#But his first meet with Bu-yeon kills me

[yemme]

Alchemy of Souls S2 ~ Jang Uk, ‘Bitch you crazy’ Face

[jaestrz]

Cold

Jang uk x reader

-

The first time you met Jang Uk, it was when your sister Cho yeon broke off the engagement with him. Yet you could only watch it from afar, thinking how strict your mother was. That time, no one really knew Jinyowon had a third child in the family. You spent your entire life without stepping outside right after your oldest sister Bu yeon went missing.

Maybe you did sneak out a few times and getting caught not long after. Earning an earful from Cho yeon’s guard and your mother. It wasn’t really a wonderful experience.

But something did happened once when you escaped.

You bumped into Jang uk and he managed to break the bracelet tracker you were forced to wear. But he looked a lot different than the last time you had saw him. His hair wasn’t that long anymore. Jang uk doesn’t smile as much as he used to. And his energy wasn’t brighter than others.

When people die, they change a lot.

If only you knew the consequences breaking it. Maybe you wouldn’t feel the need to suffer a thread seeing into your skin.

“It’s you again.” Jang uk called as you turn your back to look at male. You didn’t know what’s your purpose of escaping again. You roam your way around the village with zero idea of what to do next.

Was meeting Jang uk again a coincidence?

He looks like he’s half dead. You blinked. “What are you doing here?” You questioned.

“It should be me asking why would a Jinyowon be at a place like this. It’s not really a nice place to be at. Dangerous especially for a girl like you to be around.” Jang uk mentioned.

Just as you were about to talk, Jang uk noticed the servants were looking for you. The tight force on your wrist made you startled when he pulled you into a dim alleyway and kissed you when the servants passed by. When he pulled away, you looked at him blankly. His hand was still cupping your face. “ don’t even think about this. I was just protecting you from getting caught. Just go home- I mean safely. Just stay in that prison room or whatever you call it and never come back here. I don’t want to be in trouble.” Jang uk huffed, backing away from you.

That was the last word he said before he walk away, leaving you shock alone. You were too lost in your mind to notice that you had been caught again.

When you were brought back to your room, your mother was already standing in the middle of the room. She wasn’t really happy about this either.

And your night was spent with your mind thinking about him. You shouldn’t feel this way. He doesn’t feel the same. He’s a Songrim mage. You’re from Jinyowon. When you saw him from afar, doesn’t mean he could feel the same for you.

You meant nothing to him. Even when he meant everything to you.

-

“You’re going to marry someone from the Seo family and be the leader of Jinyowon.” Your mother said. “But you’re still going to live in this room with him.” She added.

“Why can’t you make Bu yeon or Cho yeon as the leader-”

“that’s the reason why i asked you to get married first. Don’t you like it? Getting to be the leader of Jinyowon with your loving husband by your side?” There was this adoration in your mothers eyes, like she’s thinking of the ‘perfect’ future for you and the man. You never decline your mother’s orders, but at the same time you couldn’t force yourself to obey to her this time.

You don’t love the man. Not when Uk was on your mind.

“the unanimous assembly wants to see the new leader of Jinyowon. You’re following me.” Your mother said.

You didn’t feel like yourself when you were there, while your mother was smiling. You hated everything that was going on but you ended up bowing to everyone. It wasn’t comfortable. Especially when a man named Jin Mu was keeping his eyes on you beside your mother.

you breathed. “I was appointed the leader. The third child in Jinyowon. Y/n.” You announced, hearing everyone was starting to fuss with their mumbling. It was loud enough to kill you. “But you’re the youngest. The leader should be Bu yeon.” There was a man named Ho yeon called out and your eyes went to him. You couldn’t say anything. “That’s why she is going to marry someone from the Seo family.” Your mother announced.

“Can we pretend like we’re married? Everyone is scared of you. Even if you don’t feel the same like I do… but please? I can’t stay in that room forever.” You pleaded to Jang uk. But he instead just gave you fake a laugh glare at you.

“you’re crazy. I’m not doing that. Find someone else to do it.” He said.

There was a layer of glass in your eyes, the tears threatening to spill out, you look up. Seeing how there was a star that was brighter than the others. You might as well die if you were going to marry someone you didn’t want to.

You felt disgusted. Disappointed in yourself for being the puppet show for your mother.

The door opened from afar and a man walked in that caught everyone’s attention. It wasn’t a member from the unanimous assembly. It wasn’t a part of the guard either.

But it was someone you were familiar with. Someone who you were hoping the impossible to come.

Jang uk.

“she can’t marry anyone else.” his voice was loud enough for everyone in the meeting to hear. You watch him, walking to your side before kissing your forehead and holding your hand.

This would be the second time he had kissed you without hesitating. If he continues to do this without having hard feelings, you might be the one to burst anytime soon.

