At this point of writing, I am so happy because the chinese subber group TSXZ has resumed production. Am so glad that their hiatus is over and they have released ep 8 - 13 over the last few days and I have finished 13 just today, in time for episode 14 which promises to be action, action and more action!
Begins with Jumochi gathering the remmants of the Siwoo tribes who subseqently joins him and naturally Damdeok. Ba Son is caught in a muddle after learning that she has to work overtime to get out the weapons in time.
Then they begun discussing on how to invade Baekje and Hyeon Go explains that Baekje is divided into East and West. Didn’t know that Baekje was divided into two. And is West Baekje on China territory as shown on the map? That’s weird isn’t it? Gwanmi Fort is smacked in the middle of East and West Baekje.
He then talks about the shipyard in Gwanmi Fort that everyone covets because it is the biggest shipyard around and they have all the workers, facilities and skills. You have control of the seas if you own this fort. But one problem is that Gwanmi Fort is hard to attack but easy to defend and only one road leads to it.
And most importantly it is guarded by someone whom they call “The Devil.” He always fights alone while his army watches on and all the enemies that comes close to him would die. It’s none other than the guardian of the Blue Dragon sacred symbol who inherited the city at the age of 10.
To invade Baekje secretly. Damdeok and gang fools Lord Yeon on the pretext of going on a hunting trip. Lord Yeon is furious with Dae Jang Ryo for not telling him in advance but Dae Jang Ryo dismisses his ranting and doesn’t believe Damdeok would be able to do much with his puny army.
Damdeok next decides on his plan to invade Baekje by using cargo ships to sail into enemy territory unnoticed and their target would be Seukhyeon Fort. He then further iterates that he is doing this to lure the Baekje army from the north back south so that Ho Gae can win effortlessly. Everyone is dumbfounded and questions whether Ho Gae would actually understand his intentions.
Damdeok sends a messenger to Ho Gae’s camp telling him about his plan but Ho Gae doesn’t believe Damdeok would actually be that kind and orders the messenger to be imprisoned and be made to confess about the real plan.
On her way to join Ho Gae’s army, Kiha disappears from the travelling army, seeking to commit suicide on a cliff as Saryang tries in vain to dissuade her. Then the mother of all truths, Saryang tells Kiha she’s gotta live on for the sake of her unborn baby! So it is true that Damdeok did impregnate her on that night with her alone. Kiha refuses to listen because she is bitter that Damdeok doesn’t even ask for an explanation from her and she doesn’t want to child to be born into this cruel world. Furthermore, she feels like she is a tool merely at their own disposal, be it Damdeok or Hwachun.
As she proceeds to jump, something amazing happens! The Gae Mal leader and Saryang watches on as Kiha is engulfed in a red glow as the heart of jujak comes alive and prevents her from dying. Saryang then exclaims it’s the will of heaven that Kiha shouldn’t die. It’s at this point that I believe Kiha will finally turn to the dark side.
At the same time when Kiha was going about commiting suicide, Damdeok was in deep sleep and having nightmares about this probably. So another clear indication that the baby in Kiha’s womb is his and deeply entwined their fates are. Where does this leave Sujini then? Hmm…Meanwhile Sujini comes in upon hearing his cries and is hugged by Damdeok who subsequently becomes stable as Kiha is saved by the heart of jujak.
Having recovered from his nightmare, another moment between Damdeok and Sujini as the earlier request her to put on his battle armour for him. Instead of going to battle with the Hyun Go, Damdeok ask that she stays by his side. Then as Sujini starts to reason, Damdeok tells her why can’t she just say yes since he’s the king afterall. Sujini gets all flustered and does like he says. He then gives her a perfume bottle saying that it was once his mother’s and beseeches her to keep it and come back safely. Sujini is delighted and smiles with joy.
Damdeok then addresses his army before the battle, asking them to remember three things. “First, we are not fighting with the enemy with weapons but by scaring them. We shall be known as the scariest army under the sky. People shall come to address them as Jyushin’s Iron Army. Second, the crucial step to victory is speed. We must conquer three cities in 7 days. 10 cities in twenty days. Lastly, do not die. No matter what happens, you must stay alive by my side. This is your king’s command.”
Sujini and teacher Hyeon Go plus a couple of disciples sneaks into the city as monks. They blabber in incomprehensible language to fool the guards plus some bribing. Sujini, first time I see her wearing the white robe as an adult, so cute.
And thus the invasion begins as the Baekje coast guard fails to spot that the cargo ships actually carries Damdeok and his soldiers. It’s too late by the time he realises as the Goguyreo army starts swarming onto the beaches and towards the city gates of Seukhyeon Fort.
Damdeko’s iron-clad warriors blocks the enemies arrows and fires back at them. Meanwhile, Hyeon Go and company kills off the guards guarding the city gates and opens it. Jumochi then leads his men first into the gates and is instructed by Damdeok not to linger and proceed forward to the next city. They just need to hang the Goguyreo flag and that will be it. Jumochi and his men who are the first battalion are to strike fear into their enemies. And as Damdeok and his main force rides into Seukhyeon Fort, we end the episode on a high note.
More action expected from the next episode as its not likely to be that smooth sailing for Damdeok and his army. Plus a tasty scene from episode 14 shows Kiha reappearing back at Oracle headquarters. She announces that she would be taking over the Oracle headquarters and proceeds to kill the Oracle!!! She then replies in a monolouge that she would give her unborn child Goguyreo!