While the names and faces left me perplexed in Eps 1 & 2, the pacing of the story made my head spin in Ep 3.

If we are to view this Kdrama as Uk’s transformation into a mage, then the progress is clearly marked.

Episode 1: Uk finds a master Naksu/MuDeok.
Episode 2: Uk opens his gate of energy with the help of MuDeok.
Episode 3: Uk learns to control this energy with breathing techniques.
Episode 4: Uk succeeds to unsheathe Jang Gang’s sword.

However, if we are to view this kdrama as Uk and Naksu on a collision course with their destiny, then it’s fascinating to uncover all the roadblocks set in place. Take for example the secret about Uk’s paternity, that’s one big roadblock.

1. Keeping UK’s paternity secret

There are at least THREE people – not just two – who know that Uk is the issue of the late King. This is problematic because Uk’s claim to the throne will be much stronger than the current King. Customarily, the present King would have been a “regent” or deputy to administer the country until Uk reaches the age of majority – which is about now, 20 years after his birth.

So, who are these three people who are in the know?

a. Well, Jang Gang told Park Jin about the secret.

PJ: Wait! You cannot just leave like this. What about this child? Think about what people will say about Dohwa and this baby. They will say that he is not your son and call him an illegitimate child.

I like the way that Park Jin stepped up to the plate when Jang Gang left. I hope the Hong sisters don’t kill him off. (Well, they can kill him off if he turns into a bad guy.)

JG: He will be raised by the Jang family since my wife gave birth to him. I will send someone over after his mother’s funeral.
PJ: Are you abandoning this child? Is he really not your son?
JG: Believe what you wish to believe.
PJ: If this child is only going to cause trouble, let us just end his life here and now.

Park Jin tosses the baby in the air and he slashes the air with his sword. Jang Gang catches the baby and he blocks the sword.

PJ: See? He is your son. A son you are willing to protect even at the risk of your own life.

Now, he just displayed Solomonic wisdom.

If you don’t know Solomon (you should really), Solomon was the ruler of Israel in approximately 967 BC. He tested two women who were both claiming to be the mother of a baby. Solomon ordered the baby cut into two, with each woman getting half. One woman said it was a good idea. The other woman cried out to Solomon not to kill the baby; she was willing to give him up. Solomon knew she she was the real mother.

Solomon is considered wise because he understood that NO MOTHER would kill her baby to get her desired outcome. She would choose to give up the baby and save the baby’s life, rather than win a dead baby in a power struggle.

Now, Park Jin is convinced that Jang Gang, too, will demonstrate the parental instincts. He expected Jang Gang to lay down his own life rather than have his son injured.

JG: I am merely trying to keep him safe. If his gate of energy remains closed and he lives as my son, he will live. However, if he chooses to discover his fate instead, he will not survive.

Did you notice something about Jang Gang’s response? He doesn’t outright correct Park Jin’s assumptions that the baby is his. He skirts around the issue and instead, explains his earlier action. His evasive response prompts Park Jin to question him bluntly.

PJ: Who is the father of that child?
JG: (confesses) He is the son of a dead man. Not only does his birth make no sense, but it never should have happened either.

PJ: What did you say? The father of this child is whom?
JG: The late king. He is the king’s son!

PJ: Are you saying he is the son of His Majesty who died last year? The late king passed due to a severe illness and could not even move. So how is that possible?
JG: The day this child was born, a star that symbolizes the king was found in the night sky. The late king’s brother had already taken over the throne, and he even has a son to succeed him. If that royal family finds out that this child was destined to be king, they will see it as treason. His existence will bring chaos. He should not attract attention or challenge anyone. We must make people think that he is nothing special.

I like the way this scene is edited.

As Jang Gang is heard talking about the chaos Uk will bring, Uk is filmed walking into the hall of the Songrim.

Then, Uk stops in front of Park Jin and tells him, “I sincerely apologize for all the trouble and chaos I have caused.”