His hand was warm. Holding the cold hand of yours. You have a feeling he might question you later. “we’re married and we hope to get your blessings.” The way he talks about it sounds so casual. Was it because he was so good at lying and you’re not?

He poured you some in the rice wine cup, pushing it closer to you and he sees you finishing it. The liquid went through your throat with a burning sensation. The only thing you thought was how strong his alcohol tolerance was but that didn’t stop you from refilling it and push over to his side.

The moment he picked up the glass, he heard you say something that made him stop.

“If you drink that then we’re officially married. That’s our wedding drink.” You stated.

you heard your mother calling out your name. Probably disappointed and confused. She wanted you to explain everything that has been going on. Disobeying your mother was the last thing you wanted to do.

When Jang uk wanted to take you away he was stopped. “I don’t allow you to take her away.” Your mother said.

“Y/n is my wife. She is under my responsibilities. Therefore I forbid her to stay in Jinyowon.” Jang uk said.

That was the last thing before you followed Jang uk out the door.

-

What was the reason he took you in? He didn’t even acknowledged your existence. He sent you to maidservant Kim to take care of you while he was gone.

You waited for him. The first day passed by and he wasn’t there. The second day, he still wasn’t there. And a week passed by, you were starting to think he didn’t want to see you again. With everyday, you keep asking maidservant Kim about him. And her replies will always be the same. He’s at Jeongjinak. That was the reply she would always give.

You couldn’t sleep well neither could eat.

Until one night, when he returned after being gone for a week. It was the night where you were actually miserably in pain.

It was like an untreated wound. The pain was unbearable. When he walked in, you were on the cold ground, sweating while silently holding it in. “what happened to you?” he doesn’t sound worried, nor panic about it.

It was harder to read him when you’re in desperate need of help.

“Mother stitched the thread tight in the skin on my shoulder.” You panted. Like you were running out of breath. It was the most painful thing you’ve had experienced.

Jang uk didn’t seem fazed. He just exist your room and went to maidservant Kim to ask her to accompany and put ointments before returning to his personal room.

But he couldn’t go to bed.

Not when you’re in pain.

But he was supposed to be this cold to you. Why is he worried. Did he sound too cruel to you? To him it was too harsh.

When he stopped by the front of your room, he stood there, wondering if he should go back in there. His ego took over him and he ended up leaving.

“What did she said?” Jang uk asked maidservant Kim.

“Y/n refuses to go home. She said she will bear the pain. The ointments and warm towel isn’t helping young master Jang.” Maidservant Kim vented. Jang uk felt a sense of pity in himself.

But he can’t show his emotions to anyone.

“Then put more ointments until the pain reduces.”

He hated himself for being that cold, but his blood was boiling and he went straight to Jinyowon.

The door opened, and Jang uk took the relics from Ho gyeong and smashes it. “Why would you do that!” She sounded him.

“my wife couldn’t sleep. please refrain from calling her in the middle of the night. she’s sick and adding pain to her will be only make y/n suffer. Please respect her as your daughter and as my wife. As you can see we are newlyweds.”

the only reason he came home. That was the reason. He was too worried to leave you alone with maidservant Kim when you’re sick. Maidservant Kim told him that you didn’t feel well and he came home. Just for you.

-

A sense of regret when he walked in your room. Seeing you unconscious on the cold floor, your face and lips turned pale.

Jang uk tucked you in bed, taking the cold damped towel cloth before placing it on your forehead. He lay down beside you and just watch your sleeping figure. He didn’t realized how many hours had passed by or how the sun had rise. Because Jang uk didn’t get any sleep.

It wasn’t because of the things that was bothering him. What’s surprising was they don’t appear anymore when you’re with him.

When you woke up, that was the first time you had seen him smile. After three years.

“Good morning love.” He kissed you again.

Third.

“I’m sorry for being cold to you. That shouldn’t happened.” He apologised. You couldn’t comprehend what you just witnessed. “I wished I took care of you earlier.” Jang uk breathed.

“will you give me a second chance to prove myself?”

You never thought this kind of moment would actually happen. Forgiveness is a powerful thing.

“ you will always have a second chance Jang uk.”

[ithecarpediem]

Unspoken words of hope (AO3)

In which we get the perspective of the remaining three seasons and the Crown Prince over the drama of our favorite couple, while they deal with their own wound hearts. Continuation of previous one shots from the "The brazier on a summer day". Follows the final events and epilogue of their happy ending .

Preview:

“You still fighting?” He leaned in curious, she nodded with solemn pout. My friend is truly pitiful one. “Why didn’t you say so before?”

“Before?”

“I thought you two were going to meet here today, that’s why you visit early….” They stared each as it dawn to them that Jang Uk did not know Bu-yeon was there. “Oh… It’s just a coincidence…?”

