BASED ON THE KINGDOM OF THE GODS BY YLAB
You mean to say...
3 YEARS AGO
...that this plant can resurrect the dead?
That is correct.
They will not die even if you try to slice or stab them.
They turn into monsters with an undying thirst...
for human flesh and blood.
That's impossible. How could the dead possibly--
It is true.
So?
Why are you showing me this plant?
Are you suggesting we resurrect our dead soldiers
so that they can fight the Japanese invaders?
No.
Corpses that have already started to rot
cannot be resurrected.
And we cannot kill our soldiers just to turn them into monsters.
We should not squander our military manpower like that.
Then what on earth are you trying to say?
The diseased people in Sumang Village.
Let us kill them.
If we turn them into monsters...
and make them fight against the Japanese army,
we'll be able to survive this crisis.
Are you serious about this?
They will be considered useless...
no matter where they go, anyway.
We are willing to endure bloodshed to fight off the Japanese,
so that we could protect our land and people.
But this?
Now you're suggesting...
that we kill our people with our own hands?
We cannot do that.
Bring the dead back to life?
I cannot believe...
such nonsense, either.
Have you been fighting...
for the lowly commoners?
That is not why I've been fighting.
What I have been trying to protect...
are the royal family, the backbone of this country, and their traditions.
In order to do so,
I will do just about anything.
Soon, countless Japanese soldiers will flock here.
However, we only have about 500 soldiers left.
So how long do you insist on putting benevolence and righteousness first?
Lord Ahn.
Consider...
the countless people in Sangju.
This is but a small sacrifice...
necessary to save those people.
All will be fine...
if just the two of us...
turn a blind eye to it.
SUMANG VILLAGE
The Japanese army will invade our land soon.
Close the gate facing Sangju.
Open the one on the opposite side...
facing the canal.
I will not forget your sacrifice.
And one day, I will pay back my debt.
To stop the creatures that rose from the dead,
you must aim for their head.
I do not believe this.
How is this possible?
Lord Ahn Hyeon definitely passed away.
That is correct.
Just as all of you had witnessed,
he had indeed passed away.
But that female physician resurrected him,
just like how Cho Hak-ju brought my father back from the dead.
Now, tell us...
everything you saw and heard.
Lee Seung-hui, the physician who taught me,
recorded everything in his patient journal.
This plant is called the resurrection plant.
He used it to bring His Majesty back from the dead,
and that's why this plague broke out in Gyeongsang.
This is Father's patient journal, which she just mentioned.
He tried to disclose the truth.
The Haewon Cho Clan...
and their leader, Cho Hak-ju,
are accusing me of plotting treason.
However, what I want is not the throne.
What I truly want...
is to punish the Haewon Cho Clan...
for degrading our nation.
The Haewon Cho Clan is guilty of mortal sin.
They have treated the corpse of the late king...
with abominable disrespect just so that they could keep their power.
They oppressed the commoners, who were ravaged by the war.
And they deliberately starved them...
by taking away their food.
The Haewon Cho Clan's greed...
caused this atrocious plague.
Now, open your eyes and ears!
Listen to the people...
and heed the reality of this country.
It is now time...
to decide what the right thing is to do.
Will you join me?
THE CITADEL OF SANGJU
The people inside the citadel
will not be able to hold out for much longer.
We must get some food there as soon as we can.
Even the most skilled soldiers we have
cannot ward them all off.
They greatly outnumber us.
We escaped through this canal.
If we fill wagons with food and take this route,
it may work.
We are the ones most familiar with the area.
We shall go.
Our families are still inside the citadel.
Please allow us to do it.
You will be completely vulnerable.
Will you be able to do it?
We will take...
this route.
If you can cover us along the way...
we may be able to do this.
You will be visible just after you cross the river,
but you will soon enter the mountains.
How can we cover you when we cannot even see how far you have gone?
Fire.
Fire!
FIRE
Near the canal.
They are launching bombs near the canal.
Make haste, everyone!
Make haste! Quickly, now!
We have arrived.
-They're here. -We're saved!
-Thank you! -Thank you for saving us.
Goodness, what is going on?
His Royal Highness has managed to take down Lord Cho Hak-ju
and has taken control of Mungyeong Saejae.
Is that right?
He could not come with us
for he must head to Hanyang to resolve this matter,
but I come bearing a message from him.
It is impossible
to get everyone out of the citadel safely.
However, we will continue to supply you with food using this method,
so try to hold out here for as long as you can.
Chin up, everyone!
BASE CAMP IN MUNGYEONG SAEJAE
How is he doing?