Uk’s very word “chaos” echoes what Jang Gang said. This tells us that Jang Gang’s worst fears are coming true. Despite Park Jin’s best efforts to stop Uk, Uk is on course to meet his dreaded fate.

b. Now, aside from Park Jin, there’s another man who knows about the secret of Uk’s father. Jin Mu.

Since Jang Gang sought Jin Mu’s help to reverse the alchemy of soul, he knew where the King was — and with whom — during those seven days.

Plus, given the timing of the birth of Uk, and Jang Gang’s abandonment of his own son, Jin Mu would have circumstantial evidence to back up his suspicions.

So let’s talk about Jin Mu as the next roadblock.

2. Jin Mu

From what I’ve seen of the Hong sisters’ villains, they’re mostly single-minded in the pursuit of their evil goals. And since they’re single-minded, it isn’t difficult to anticipate how they’ll move.

For instance, this bad hombre?

He works in the palace. I’m *guessing* that he’s somebody close to the King.

It’s convenient for Jin Mu to feed this soul shifter continually with human souls because he’ll use him when the time comes to get rid of the King. Jin Mu will want to install his protégé, the Crown Prince, on the throne.

Clearly, the Crown Prince is putty in his hands.

JM: Your Highness, you have reached the highest stage of the second step, Ryusu.
CP: It’s all thanks to your guidance, Assistant Gwangju.
JM: The only person who is on a similar level as you is probably Seo Yul from the Seo family. Her Majesty the Queen and Yul’s father, General Seo are siblings.

Take note: Naksu has accomplished Chisu level. Also, if Yul’s father and the Queen are siblings, how is Heo Yeom related to them? Is he their father, and Yul’s grandfather?

CP: Yul and I were close as kings but things changed after he joined Songrim.
JM: Seo Yul, Park Dang-Gu, Jang Uk and Jin ChoYeon are known to some people as Four Seasons.
CP: Let them have their fun.

This comment tells me that he doesn’t pay them attention. It’s Jin Mu who poisons his mind about Uk.

CP: (continuing) But wait. Why is Jang Uk part of the group when he cannot cast spells?
JM: He can now. His gate of energy has opened.
CP: His gate of energy has opened? But there is not much he can do.
JM: He is the son of Jang Gang, Cheonbugwan’s Gwanju.

Note here: He’s pretending not to know about Jang Gang’s soul-switching with the King. He’s going to stir up trouble by bringing up the Naksu’s sword.

JM: (continuing) Recently, he came and asked me for Naksu’s sword.
CP: And?

Flashback to Uk asking him, “Are you afraid I will do it?” I think this was when Jin Mu realized that Uk had to be eliminated because a) he’s a threat to his plans and b) he looked down on him. Jin Mu has a chip on his shoulder; he thinks he’s been unfairly treated.

CP: So did you give it to him? His Majesty ordered you to keep it inside Cheonbugwan.
JM: The Gwanju position belongs to a member of the Jang family, so I had no choice.
CP: How rude of him.
JM: He was probably looking down on me. After all, I was his father’s pupil. If you think about it, I was not even an official pupil. I had nowhere to go after I got kicked out by the Jin family, and he took me in as his servant.

Jin Mu is telling a sob story to gain the Crown Prince’s sympathy. He’s manipulating the Crown Prince to come to his defense and strike back at Uk. He’s playing up their unequal status: he’s just a lowly servant while Uk is a rude, self-entitled young master.

As expected, the Crown Prince defends him.

CP: You are the teacher of this country’s crown prince. How dare he look down on you. That is the same as insulting me.
JM: I just want to apologize that your teacher is someone who comes from a low status.
CP: (sighing) One of these days, I must crush that Jang Uk.

Jin Mu hides a smile because his task is complete. He’s succeeded in making the Crown Prince hate Uk. He’s created a roadblock for Uk.

Interestingly, the unknown variable at Jin Mu’s side is his own henchman. You’d think that he’d be loyal and trustworthy. But he lied about Naksu, and he seems to view the “alchemy of souls” with repugnance.