“I… I can’t be here.” She stood up in panic, the Crown Prince also felt a bit her panic for no reason other than he was a good friend.

“Wait, he is not here yet, Sharman.” He blinked around. “Wait… Why are you acting like it’s wrong to be here?” The future king stared his friend genuinely offended.

“Your Royal Highness, it’s not about us, it’s about Uk. You have no idea, I left without saying goodbye he will drag me home.” The priestess looked around concern. “Help me!”

“With what?”

“Say that… That you put me in charge of the investigation.”

“What investigation?”

“Are you not investigating my attempt murder?” Bu-yeon looked outrage. “I’m pregnant!”

“You are?”

“Of cour…” Bu-yeon stopped talking when she realized it wasn’t the prince who inquired.

The friends slowly turn to find Jang Uk himself with the open door, behind him stood Park Dang-gu, the Songrim leader, and Young Miss Cho-yeon, the heiress of Jinyowon, both staring them with wide eyes. Eunuch Oh was pale as a sheet staring the Crown Prince, clearly looking for orders; as for Prince Go, he peered at his darling turtle, as if she would help.

She did. The pretty thing wasn’t where she was supposed to be.

“Where’s my turtle?” He asked in a dark tone, Bu-yeon turned to him confused.

“You lost he?” She frowned looking around. “She’s not here…”

“The turtle was just here.” He replied going around the table. “Eunuch Oh prepare dinner for my guests. Lady Jang find the turtle and then you may go.”

See? I’m helping you, don’t forget. The noble prince arched his eyebrow to his friend, she nodded with a small relief smile.

“Wait a minute…” Jang Uk meddle in the conversation frowning at their exchange.

“Oh as you recalled, Jang Uk, your dear wife and I are close friends.” Prince Go took pleasure in his jealous expression.

“I thank you, Your Royal Highness.” Bu-yeon bowed her head quickly. “I’ll also started the investigation tomorrow. Now, if you excuse me…”

“What are you going to investigate?” Jang Uk stepped in front of his wife, who look at everything but him with a blasé face. Prince Go made a note to invite her to a game of cards any day, she seemed the type who would be good opponent.

“It’s none of your business, husband.”

“It is if you are putting my child in danger.” The whole room held the breath by what they were listening. This is a conversation to a private setting. Wiil I fight with my wife like this?

Sounds fun actually. The prince shake his head with the trail of thoughts.

“That’s rich coming from you, wasn’t your deceased bride who tried to kill me?” They are gasped by her sharp words. “Besides, I’m not pregnant.”

“You aren’t?”

“You aren’t?” Prince Go echoed Jang Uk narrowing his eyes to the sly woman.

“Of course not! That’s is no chance that I am.” She denied strongly. Too strongly.

“Not all?” Dang-gu peering at Jang Uk with judgment in his eyes, the Crown Prince tried to hold his laugh, because for a matter fact he knew that it was a lie from the small woman.

They always said goodnight and good morning to each other first, after all. Jang Uk’ss face made the whole thing much more entertaining.

“The turtle is the one who is pregnant!”  She announced, Prince Go opened his mouth too stunned to speak. “I’ll find her right way, Your Royal Highness.”

Bu-yeon went away after whisperer something to Cho-yeon, that nodded with a serious face to her old sister. Jang Uk gaze the air for a few heartbeats, before turning to follow his wife.

To his surprise both Crown Prince Go and Cho-yeon moved to stopped him. Dang-gu, of course, join them, making Jang Uk sitting down to about the whole situation with the Queen and Jin Mun. It wasn't an easy conversation, even more that Uk was already fuming in rage because of Bu-yeon. In that sense the guidance of both Par Dang-gu and Jin Cho-yeon helped their overcome their differences.

“How will justify this meeting thought?” The young Spring inquired frowning. “Master Jin Mu will know.”

“The original plan was that I have come to accept the palace's apology for my wife’s attempted murder.” Jang Uk replied. “But that was ruin since she was already here before.”

“How about our marriage?” Dang-gu turned to the heiress, which made both the Crown Prince and the Ice Stone user eyed them. “We came to ask you blessing for our marriage, since they wanted to marry you and Young Miss Jin.”

“That was ages ago.” The future king stared them incredulous.

“Your Royal Highness the Queen still summons me for tea, Crown Prince.”

“Is that so?” That intrigued him. “Very well, I shall give you both my full support, I’m guessing your plan is that Young Miss Cho-yeon leave her title of heiress.”

“And since that would made Uk the husband of the future leader, he came to give his support.” Dang-gu nodded satisfy. “A little truth, and a little lie. They will believe.”

