After the chinese subber group TSXZ stopped producing it after episode 7 due to pressure exerted by various parties, I went on a temporary hiatus and thought that I wouldn’t able to see it for quite some time. Plus the preview at the end of episode 7 was really tasty.

Thank god that the english subs by WithS2 was released rather fast although it was sort of delayed until the past weekend because the main subber laptop was virus-infected. So I finally managed got to see episodes 8 - 11 over the past few days and it was certainly one of the best few episodes thus far. Finally some action, especially from Damdeok and Sujini!

Episode 8 was centered on the prison rescue of Sujini and the Julno tribe people in the prison by Joomochi who yet still doesn’t show his power probably because he hasn’t met Damdeok. Saryang hires him to “rescue” them although it is actually a trap to frame Damdeok later on. It was cool to see Sujini standing up to Saryang in the prison. Joomochi might looks old and ridiculous but I kind of like him, he looks like a dependable mercenary.

Another tease of Sujini looking stunned at the sight of fire, she really needs to know that she is the reincarnation of the Phoenix.

The King orders General Ko to take his first regiment and find Damdeok. He makes him take as many men as possible and leaves only the second and third regiment behind which were in small numbers to protect himself even though he is in far greater danger. The King was selfless in fulfilling his son’s destiny even if it will cost him his life ultimately, what a contrast to Lord Yeon.

Saryang then leads Hwachun members to hunt down Damdeok and Damdeok at long last wields a sword and starts kicking their asses.

Damdeok is hopelessly outnumbered though and when all seems lost, the Julno men plus Sujini comes in and kicks their asses and rescues Damdeok. The moment when Sujini and Damdeok eyes met was sizzling…

Damdeok decides to go in search of the tribe leader sons alone but Sujini insists on going with him even though Damdeok says he doesn’t want to burden them. In the end, everyone decides to go with him of course. They also survive an attack by the Hwachun people.

It is all but a trap as Damdeok is conveniently framed for the death of the tribe leader sons by Hwachun. He decides to go to Dae Ja castle to gather men to rescue his father in the capital. The odds solely stacked against him.

So we ended episode 8 with Damdeok and gang stuck at Dae Ja castle while Hwachun launched an offensive on the royal palace. All seems lost as Hwachun makes mincemeat out of the paltry small-numbered army.

But Kiha comes to the rescue as she uses the Jujak power to awesome effect. Really like this part because it showed the Jujak power at its best. Loved how she use the cloak to whip those Hwachun minions.

Eventually, Kiha is left all alone in the royal tomb with the King. Kiha wants to lead the King away from all this but the King is adamant that you can’t run away from your destiny. And how true for Kiha who simply can’t change the fact that she is never going to be on Damdeok’s side.

As Kiha’s attention is diverted, the King commits suicide by stabbing himself with Jumong Sacred Sword. Gakdan stumbles onto this and deduces that Kiha is the assassin. Kiha tries to deny it but to no avail as Gakdan tries in vain to kill her. DaeJangryo arrives and brings Kiha away, happy that his plan to keep Kiha and Damdeok apart is working.

Meanwhile at Dae Ja castle, Damdeok fights a losing battle as the governor refuses to open the gates while Ho Gae and company has him cornered. He decides to fire a few projectiles towards the governor and then takes Ho Gae on in 1-on-1 combat.

Sujini steps in and stops Ho Gae temporarily to protect Damdeok, some hint of love towards Damdeok???

Gakdan arrives at the scene and delivers the King’s last message of passing Jumong’s Sacred Sword to him and also revealing that Kiha killed the King. Damdeok, Ho Gae can’t believe what they had just heard as Gakdan dies from her wounds.

Hwachun minions starts shooting at Damdeok as the final Julno tribesman dies except for one while trying to protect Damdeok from arrows. As Hwachun minions starts bearing down on Damdeok, the sacred symbol of the Turtle Snake is awoken as it recognises Damdeok as the real Jyushin king. Everyone is blinded by the sight and time is stopped as Damdeok is escorted to safety.

So the way that the sacred symbol is awoken is still pretty vague. We know that Kiha has the Jujak heart and can control it at will now. The Black Turtle symbol finally awakes after sensing Damdeok was in danger. And its main power seems to be defensive judging from the forcefield protection, I wonder if there is an attacking side to Black Turtle power?

What next for Jumochi who holds the White Tiger symbol but yet to realise the potential although he is a good fighter already? Can’t comment on the last symbol, the Blue Dragon as it hasn’t been seen since the earlier episodes!!!

Governor and company finds the dead Julno people lined up in a row and with ancient Jyushin words inscribed onto the ground beside them.

“These devoted loyal subjects of Jyushin died to save their king’s life.”

Episode ends with Damdeok in the village still unable to accept that his father is dead and that Kiha was the one who killed him. He doesn’t want to believe all this and want to give up on his destiny. Kind of sad for him especially as Kiha was the only one whom he had trusted since he was young.

These past two episodes were simply great and a great advertisement to hook casual viewers in if they haven’t. Plenty of action including magical ones as CG effects not seen so much since the beginning episodes makes a return.