3. Park Jin

Park Jin is burdened by the secret of Uk’s birth and his responsibility to keep him safe. Jang Gang’s warning that Uk’s gate of energy (GOE) must remain closed for his own good remains vivid in his memory.

DoJu, the maidservant of Uk: Are you really that upset that his gate of energy is open? You did not do anything even when he was about to die.
PJ: (uncomfortably silent)
DoJu: If not for Master Heo, Young Master Jang would’ve died.

I don’t believe that Heo Yeom knows the truth about Uk’s father. If he had known, he wouldn’t have risked opening his GOE.

PJ: (protesting) He should have looked for a way to save him without opening his gate.
DoJu: How cold of you! You have always kept a distance from Young Master Jang. Is it because of the rumors?

They get sidetracked and talk about rumors. Park Jin sets straights DoJu’s misconceptions.

PJ: I also care for Uk greatly. I am just afraid that opening his gate of energy might have broken the barrier that is protecting him. It just makes me feel anxious….I may have to break his will and stop him in the future. Please do not resent me for that. Let us see how things go.

In other words, he’s willing to be the bad guy for Uk’s own good. Just like Solomon, he knows that he may have to sacrifice his relationship with Uk to protect him.

Ultimately, he decides to be the bad guy; he’ll create a roadblock to stop Uk.

While he gazes at the sword of Jang Gang, he ponders about about Uk’s future.

PJ: I once promised to take him in if he successfully unsheathed his father’s sword.
Aide: Now that his gate of energy is open, it will be possible. Are you going to let Uk become a mage of Songrim?
PJ: Go bring Uk.

He relives his conversation with Jang Gang in his head. He was explicitly instructed to make Uk look weak and unexceptional so Uk can avoid attracting attention or posing a challenge or threat to anyone.

Thus, he’s ready for Uk’s arrival at Songrim.

Uk requests admission to Songrim as the eldest of the Jang family. Awww… this must be the first time he’s shown eagerness to practice and learn.

But his bubble bursts when Park Jin soundly rejects his request. He’s decided to banish him from the Songrim.

Ha. The Hong sisters are fond of using this “I’ve to be cruel to be kind” trope. It’s a variation of the noble idiocy trope.

He allows Uk to keep Naksu’s sword as it was gifted by the king to the Cheonbugwan. He also gives him Jang Gang’s sword as he’s his father’s son.

But Uk causes one more uproar when he admits to losing the Spirit Plaque. Park Jin orders him flogged 100 times as punishment.

BTW, I’m not sure if this is a plothole or the Hong sisters will explain it later. How did Uk manage to enter Songrim on the night of the Gwiju? Naksu stole the Spirit Plaque from him while he was feeling. Did he follow her like a ninja? Or does he know a backdoor to get into Songrim without the use of Spirit Plaque – just like he knew the trick of exiting the Secret Room?

I’m not sure whether Uk lies that he’s only received 99 strokes or not, but I think he demands Park Jin to administer the 100th blow to provoke a reaction. He wants Park Jin to feel guilty for abandoning him too and throwing him out of Songrim.

Striking him hard, Park Jin says a quiet plea, “Uk, just stand down, give up, and live a quiet life. That is the only way you can live.” Then, Uk gets back on his feet and half-grins/half-winces.

How does this actor come up with these facial expressions?! Lee Jang Wook is so effective in these raging scenes.

He orders MuDeok to get his sword. Then, with all eyes on them, he and MuDeok leave the place, unbowed and unbroken. If Park Jin’s plan was to “break his will,” then he failed big time. Uk is defiant as ever.

4. Naksu/MuDeok

I like how she’s very proud of her accomplishments.