“How about we make a little more of it?” Jang Uk suggested. “The Crown Prince can be offended and refuse to help, even more, he can demand the hand of my sister-in-law.”

“What?” Dang-gu eyed his friend offended. “Why would…?”

“It might be for the better.” The noblewoman said with a thoughtful pout, very alike her older sister. “Would be good excuse for me and unnie to enter the palace, and Jin Mu would think you are all fighting.”

By the end of the meeting, they all dinner together, carefully crafting their little story. It was fun, Prince Go was surprise that politics could be this nice with allies. The only people he usually talked about was the King and Jin Mu, and they always felt like their were ready to scold him.

Well, and the shaman, he owed Bu-yeon for making his days a little less lonely. However, she did not know who he was back then.

For the first time in years he felt light and content. The conversation changed to more mundane topics, the prince almost felt like they were all friends. Then the dinner ended with Dang-gu and Cho-yeon leaving together, while pretending they weren’t going to a secret date, while the Ice Stone user linger around.

Clearly waiting for someone.

“Is that anything else, Jang Uk?” He asked arching his brown while savory sweet tea.

“Yes, I’m waiting for my wife.” The mage chewed the cream biscuit.

“You think she will come back with you here?”

“Your turtle is precious after all…”

“Jang Uk, allow me to give you an advice…”

“I do not need counsel on my marriage from a eunuch.” He replied through gritted teeth.

“It’s not my fault that your wife didn’t understand when I clue her that I was royalty.” The future leader of Daeho scoffed at the man. “Now, listen, because she did and that action improve your marriage.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well… She did go to wish you good night every night, didn’t she?” Jang Uk had murder in his eyes now. “Calm down, before you freeze the whole palace, alright? If you really want to talk to her, you need to apologize first, the woman is quite cross with you.”

“She is?”

“Well, it looks like that… What did you do anyway?” The mage fell in silence and the prince arched his eyebrow remembering her words from before “Wasn’t your bride who tried to kill me?”. Looks like Jin Mu was right. “She knows about Naksu.”

“She knows about Mu-deok.” He agreed.

The name felt like a punch in the stomach, filthy Mu-deok… The very reason why Crown Prince Go end up becoming a farce. One of his closest friend, the one who would tell him the truth without really telling the truth, the first subject that the prince actually felt like he should earn her respect and loyalty. She deceived him all along.

“Will you blame that individual and get rid of them?” She asked in their last conversation with impossible understanding eyes.

The Crown Prince sent her away without a proper goodbye, it was only later that he realized that even though he demanded her to go away, the servant girl end up taking all the blame because of him. Jin Mu said himself, and while he knew it was an attempt to manipulate him, the terrible truth was that the prince should have arrest the man at first sight.

 But he didn’t, and for years now, he carried the pain of his sins. The guilty for Jang Uk, for Mu-deok, for the bloodshed, for letting Jin Mun live through it all.

Bu-yeon, Jang Uk’s new bride, was just like that too. A good friend, who somehow understood the royal too well, and was put in dangerous because of him and political game again.

Well, I’m not making the same mistake twice.

“Filthy Mu-deok… Very few calls her that. It’s not even her real name, isn’t it?”

“Yes… Her name was…” Jang Uk paused for a moment, because the pain of regret would always be there. “Cho Yeong.”

“Well, Bu-yeon is not the type of woman to resent one because of the past. I know because she told me so about her old lover.”

“She what?”

“Don’t pretend you weren’t the same, you also had a peacock, making her suffer to.” Jang Uk crossed his arms speechless. “My advice here, Jang Uk is quite simple: break into her room and talk about your feelings.”

“What? That’s it?”

“The simplest thing can be the hardest quest, Jang Uk. Look at us… I want to be the king and you don't, still, people will try to pin us against each other. How did we resolve the issue?”

Jang Uk made a face that he didn’t like anything he was hearing, but for a matter of fact, the Crown-Prince Go was right – as usual. Jin Mu had tried to make they enemies over and over again, the Gwangju even told him about the secret of Jang Uk’s birth, something the prince chose to keep to himself for now.

“Is not only that, we both know that.” He said in a sharp tone, the prince avoided his eyes. “My loathe for you goes deeper than some stupid political game.”

“As I said before, I understand, I truly do. Still, you have my trust to do the right thing not only to Daeho, but for your wife as well.”

The mage nodded, then he drank the rest of his tea before going out to get his wife’s forgiveness. The future king smile to himself very satisfy by the events of the day, he truly outdone himself this time. Too bad I’m so good in helping others and not myself.

“That’s terrible advice, you know.” Bu-yeon said behind him, the nobleman turned on his chair startled. The woman was standing in the shadows by the windows caressing the turtle in her arms. Somehow it was a chilling vision. “I do not wish to talk to him, let alone about my… Feelings.”

