
granting us the exclusive trade rights to cinnabar.
Take a look.
Did you tell the escort
that we couldn't make the trip to Tibet?
Yes, he said he'd withdraw Lady Chabi's money.
We must find some other means to change his mind.
Drink.
I won the Grand Canal passage rights, but I didn't feel right about it.
After all,
it was with Lady Jami's help.
But when you won the exclusive trade rights to cinnabar,
you got us out of her shadow.
We must use this opportunity to wipe out the Sul Pyong Group.
It won't be easy,
but if anyone can do it, you can.
Master Yi has gained great strength by winning the trade rights to cinnabar.
If you do not hold Yum Moon in check, he could pose a threat to you later.
I mean to support him.
I used him to defeat Goong-bok.
In order to realize my goals in China,
I need Yum Moon.
It won't be too late to find ways to hold Master Yi in check later.
Who are you?
I'm Yum Moon, the head chief of the Yi Do-hyung Merchant Group.
I wish to speak with you.
What is it?
Sir,
we have recently won the Grand Canal passage rights
and exclusive cinnabar trade rights.
We wish to serve you.
This is Madam Jami, the biggest merchant in Shilla.
Allow me to pour you a drink.
You're very beautiful.
You're too kind.
I hear you've been dealing with Master Sul for years.
But Master Yi's business prospects are far superior to those of Master Sul's.
Please allow Master Yi to manage Lady Chabi's money.
I wish to do so,
but she still trusts Master Sul.
These are our account books.
We have the Grand Canal passage rights and
exclusive cinnabar trading rights.
Please decide for yourself
who'll make you a greater profit.
What are you up to now?
You can't set foot inside. Get out of here now!
We're not here to see you.
We're here to see Master Sul.
Out of the way.
It's not your place to butt in.
How dare you!
You'll die by my hands today.
What are you doing?
What brings you here?
Escort Tae-gam has permitted us to manage Lady Chabi's money.
That can't be true.
See for yourself.
We'll be collecting fifty thousand silver coins.
Please have them ready by the fifteenth of next month.
If you don't have the money ready by then,
we'll be taking over your shops at the market.
You!
Back off.
We'll have the money ready.
You may leave.
You must feel very assured to have Yum Moon by your side.
Everything would've been impossible without your help.
It was you who changed the escort's mind.
No,
all the praise should go to Yum Moon alone.
Now that we have the support of the imperial family,
it will make it easier to expand our business to Chang'an.
It will be very profitable to you as well.
I envy you so much.
Why would you envy me?
How could I not envy you when you have a son like Moon?
I would spend millions
if only I could have a son like him.
I'll hand over my silk and general goods shop to you
for five thousand silver coins.
But just holding on to them guarantees big profits.
Are you sure about this?
We must come up with fifty thousand silver coins by the fifteenth.
I'll feel better if I hand them over to you.
I knew something like this would happen
when Yi Do-hyung brought Madam Jami into the picture.
Things are not the same since he became the grand chief.
Even Master Jang of Chuzhou is working for him.
What do you plan to do now?
I fear nothing.
I started with nothing.
I can start over again.
The loyalty of the shopkeepers is wavering.
You must stop them from leaving you.
You can't do business with trust alone.
They have been living under your protection for years.
How could they turn their backs on you in an instant?
Don't blame them.
It's all my fault.
It only takes a moment to take a man's spirit away.
Merchants who used to work for Master Sul are turning their backs on him.
He lost his general store and silk shop too.
Since Goong-bok died,
Yon has been out of it too.
It's the dead that should be pitied.
The living somehow go on living.
That poor soul.
I'm more worried about Lady Jung-hwa.
She is heartbroken since hearing about Goong-bok's death.
I'm afraid Madam Jami will find out.
Where is Lady Jung-hwa?
Well...
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?
My lady.
My lady!
What are you doing now?
My lady!
Why are you doing this? Do you mean to end your life?
I...
I'm not afraid of dying.
My lady.
I don't think I can...
I can't pretend as if nothing happened in front of Madam Jami.
I can't hide my feelings any longer.
This is the only way I won't betray her again.
Please let me go.
My lady.
My lady!
My lady.
My lady!
How is she?
It's an ailment of the heart caused by anger.
Ailment of the heart caused by anger?
If she doesn't relieve her anger, she might lose her life.
Is he so precious to you that you'd rather die?
Please forgive me.
Bandits didn't slay Goong-bok...