His body temperature keeps dropping.
But...
you are certain that my uncle will not turn into a monster, correct?
Not everyone who has been bitten by the resurrected
turns into a monster.
Dan-i, who was bitten by His Majesty in Hanyang,
did not turn into a monster.
But he did become bedridden and die eventually.
The symptoms changed at Jiyulheon in Dongnae.
Those who ate Dan-i's flesh turned into monsters...
and started spreading the disease.
Then,
what will become of my uncle?
He won't be infected by the disease.
But if we cannot find a way to treat him,
he will eventually die as Dan-i did.
Seo-bi, please save his life.
I understand what my uncle did to His Majesty cannot be forgiven,
but we cannot let him die such a horrible death.
I had no choice...
but to helplessly let Dan-i die.
But this time, I will be sure to cure him.
If I cure him and find out what is causing such symptoms to manifest,
I should be able to find a way to bring the plague under control for good.
All right. Whatever you do, please save my uncle's life.
His body is ice-cold.
I will go fetch some herbs that will warm him up.
Sure, all right.
Seo-bi, wait.
Would this work?
This is some rare medicine that the Queen asked for.
This is sappanwood, used to treat gynecological conditions.
We cannot treat Lord Cho with this.
Wait.
Did you say...
Her Majesty asked for this?
This isn't for Her Majesty herself, correct?
Why do you think I tried so hard to get this if it were not for the Queen?
You mean to say that the Queen took this herself?
That cannot be.
Did Her Majesty take it recently?
What difference does that make
when my uncle is at death's door?
Please, tell me.
I had to get some last month as well as the month before.
What is wrong?
Your Royal Highness.
We have a problem.
What happened?
Where are the soldiers who were on guard here?
They were found dead behind the building.
Who did this?
Who did this, I ask you?
I heard that Your Royal Highness' personal guard
passed the three gates with a carriage,
saying it was your orders.
What is this place?
His Majesty collapsed a few days ago due to smallpox,
so the palace is in chaos now.
I am the only one who can look after you,
so I was worried about leaving you all alone right before you are due.
This is my close acquaintance's residence,
so stay here for a few days.
But if I am here,
who will cook and make your bed
when you come home even for just a few hours?
I would...
like to stay beside you.
I do not know what I did to deserve such a loving wife
when you have suffered much due to your foolish husband.
I apologize.
I truly am sorry.
I understand.
Do not worry about me.
It will only be for a few days.
Stay here for just a few days
and look after yourself.
Show her into her bedroom.
This way, please.
You made a wise decision.
I am truly glad that you brought her here yourself.
You are ensuring your wife's safety,
and we are getting what we want.
If...
anything bad happens to my wife,
I will never...
I will never let it slide.
Who do you think you are to threaten me?
Shall I go grab your wife by her hair and drag her here...
so I can kill her before your eyes?
I understand that the Crown Prince is fond of you, but do you think
that a mere guard can stand against the Haewon Cho Clan?
I need to know where the Crown Prince goes and whom he meets.
Report everything to me.
That is the only way...
to ensure your safety...
and your family's as well.
Do I make myself clear?
It has already been four hours since they left.
They are carrying a patient, but they must've gotten far by now.
If Cho Hak-ju reaches Hanyang before we do,
he'll return with the rest of the Five Armies.
The people are still scarred by the war.
We cannot let our country implode again.
But how will you catch him?
There are many routes to get to Hanyang from here.
I am a tiger hunter.
I'm better at chasing a target than anyone.
Please allow me to accompany you.
Is anyone outside?
HANYANG CONFERENCE HALL
Why have we not received word yet?
We have not heard anything from the Queen's Palace yet.
But her labor pains began hours ago!
Perhaps something has gone wrong?
Stop making such a fuss and sit back down.
You are distracting all of us.
Are you all not curious, though?
His Majesty was falling in and out of consciousness due to the plague.
So why did the Chief State Councillor take His Majesty to Mungyeong Saejae?
That is not important right now.
This is about whether or not we can restore the backbone of this kingdom.
Who took the pregnant women and the children?
How dare you!
You dare have the audacity to suspect Her Majesty?
If Her Majesty finds out about this,
you will...
face a brutal punishment at once!
Are you keeping a close watch on the Queen's Palace?
Yes, sir.
We are closely monitoring everyone related to the Queen's Palace,
from all the court ladies to court maids and even water maids.
Sir.
I heard something strange from the people who lent palanquins to Naeseonjae.