“How… How did you get in here?” He blinked surprise as the priestess gently put the turtle in her pool.

“You two are after Jin Mun… My uncle.” He didn’t miss the way her voice changed to a deadly tone. “Is he the one who tried to kill me?”

“Yes.”

“Did he also kill Naksu? Jang Uk’s bride?”

“He… He caused it, she followed his orders blindly.”

“And yet you let him go? You must really consider her less than filthy.” He frowned not liking how honest she was, where did all her gentle manners went?

“It’s not as simples as you think.”

“Then, it shouldn’t be too complicated, after all the simplest thing are the hardest.” She sat down in front of him, an icy glare studied him now.

Her behavior made him pause again, it was the same feeling he got when she first arrived.

“There something else, isn’t? It’s been bothering me since you got here, something is different in you, shaman.”

She smirked at him, almost wicked, a strange cleverness appeared in the woman’s eyes.

“Oh… I recover some of my memories, actually. The ones that were locked away for a very long time…” She stared her hands.

The royal blinked remembering their previously conversations, she said once that her past was like bottomless lake, no matter how deep the shaman dived she couldn't catch more than the glimpses of her old life. He even helped her exploring a few places, trying to figure it out if she could recover more memories.

“Congratulations, my friend, I know how much you've been suffering from your remembering dilemma.” He said in a nonchalant manner, it didn't seem right to congratulate the shaman judging her reaction.

“… With them I also recover this wretched feeling of violence and wickedness.���

Prince Go stopped his motions for a moment, the unexpected words were unsettling to say the least. The woman in front of him seemed to light up now, there was a sinister fury and hatred burning in her eyes, the very air around Bu-yeon tremble with her presence alone. This was the most powerful priestess of Jinyowon.

Then, he realized.

Her words. They were familiar.

It was his words.

“Tell me, prince Go, do you still vehemently despise seeing me and Uk together?”

Filthy Mu-deok.

“It’s not possible.”

“Before calling your guards, you should give me the courtesy to listen my story.” She poured herself a cup of tea. “After all, the same fate that happen to me could occur to your mother.”

“Are threaten me?”

“Crown Prince! I’d never dare!” She looked almost offended. “To tell the truth, you don’t really know what happen with Naksu.”

“You are Naksu.”

“I used to be her, just like I used to be Mu-deok.” The soul shifter calmly took a sip. “Jin Mu raise me to be an assassin, as you know, in a way we were trained by the same master. We are fellow pupils.”

“How sentimental of you.” He spat reaching his hand under the table.

“Danju, it was what I called him.” She looked to the window. “Don’t even think about using that sword, I may not be able fight but I have divine powers.”

“What?” He dropped immediately the thought of summoning his sword.

“That day, my last day, I heard two things: Jin Mu’s voice and the bells. I didn’t blindly follow his orders, I was going to marry Uk and be happy, for what should I take revenge? My poor father? That was Jin Mu’s doing anyway.”

“What are you saying?”

“I was controlled with a curse, is something that Jin Mu’s can do with soul shifters, Seo Yul told me about it and he can explain better to you. That’s for later, for now, I want you to think about it: who is a soul shifter supporting our abominable master?”

It was too much information, all at once, but he was trained for this. The Crown Prince poured himself a tea, accepting her game for now. She was at least a very entertainer talker.

“My mother.” He took a sip. “Does that mean you can still lose control?”

“No, I have divine powers now. Master Lee can vouch for me if you want.”

“How can this be? You took another body…”

“I didn’t, this is the body of Bu-yeon, the heiress of Jinyowon. Once upon a time, they called her Mu-deok…”

The assassin soul shifter then told the whole story to the prince. Naksu had taken over the body, in order to save it she had merged with it that’s why her true face took form, however soon the real Bu-yeon would come back.

The more the soul shifter spoke, the more stunned he became. It was an unprecedented tragedy, the woman in front of him survived things one couldn't begin to fathom. By the end of her tale, the Crown Prince Go made up his mind.

I’ll end this travesty for once and all.

Continue to read on AO3

[aer-in-wanderland]

구미호뎐 | Tale of the Nine Tailed - Ji Ah’s Fate & the Korean Mythology Surrounding It (requested by @kestrel-of-herran)

Ask: One of the most fascinating things for me is the prophecy the fortune teller told Ji Ah when she gave him the fox bead. I feel like that's important foreshadowing for the drama's ending. How would you translate and interpret that?

Note: words/terms left in Korean require context and will be discussed below.

EP06 The Four Pillars of Fate - Ji Ah Trades the Fox Bead

Ji Ah: I’ll repay this eunhye no matter what, please? 

Fortune Teller: Okay, okay! You were a princess in your past life, do you think you’re a princess now? You think if you whine enough you can have anything. Ei! Your hand. Give me thine hand. (Ji Ah extends her right hand). Left hand!