I did.
But
if I'm faced with the same situation again,
I'll slay him again.
Are you awake?
You had fainted.
The doctor said you were
physically and emotionally exhausted.
Rest here tonight and go back to the shop in the morning.
Head Chief.
I know how you feel about me.
But I can't accept your feelings.
Please don't keep me in your heart.
- What happened? - I can't find her.
What do we do? Madam Jami is looking for her.
I don't think she came back last night.
I wonder if anything happened to her.
Listen to me carefully.
Lady Jung-hwa went to the harbor first thing in the morning.
That's what you tell Madam Jami if she asks. Got that?
Yes.
- You too. - Yes.
Where is Jung-hwa?
She went to Yangzhou Harbor.
Is that true?
Jung-hwa didn't come back last night.
Where did she go?
What's keeping you? Tell her the truth.
My lady.
What happened?
Where did you go, leaving the shop unattended?
She was
with me.
You spent the night with her?
We had a good reason.
I wanted to make you my man,
but I couldn't think of a way.
I think of Jung-hwa as my own daughter.
I plan to talk to Master Yi about your marriage.
If our groups are tied by marriage, we'll gain
the strength to challenge the biggest merchants in China.
Since you two are close enough to spend a night together,
I'll rush the wedding.
If you so wish to get out from under Madam Jami's shadow,
use me.
I'll protect you.
If I can't have your heart,
we'll still remain strangers even after the wedding.
Should you wish to leave me at any time,
I won't stop you, but...
But
please don't even consider ending your life again.
I have known of your affection for her for some time now.
Do you really mean to go through with this wedding?
I will, with your approval.
We heard the news of your impending wedding.
Congratulations.
Congratulations!
What is going on at the Sul Pyong Group?
They're trying to come up with fifty thousand coins.
We had Master Jang lend them money in exchange for Master Sul's shops.
We have secured more than ten shops so far.
Master.
What is it?
The grand chief has sent message.
Is he calling for a meeting?
That's not it...
Then what is it?
The head chief of the Yi Do-hyung Group and a chief of Madam Jami's group
are getting married on the fifth of next month.
Lady Jung-hwa and Chief Yum Moon are getting married?
Yes.
If Madam Jami and Master Yi are united by marriage,
there will be no way to keep them in check.
Master!
Master, there is trouble.
What is it?
What is going on?
Please vacate this shop by the first of next month.
What do you mean?
I used this shop as collateral to get a loan from Master Jang.
I have no reason to vacate the shop.
I believe Master Jang has lent you ten thousand coins.
That money was from our group.
What trickery are you up to now?
Master Jang wouldn't do that to us.
Get out of here at once!
Master Jang,
what is the meaning of this?
I decided to join forces with Master Yi.
You have ten days.
If you can't come up with ten thousand coins in ten days,
we'll take over the shop.
Let's go.
Master!
We can't let them do this to us.
Summon a meeting of the chiefs,
and tighten security.
Yes, sir.
I'm Jung Yon of the Sul Pyong Group.
Master has summoned a meeting. Please attend.
Not all the chiefs are in attendance yet.
Please wait a while.
Out of the way.
Father.
Out of the way.
Did you alert all the chiefs of the meeting?
Yes.
I'll wait.
Ha-jin.
Yes.
How did you come to become a security officer?
Master saved me when I was brought to China from Shilla
as a slave when I was only a child.
I can give my life for Master.
I feel the same way.
Master has opened up a new life to Goong-bok and me,
who were to be killed in the arena.
I'll serve him with my life.
But...
I don't know
what I should do.
Master is in a difficult situation, but...
I don't know what I can do...
I'm so frustrated.
Master Yi's group could be up to no good.
Be on alert.
Yes, sir.
Yon.
Goong-bok!
Father...
I have learned that men can become very cunning when it comes to money,
but I had never expected them to turn their backs on me so heartlessly.
Father.
I thought I was a merchant who put men before money.
But I was mistaken.
I should start my business again.
I should start business to earn men, not money.
Master, it is me, Jung Yon.
Come in.
What is it?
Master,
Captain Jang came back alive.
Master...
Master.
Chae-ryung...
Am I seeing things now?
No, Father.
It certainly is Captain Jang.
Master.
I'll stand guard tonight. You may retire.
Did he say we were killed by bandits?
The Chunghwa Group from Shanxi
buried the bodies in the desert, and brought back the group's belongings.