It seems the people at Naeseonjae borrowed six palanquins last night, not three.
How can we help you?
We must check something in the servants' quarters urgently.
We cannot let anyone in at the moment.
Can't we even check the servants' quarters?
We are looking for evidence of a serious crime.
Step aside.
What is this about?
Her Majesty is about to give birth.
How dare you cause a scene here? This will not go unpunished.
The guards at the East Gate told us that they saw
three palanquins entering the Queen's Palace around 10 p.m. last night.
A few wet nurses came
to breastfeed the baby.
Right. The guards said they let the palanquins in
without even asking who were inside because you told them so.
However,
I must know who was in those palanquins.
As I said, it was the wet nurses.
Step aside.
What on earth happened?
We arrested him for entering the Office of Royal Delivery at the Queen's Palace.
You barged into the Queen's Palace, knowing that Her Majesty is in labor?
Did you not know that even the king cannot enter the Office of Royal Delivery?
I understand that you are the head of the Royal Commandery Division,
but you shall be punished as this is a serious offense.
The head of Royal Commandery has been arrested,
and all the soldiers that were searching Naeseonjae...
have left.
How dare they try to investigate me?
Those rats in Royal Commandery have dug their own graves.
No one can outsmart Your Majesty.
The Royal Commandery Division has lost its power,
so there is no one to get in Your Majesty's way now.
What...
about the baby?
I have sent the rest of the pregnant women back to Naeseonjae.
I believe...
we can expect good news soon.
Sir! We need to stop for a few minutes.
Sir!
He seems to be in critical condition.
Sir!
His body is ice-cold,
and I can barely feel his pulse.
How much longer do you think he will hold out?
At this rate, he will die soon.
We must find a place to lie him down.
Wait...
Wait, Seo-bi.
Goodness.
They went that way.
It is the only route to Hanyang,
so we should be able to catch them.
Why did you not do anything?
You knew, Your Royal Highness.
You knew that he had betrayed you.
I did not want to lose yet another person from my life.
That is why.
I wanted to trust him.
Sir.
When will His Royal Highness arrive?
You said he told you to leave first.
How is Lord Cho?
I managed to stabilize his condition, but he does not seem to be doing too well.
We should wait for His Royal Highness here.
No, we will leave now.
Get ready.
Did His Royal Highness...
really say we should leave first?
You never intended to wait for him, did you?
I do not know why you are acting this way,
but you should not.
His Royal Highness was very fond of you, and has relied on you so much.
And you were always by His Royal Highness's side, keeping him safe.
I told you to get ready.
I will not.
There is something I must tell His Royal Highness.
This is sappanwood, a type of medicinal tree that only grows in Japan.
It is very rare and expensive, meaning it is difficult to procure.
-What of it? -Typically, it is used to...
remove blood clots after a miscarriage or birth
or to alleviate symptoms that arise from improper or lack of postpartum care.
It is very potent,
so it cannot be given to anyone who is pregnant.
What are you trying to say?
I heard...
that Her Majesty has been taking it.
What are you saying?
You just said that it cannot be taken during pregnancy.
The magistrate told me so.
He said that Her Majesty takes this.
He must be mistaken.
I, too, cannot fathom what is going on.
But if it is true,
we must tell His Royal Highness.
We must find out why Her Majesty is taking it.
-Wait. -Yes?
-Are you all done? -Yes.
Did you just say...
it is normally taken after a miscarriage or birth?
Yes.
Are you all right, my lord?
Where are we?
What is this?
What is it...
used for?
What is that?
At Naeseonjae, I saw pregnant women who seemed to be due soon.
Why were they gathered there?
What are you plotting over there?
Answer me.
Escort Lord Cho!
Yes, sir!
Sir!
Seo-bi,
the thing is...
my uncle told me to do this, so I had no choice.
Seo-bi, come with us.
If you refuse, he will kill you as well.
Go.
Go...
and find out, no matter what.
Go.
Hurry.
Mu-yeong! Mu-yeong...
Mu-yeong!
Your Royal Highness.
I am sorry, Your Royal Highness.
I apologize...
for my foolishness, Your Royal Highness.
He is critically injured!
Is there anything we can do?
There were many pregnant women...
gathered together at Naeseonjae.
The Queen and her retinue...
are surely scheming something.
The female physician...
The female physician knows, Your Royal Highness.
My wife...
is also at Naeseonjae.
My family...
is there.
It was because...
I was foolish...
that I failed to protect you until the end.
I am sorry, Your Royal Highness.
Mu-yeong.
Subtitle translation by Liya Choi