Ji Ah: (changing hands) Left hand. 

Fortune Teller: You were born with a very special saju weren’t you! Water and fire vie on par, earth is clouded, but metal will subdue it, so though darkness should surround you (literally: all four directions, heaven, and earth), a moon rises in your sky. 

Ji Ah: I’m not sure what you mean...?

Fortune Teller: You have the fox bead! For that is your moon.

Ji Ah: Excuse me?

Fortune Teller: Give to me the fox bead. Even without a moon, your saju is overflowing enough. Therefore...!

Ji Ah: I’ll give it to you! I don’t believe in such things as palja. 

Fortune Teller: The deal...has been accepted. 

Ji Ah: Pardon? Already?

Fortune Teller: Your palm lines. Your palm lines have changed. 

(Note: I translated this working from the raw, so I haven’t seen the subs to be able to comment on them). 

Eunhye (은혜)

Commonly translated as a ‘favor’ or ‘debt,’ ‘eunhye’ is distinct from both of these both linguistically and conceptually. When Yeon says that foxes are obligated to repay ‘debts,’ he’s actually talking about eunhye. ‘Debt’ is another word entirely (빚) and it does appear occasionally. The two are distinct. The glowing ring bonds formed between Yeon and Ah Eum, and Rang and Sajang are both manifestations of eunhye. 

One Korean folktale in which eunhye features famously is the tale of the Grateful Magpies (은혜갚은 까치, literally: ‘the magpies who repaid their eunhye’). Shin Joo refers to this in EP02 when Yeon tells him about returning Ji Ah’s eyesight to her even after she tranquilized him:

Shin Joo: And you’re saying you just let her go? And returned her sight, too? 

Yeon: Since rules are rules.

Shin Joo: It’s not as if we’re magpies meticulously repaying our eunhye! Geez, how long do we have to be bound by that sort of premodern contractual relationship?

Eunhye is difficult to translate but can be approximated as ‘help or favor (as in ‘to favor someone’) given willingly.’ In my mind, rather than a debt which is a negative concept, eunhye is more of a positive concept. There’s a voluntary, good faith/good will element to it. So you’re ‘indebted’ as the result of a good deed done for you. Except it’s not so voluntary if you’re a gumiho, apparently. 

In contrast, when Yeon tells Eodukshini, ‘I’ll repay this debt shortly,’ in EP08 (could also be translated sarcastically as ‘I’ll return the favor shortly’), he uses the actual word for debt (빚) - no good will to be had here on either side. 

Saju Palja (사주팔자）

Literally ‘four pillars eight characters’ (四柱八字), commonly translated as the ‘four pillars of destiny/fate.’ The concept comes from the Chinese astrological concept that a person’s destiny or fate can be divined by the two sexagenary cycle characters assigned to their birth year, month, day, and hour. For more on that, I’ll refer you to Wikipedia. ;) 

In EP02, when Yeon asks Taluipa to look into whether Ji Ah’s parents are alive or dead, he has Ji Ah text him their saju (birth dates and times). 

I’m not sure how palmistry fits in with the concept, and am no expert in astrology, western or eastern, so I can’t offer any interpretation of the fortune teller’s prophecy, but if anyone wants to try looking into it I’d be intrigued to hear what you find. Apparently, the writer spent 2.5 years on the script, so I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that there’s actual meaning behind it. 

The Fox Bead (여우 구슬)

Fox beads are a common earmark of gumiho lore in both Korea and Japan (and probably China, too, but I don’t know enough Chinese to speak to that). In most tellings I’ve encountered, a fox can’t live without their bead, but that doesn’t appear to be the case for Yeon. I was also intrigued by the following exchange he has with the Magistrate in EP06:

Yeon: That’s the Mirror of the Moon. Do you mean to harm (literally: catch) a human with one of the four great mountain gods’ four great treasures meant to protect all creation? 

Magistrate: And so, did your fox bead protect all of creation? Or did it protect one person?

To my thinking, this implies that Yeon’s fox bead is being attributed to his status as a mountain god as much as it is to his being a fox. None of our other foxes seem to have one, but none of them are gumiho (gu = nine, ie. the number of tails), much less cheonho (heavenly foxes) like Yeon. 

I’m actually a little unclear on this front as well. According to the excerpt from the Hyeonjoong’gi (玄中記) at the start of the first episode, foxes that live to be a hundred can take human form and foxes that live to be a thousand become cheonho. Shin Joo is obviously at least 600 years old but he doesn’t appear to be anywhere near Yeon’s caliber (or even Rang’s who is half human), something he says himself, and in the spin-off he only had one tail. Yoo Ri is younger still. It’s unclear to me whether they will ‘level up' if they live long enough, or if they will never be as powerful as Yeon, regardless of how long they live. I get the sense it’s the latter. Both Yeon and Shin Joo have said that Yeon was of a different caliber from the very beginning (in EP02 and EP03, respectively). 