The chief said
you seemed to have been attacked by bandits.
Tell us what happened.
We were about to cross the border to Tibet
when we were stopped by the border patrol.
They found arrowheads in one of the bundles,
and arrested us for colluding with the rebels.
How did they find arrowheads in the bundle?
I still don't know.
While we were being taken by the troops, Chief Byun urged me to escape
to alert you of the situation.
I was shot by an arrow during my escape,
but I was rescued by merchants from the West.
It must have been a plot against us.
We must find out the truth.
We must find out who is behind it.
Master,
no one knows I came back alive.
I'll conduct a secret investigation
and find out who's behind it.
Captain.
Be quiet.
Let me talk to you.
What happened?
How did the dead captain come back alive?
Listen carefully to what I'm about to say.
No one knows the captain is alive. You didn't see anything.
But I've seen him with my own eyes.
Just do as I say.
If you let this information out, you'll die.
Got that?
Yes.
What are you doing?
Boss.
What brings you here at this late hour?
You couldn't sleep either,
since Goong-bok left us?
I can't sleep either...
I see him every time I close my eyes.
Come and join me.
Let's drink until we pass out.
Maybe we can get drunk enough to forget him.
Boss.
Who are you?
It is Goong-bok.
Goong-bok, is that really you?
Yes, Boss.
What happened? What happened to you?
I knew you'd be alive.
It's not difficult to find out who bought arrowheads.
Only military merchants are allowed to trade arrowheads.
Then please look into that first.
All right.
Yon, you must find out if there is a landscape painting
by Li Sixun being traded in the marketplace.
Why?
I took a valuable painting as a gift for the general of the border troop.
No matter who attacked us, they wouldn't have abandoned seized goods.
We wouldn't be able to trace silk and salt,
but I'm sure we can trace Li Sixun's painting.
All right.
Goong-bok, did you know
that Master Yi's group is trading with Tibet?
Is that true?
Yes,
they brought back cinnabar, and are selling it at a high price.
With the Grand Canal passage rights, and cinnabar trade,
Master Yi's power is soaring skyward.
Please let us know if you see anyone trying to sell Li Sixun's painting.
You know about paintings?
I don't.
So why are you asking around about a painting?
I just need to find about a few things.
Lady Jung-hwa knows everything about paintings.
She's a skilled landscape artist,
And she knows everything about valuable paintings.
She buys all the paintings to be sent to Shilla.
Really?
My lady.
Are you going out?
Yes.
Let me escort you.
It's all right.
There are more than twenty blacksmiths who make arrowheads in Yangzhou alone.
And with so much in trade,
it'll be difficult to find out who bought how much.
Li Sixun's painting hasn't been out on the market.
I looked into it too.
They'll let me know if anything shows up on the market.
Who?
Someone who knows a lot about paintings...
What will you do now?
We can only look into the soldiers who inspected us.
Do you know what base they belong to?
They were from the border patrol near Tibet.
I'll go.
Yon.
If everyone thought I was dead...
Does Lady Jung-hwa think me dead as well?
Soon-jong said...
...when she heard you were dead...
...she was beside herself with grief for a while.
We burned the group's belongings, and gave a small service for the dead.
Lady Jung-hwa was there also.
She was watching
the fire from afar
and cried so sadly...
Goong-bok.
Nothing.
Jung-hwa, are you inside?
Yes.
Your wedding is fast approaching.
How do you feel?
It has already been settled...
I feel at ease...
To be honest,
I was quite surprised when you agreed to the marriage.
I was worried you were still not over Goong-bok.
I'm sorry.
No.
Why should you be sorry?
You must know by now, but Chief Yum Moon's
business acumen and daring surprised even me.
You have found a great husband,
and I have earned a head chief that I've coveted.
Yum Moon has the makings to be the biggest merchant in China.
If he becomes the biggest merchant in China, it will also benefit us greatly.
I'm sure you'll support him well.
If I can't have your heart,
we'll still remain strangers even after the wedding.
Should you wish to leave me at any time,
I won't stop you.
The soldiers who inspected our group at the border
have recently retired from service.
Where did they go?
They are running a large inn in Chuzhou.
The inn used to belong to Master Yi.
It must be a ploy of Master Yi.
We can't jump to conclusions.
We don't have proof yet.
I'll go to Chuzhou and confront them.
All right.
We must report this to
the Jie Du Shi, and request punishment when we find the truth.
They will be valuable witnesses.
