This episode was very heavy with dialouge for the progression of the story.
Started the episode in Ho Gae’s camp as Kiha continues to sweet talk/order Ho Gae to bring back the White Tiger sacred symbol and also to conquer and trample on all the people and cities along the way. But as he turns around, he realises that it was just his own imagination.
Nevertheless, he marches into battle, brutally killing all that comes into range. This is in direct contrast to Damdeok style of treating them as his people. At the end, Ho Gae looks around, wondering if this is really what he wanted.
We then move back to Gwan Mi Fort where Damdeok army is at. The funny looking Black Water Village guy brings the guy that was caught by Hwanchun minions in Gooknae castle to Gwan Mi Fort for questioning. He tells them that he might have revealed to Hwachun that Ba Son is from Heukseuk Malgal Blacksmith Village and have something to do with White Tiger symbol.
Just as they are discussing why Ba Son hasn’t revealed this to Damdeok, Ba Son and Dalbi falls into a trap setup by Hwachun and are smuggled out of Gwan Mi Fort under bright daylight.
By the time Damdeok realises the possiblity, his rescue calvary is late and he can’t send Jumochi or anyone out to find them as the city gates are flooded with Baekje refugees flooding into the city on hearing Damdeok’s benevolence.
Besides this, Damdeok has to worry about the huge Baekje relief forces that are headed to Gwan Mi Fort to reclaim their territory. But Damdeok assures them that because of internal strife in Baekje, the relief forces would eventually retreat back to Han Castle instead. In addition, Damdeok leaks out ”false” information out that Goguyreo has a large force at Gwan Mi fort as well.
Jumochi is going crazy at not being able to do anything to save his love, Dalbi! He gives notice to Damdeo instead of seeking approval (funny guy) that he is taking 100 men with him to rescue them. Damdeok however requests him to stay behind saying that he needs him because he isn’t really sure about what he said earlier about Bakeje forces retreating, he had said that because he was the king. Damdeok says, “Please stay behind my friend”, and Jumochi is kind of moved by his words.
This was followed by a I can’t understand why they put this here scene of Sujini who seems to be drunk and knowing someone is following her that is Cheoro. She starts mouthing a whole lot of things that is totally inconsequential. This scene dragged.
We then see everyone in Gwan Mi Fort on high alert for the night and that once the night is over, the danger of Baekje reinforcements would be gone. As dawn breaks, news comes in that Baekje had withdrawn its army and sailing back to East Baekje. Damdeok and company are elated and West Baekje is now under Goguyreo control.
Hwachun headquarters, Kiha informs Dae Jang Ryo that they needn’t meet to discuss evil matters, just letters would. He takes it that she doesn’t wants to be controlled but Kiha tells him not to think of that since they have a common goal.
Meanwhile Damdeok’s army prepares itself to move to Koran but then receives word that they are moving back to Gooknae Castle instead. Damdeok hopes to say goodbye to Cheoro before leaving but he isn’t around. Sujini then jokes that she wants to fight Cheoro and send her regards and also have a drink with him. Cheoro appears after they leave, saying he is going to observe Damdeok before deciding whether he is gonna join him.
Back in camp, Hyun Go tries to dissuade Damdeok from returning to Gooknae Castle but proceed to Koran area to look for Ba Son and the White Tiger sacred symbol. But Damdeok apparently knows of the misdeeds that Kiha has done in Gooknae Castle and that she has become the High Priestess. He remembered the deceased High Priestess saying that if there is a new High Priestess after her within this year, that person would be his enemy.
Back in Gooknae Castle, Lord Yeon and Dae Jang Ryo is in a meeting over Damdeok’s imminent return. They talked about the sacred symbols and revealed more details about the characteristics and how it could be awaken.
The symbol of Jujak requires passion, the Hyonmoo requires anger, the cheongryong requires cold mercy, and the Baekho requires pure courage from the King of Jooshin to be awaken!
The records from 2000 years ago clearly stated that as Dae Jang Ryo said. We then break to the council as Lord Yeon and then Kiha explains that Damdeok cannot return to Gooknae Castle because his blood is stained with dead people. She allows him to return only if HE alone came to the Oracle temple to be cleansed. Dae Jang Ryo, Kiha and Lord Yeon leaves with the council debating over this latest turn of event.
Dae Jang Ryo tells Lord Yeon that he’s moving his troops in Northern Wei to Goguyreo to protect Gooknae Castle from Damdeok’s army. Of course, Lord Yeon is reluctant to accept this because Northern Wei is Goguyreo’s enemy. But he convinces Lord Yeon that his army are loyal to him. Lord Yeon is kind of reluctant but decides to go ahead with it after Kiha reminds him about smoothing the road for Ho Gae’s route to becoming king.
We then move to Ho Gae’s army as they invade a Koran camp and butcher their people. Ba Son and Dalbi is bought before Ho Gae who asks Ba Son where her brother is. Ba Son feigns ignorance as Ho Gae starts killing the blacksmiths gathered from the area one by one. Dalbi then pleads with Ho Gae not to be so heartless because this is so not like him. Ba Son eventually tells Ho Gae the last location her brother was reported to be in.
We then see the Goguryeo ministers/lords being holed up at Hwachun headquarters where Lord Yeon tells them that Northern Wei troops would be coming into Gooknae Castle to beef up its defenses against Damdeok army. All of them are incensed to hear of this and we see them squaring off against Lord Yeon forces with weapons raised.
We end the episode with Damdeok and his army bearing down on Gooknae Castle. An exciting battle is in store for the next episode. It seems to be a pattern now, one episode to build the story and the next episode would be action scenes.