Finally, we haven’t been told much about the fox bead’s powers other than emitting an aura only Yeon can see (sometimes) and suppressing Imoogi inside of Ji Ah. I’m hoping we see it again before the series wraps, but not convinced they’ll have time to recover it given everything else that needs to happen.

On another note, based on the preview for EP15, it appears that the Magistrate’s Mirror of the Moon will be coming back into play. My guess is that Imoogi is going to steal it from the Magistrate and use it on Taluipa. She was shown turned to stone in the background while Yeon and Terry-Imoogi fight. That’s originally her power, so I think Imoogi may use the mirror against her similarly to how the Magistrate ‘absorbed’ the sword Yeon sent flying at him and re-directed it at Ji Ah. 

The Jeo Seung Shi Wang (저승 시왕)

The Ten Kings of the Afterlife (jeo-seung-shi-wang) [저승 시왕], as they’re known in the drama, are more commonly called the Ten Kings of the Underworld (myeong-bu-shi-wang) [명부 시왕・冥府十王]. In the subs they appear as the Afterlife Judges, which is accurate in that this is one of the key roles that they perform. As we're told in EP13, the fortune teller is actually one of them. 

Yeon: What’s the word? That fortune teller, did you find out about him?

Snail Bride: I’ve been asking around via our patrons. 

Yeon: He didn’t seem to be just another low-level native (Korean) god. What’s the geezer’s deal?

Snail Bride: This seems like just a baseless rumour, but there was talk that one of the Ten Kings of the Afterlife who rule over hell leaves his position without notice at odd times.

Yeon: Heh...Interesting. In any case, relay any news you hear about that geezer to me as soon as you hear it. 

While the Snail Bride seems to doubt the validity of the rumour, Yeon appears confident it’s true. He later relays this to Team Fox at their strategy meeting:

Yeon: Do you remember the fortune teller we met at the Korean Folk Village?

Ji Ah: Of course I remember! (Shooting Rang a dirty look) Because of someone [your] fox bead was stolen from us.

Rang: I heard rumour he’s a major big shot. Is it true?

Yeon: He’s one of the Ten Kings of Hell. 

Rang: What?!

Yeon: They say he’s also in possession of the Uiryeong’geom (geom = sword). 

Rang: No way~

Jae Hwan: What’s the Uiryeong’geom?

Shin Joo: It’s a sword that cuts evil (literally: sins). 

Jae Hwan: Cuts...evil, you said?

Shin Joo: It’s sword they say was made in ancient days by King Yeomra himself from a branch he broke off of the Uiryeongsu (su = tree) that weighs sins. But, didn’t that disappear from the world several thousand years ago? 

Yeon: (Shaking his head) Uh-uh. The Snail Bride just picked it up.

As you may recall, the Ten Kings are the ones who put a celestial hit on Rang which led Yeon to track him down and pretend to kill him (thanks for the angst), and they’re the ones who passed judgement on Yeon after he killed the mudang (shamanness) and sentenced him to time in the Snow Mountain Prison. 

It appears that there was some confusion going around that the fortune teller is King Yeomra. Given the above dialogue, I can see where people may have understood his possession of the sword to indicate that, and, in truth, we don’t know which of the Ten Kings he is. That being said, I think if King Yeomra was frequently vacating his post without notice, someone would have said something. I also think Yeomra is a big enough name that if it were him they would’ve just come out and said so. Yeomra is also Taluipa’s brother so she, at least, would know. My assumption was that he was one of the other, less well known kings. 

To conclude, this has all been a long way of saying that I have no idea what Ji Ah’s palja will mean for her fate. What I can provide is a little context. I’m not familiar with the sword, and it doesn’t turn up when I google it, so I suspect it was invented for the purpose of the show. Whether it remains a red herring until the end or shows up in the final hour remains to be seen. 

[dreamingsushi]

True Beauty - Episode 5

So since we’re done with all that Mono and Probe thingy for the day, it’s time to move back to True Beauty, which is wholesome, even though Jugyeong kind of bothers me. I mean, there is no perfect drama. Even the Untamed wasn’t perfect even though it’s one of my all time favorites. I just realized though that I don’t really remember what happened last, so we’re going... INTOOOO THE UNKNOOOOOWN! INTO THE UNKNOOOOWN! And the Frozen moment is over.

Oh yeah! That’s right! Seojun gave her the keys to his motorcycle and told her that he would listen to her. And Suho was upset and told her not to follow him. I remember now, I remember. Tension <3 The fight has begun.