You must bring them back alive.
Yes, my lady.
There is nothing to find out.
It all fits now.
It's the Yi Do-hyung Group's doing.
Head Chief Yum Moon must be behind it.
You think that too, don't you?
I need to get some air. Get some rest.
Yon.
Be quiet.
Yon...
He's not a ghost. Don't be scared.
Goong-bok, is that you?
Goong-bok?
Goong-bok!
I said to be quiet.
Why didn't you tell me he was alive?
How could you do this to me?
I had my reasons.
Yon is right.
No one can find out I'm alive yet.
Soon-jong, you be careful too.
All right.
Well, you know I'm alive now.
I have a favor to ask.
What is it? Just tell me.
I assume Yi Do-hyung's group had something to do
with the attack on our merchant group.
We don't have solid evidence yet,
but everything will come to light when Yon and I get back from Chuzhou.
Will you keep an eye on Yi Do-hyung's group while we're gone?
All right.
Don't even tell your father I'm alive for now.
But shouldn't Lady Jung-hwa know?
She thinks you're dead,
and she is set to marry Head Chief Yum Moon.
Soon-jong.
The wedding date was set before you came back.
I couldn't bring myself to tell you.
Goong-bok.
He didn't know?
Who are you?
What are you saying?
I saw him with my own eyes.
How could a dead man be alive?
I'm certain it was Goong-bok.
If he is alive,
he'll try to find out the truth.
Find out what's going on at Master Sul's.
Yes.
What is going on?
No one has seen Captain Jang at the residence.
But Master and Lady Chae-ryung have been acting suspiciously.
What do you mean?
They have been going out frequently without security officers.
Where do they go?
I couldn't find out.
It is Yum Moon.
Come in.
Sit down.
What is it?
Goong-bok is alive.
What happened?
You told me he was dead.
How did you know he was alive?
I saw him myself.
If he finds out the truth behind the attack,
you and Master Yi won't escape harm.
You should take care of the matter before it gets out of hand.
Head Chief.
I have looked into it.
There is no other evidence
to incriminate us except for the soldiers we bribed.
Did you locate the captain and his men?
Yes, they're running an inn in Chuzhou.
They won't open their mouths easily,
but if Goong-bok finds them, they could cause problems.
Get ready to leave for Chuzhou.
Yes, sir.
CHUZHOU
If you tell a lie,
you'll die.
Do what you will.
He's quick-tempered.
Tell us the truth if you don't want to die.
You were a solider at the border.
How did you come to own an inn?
This inn used to belong to the Yi Do-hyung Merchant Group.
Tell us what kind of deal went on between you and them.
They offered me money to search your group.
Who did?
Say it.
Who are you?
Attack.
Back off.
What happened?
We're too late.
Late?
They're already murdered.
The soldiers who inspected our group were murdered.
If we hadn't found you first,
you'd be dead by now.
The truth is the only way to save your life.
Will you do as I say?
Please just save my life.
Head Chief.
He disappeared last night.
Disappeared? He ran away?
No, he was taken by strangers.
It must be them.
Captain.
Yes.
What do you predict as the outcome of this incident?
It's too late to bring the situation under control.
Master Yi and Head Chief Yum Moon will lose everything.
What are your thoughts?
Should Master Yi and Head Chief Yum Moon land in danger,
your safety isn't guaranteed either.
You must sever your ties with Master Yi, and escape to Shilla.
Escape to Shilla? Why should I?
This is for the best.
If all goes well, I could take over Master Yi's business in Yangzhou.
Captain.
Yes, Madam.
I asked you to investigate Master Yi's illegal activities.
Did you?
I have collected evidence of his smuggling activities.
That's not enough.
I have solid evidence that Master Yi's group massacred
Master Sul's merchant group that went to Tibet.
What?
Li Sixun's landscape painting was among the seized goods.
It is an authentic painting, a rare item to find even in the Yangzhou marketplace.
I had saved it to present it
to the inspector general upon our return to Shilla.
That would do.
Hand over your findings and the painting
to the Jie Du Shi of Jiangsu Province.
He colluded with the Yi Do-hyung Group,
and snuck arrowheads into a bundle carried by the merchant group that went to Tibet.
Captain Jang, take them to the Jie Du Shi and request an investigation.
Yes, sir.
My lady.
What is it?
He's alive. He is alive.
Goong-bok, who was dead, is alive.
So it can happen to us too
I never thought we'd have to say goodbye
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