Uk: What were you like before you shifted souls? I had heard many rumors since you were so infamous. But I’ve never actually saw you myself. I heard you were pretty strong.
MD: (scoffing) I was not just strong. I was extremely strong.
Uk: Extremely? I see…
MD: In order to become the best mage, you must go through several steps. First is Jipsu, the ability to gather the energy of water. Second is Ryusu, the ability to gain energy from the flow of water. Then comes Chisu, the ability to control the energy in the atmosphere. I am a mage who has mastered all three steps.

Jipsu.
Ryusu.
Chisu.

I can see the progression. Jipsu deals only with standing water, e.g., water in a glass, water in a bucket, water in a tub, and so on.

With Ryusu, the mage can harness the power from great lake that surrounds Daeho.

But at the Chisu level, the mage can harness the water in the clouds, sleet, rain, snow, and ice. In Episode 1, when Naksu faced Park Jin and his army in the frozen lake, she was using ice as her power source.

So how is Naksu/MuDeok a roadblock to Uk?

Well, Uk will become attached to her and he won’t want her gone from his side. His fear of losing her will be his biggest roadblock.

We already know that Naksu’s presence in his life isn’t forever.

Physically, she has an expiration date and will turn into a rock sooner or later.

Remember what Jang Gang said in Episode 1. He said that a soul shifter’s body petrifies when it runs wild. “A crack forms when the bodies clash with the souls they carry, which causes them to lose energy.”

Jin Mu expected Naksu’s soul to clash with her new body because her soul is too strong for an ordinary body. Then when she loses energy because of the clash or mismatch, she’ll eventually turn into a rock.

That’s why this scene when they were on the rocks is a foreshadowing to me.

She’s running around wildly on the rocky platform and showing off her skills before Uk. She declares, almost bragging, “I am Naksu, the best mage in this land, who even has the ability to create snow and rain…”

Suddenly, she collapses in pain. She’s infuriated because her lungs feel like they’re exploding when all she did was run around for a bit. She even has cramps.

Naksu: My legs are short, skinny, weak and cannot stand the cold. What a useless body!

To me, her pain isn’t because MuDeok’s body got tired from running around and performing tricks.

Rather, her pain is because her strong soul is clashing with the incompatible body. The pain is a warning that she’ll petrify like the other soul shifters if her energy isn’t restored.

She’ll blend in well with the rocks around her — like in this screenshot.

Moreover, emotionally, Naksu already stipulated that her time with him has a time limit.

Uk: People think I got kicked out every time, but I was the one who left. But now I have finally found my true master. So I shall kneel before you and swear to serve you as my master forever.
MD: On one condition. Do not tell anyone about our relationship. You will continue to be my owner, and I will continue to be your maid.
Uk: (nodding)
MD: Also, our relationship as master and pupil will only last until you become the best and help me get my energy back. Only until then. The moment I get my energy back and become Naksu again, we will no longer be master and pupil.

The problem here is Naksu’s body is gone. There’s no going “home” to Naksu’s body because Jin Mu destroyed her body. Once she retrieves her energy, she’ll have to continue inhabiting MuDeok’s body.

Uk: Can you tell me why?
MD: Because then, you should no longer have a reason to protect me, nor should I have a reason to go easy on you.

In order words, she’ll kill him and the rest of the Four Seasons.

I like this shot because it shows the distance between them that they must always maintain as master and pupil, and as assassin and target. As master and pupil, this is a respectful distance. But as assassin and target, this is within killing range.

Uk: So you want to part ways after our business is done? I see. All right. Once I am no longer of use to you, you may abandon me. Then, I will respect your decision and let you leave.
MD: Now, kneel before your master.

Uk: I, Jang Uk, your pupil, will serve and protect my master, MuDeok, with all my heart.

Lol. I thought he was being sneaky here. He said “MuDeok” not “Naksu.”

So, that’s Naksu/MuDeok’s roadblock. Unless he can find a way to make her stay with him, both physically and emotionally, he’ll have to experience abandonment again.

5. Uk himself

It’s obvious why Uk is his own roadblock so I won’t bore you with an explanation. I’ll end here now and get ready for the next write-up. 🙂