Jugyeong wants to return his keys to Seojun, but he won’t take them back. Also he bought her some juice and she tells him she likes strawberry flavour. I have to agree that strawberry is better than orange. Anyways. Later in science lab class, Suho keeps a seat for her next to him, gives away the juice to someone else to replace it with strawberry juice. He’s so cute, getting all jelly. Jugyeong is kind of happy about it. I mean pretty happy about it, she can’t even concentrate on class.

During lunch, Seo Jun comes to eat next to Jugyeong and she tells him to piss off. But he won’t of course. He even steals her cutlet. Which should be a criminal act. Never still fried stuff from other’s people plate. Like, ever. Do I love fried things? Me? No, I don’t see what you’re talking about. Anyways, so Seojun’s friends bring her many more cutlets and she gets pissed. And ends spitting all her mouth of rice onto Seojun. Well deserved. It’s just embarrassing for poor Jugyeong.

Then later they meet in the hallway, Jugyeong having a long piece of toilet paper attached to her skirt. Why? Like how is this even possible in the first place? Anyways, she takes it off and then some guys come in with a ball and they push Jugyeong and Seojun catches her while she falls. People are oooouing and she gets up promptly, hitting Seojun with her head in the process. He needs to stop ):

At night, Suho calls by accident Jugyeong and ends up talking with her brother. When she sees he’s the caller, she hangs up, embarrassed. So, after a few weird noises that I made cause I was filled of happiness from the cuteness of it, here’s what happened. So Jugyeong calls back once she’s back in her bedroom and he asks if they can meet, so she can hand him back his clothe (the one that big sister threw up on). On her way out, she notices the shirt isn’t dried yet, so goes empty handed to the park. Then she learns Suho lives alone. Then, conveniently, there’s a basket ball, so Suho shows off a little bit, but he can’t shoot properly it seems. Then Jugyeong plays a little and while she’s chasing the ball, she falls and Suho catches her into a hug. It’s getting annoying that she’s so clumsy, but at the same time... THE FEEEEEEEELS. I had to take a minute there, just to enjoy the moment. Then he hugs her more and when he pulls away, he’s like, how was it? And she’s like, what, the hug? He tells her he changed his detergent and wonders if the scent is okay. omg. Seriously. He’s so flushed though, so when the comic bookstore owner comes by, he runs to hug him and ask about the scent. Seriously. How can we go from “cuteness overload” to hilarious? TELL ME. That’s a great scene. 12/10. Then he walks her home. He’s dreamy. And he takes the bike away from her house. I believe. At least he takes the keys.

He called for towing haha. Good job. I just remembered that from the webtoon, that’s right. Also, he’s going back to the basketball team and Seojun wants to compete against him so he joins the team for field day.

Jugyeong helps a younger girl who was being bullied for having the singing solo for Field day. The girls mock her for being “ugly”. So Jugyeong throws dirty water a their faces and tries to comfort Go Won. She watches make up tutorial while she’s waiting for the bus, thinking she could her and Suho comes to sit with her. Then he tells her that she’s pretty without make up <3333 YES! She is! After asking on some forums, she decides to ask him on a date, so they will go to the movies after the field day. She’s so happy that he says yes. So cute!

Big sis is chasing again the teacher and takes him out for dinner. The teacher doesn’t get the right order and he can’t handle spicy food. He ends up spitting in the sister’s face after she wipes his mouth. I love their dynamic, it’s funny, fresh. I mean, it’s not realistic, but it seems totally deliberate and I like that. So she bluntly confesses her feelings hahaa.

Jugyeong help Gowoon with her make up and the whole singing part was just... so beautiful. I actually cried a little. It was like a bird who thought it couldn’t fly finally spread its wings. So heartwarming.

She has to help Soo ah in being a mascot and then she sees Suho. Who basically tells her to piss off, that he’s tired of taking care of her out of pity. Poor Jugyeong is on the verge of crying, but she tells him that she never asked to be cared for and tells him to stop pitying her. Seems he’s doing that because Seojun still pesters him about the death of Seyeon and threatens to tell Jugyeong he killed a friend. Ugh. You’re so childish Seojun...

The last event of the festival is a concert and they end it on the latest song of Se Yeon. Suho starts feeling bad about it and Jugyeong learns they were close friends. Then when her father drops her clothes, she notices Suho’s jacket is the jacket from the guy who saved her when she tried to commit suicide. So instead of washing up, she runs to the build where she tried to kill herself, which of course also happens to be the building where Se Yeon killed himself. Suho is crying over there, she finds him and hugs him, comforts him.

And that’s all for episode 5! This gets better as I watch it. It’s not going to make it to my list of favourite of all times, but it’s definitely enjoyable! I’m looking forward next episode!