@Snowflower commented:
@Cleopatra, I also think that Bu Yeon energy prevented Eunuch Kim from feeding on Mudeok. Mudeok believed that she had fed on the eunuch’s energy, but she could not remember anything. There was a similar scene of Mudeok not remembering. It was in one of the early episodes when MD and JU first met Master Lee.
I already added my two-cents in this conversation, but I’ll rewrite it here in a new thread.
I concur, @Snowflower. It wasn’t Naksu who was feeding on the Eunuch’s energy, but the MuDeok/Buyeon/ice stone carrier or the “great soul” — as Master Lee calls it — inside of MuDeok’s small body.
Naksu lost consciousness as the Eunuch gripped her head.
After she fainted, the blue light (or energy, spirit, soul) inside MuDeok’s body emerged and took over control of the body. This is the same energy or spirit that emerged from her body whenever it felt that existence was endangered.
Let me list down the times I know it appeared to protect Naksu and Uk.
1. when Naksu did the alchemy of souls
Naksu first grabbed the shoulder of the blind girl MuDeok but shoved her aside in disgust when she saw that MuDeok was blind. Nevertheless, MuDeok followed after Naksu (lol, this gives a new meaning to “following someone blindly”) and sacrificed herself in place of the Naksu’s intended victim, the barmaid.
To me, this body switch was intentional…or fated and predestined. The great soul in MuDeok must have known that Naksu wouldn’t survive long in the barmaid’s body. Naksu would have leaked out energy and petrified quickly. Hence, it* took the place of the barmaid.
*the Great Soul, as Master Lee called the soul residing in the body (edited 7/28/22)
2. when Naksu attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the cliff
The blue energy came out of her, and she was able to unsheathe her sword.
Naksu assumed that it was the energy of Lake Gyeongcheondaeho that helped her do it, but it was the great soul inside of her that released the energy. It was as if the energy/soul was telling her that her life wasn’t in vain, and that she could still hope to regain her energy back.
Afterwards, she must have fallen in a deep trance and unconsciously moved out of the waters to the rocks where Uk found her. She was in a trance when she pointed her sword at him; she couldn’t remember it afterwards.
Note: this was the second time Naksu was in a trance. After her AoS with MuDeok’s body, Naksu woke up to find herself in the boat. She must have been brought on board while she was in a trance, too.
3. when Master Lee was about to kill her sleeping body in the hut
I’ll talk more about this in my next post.
4. when Uk was in danger
The sleeping Naksu/MuDeok came out of the hut and Uk rushed to protect her. She was in a trance then, too. The blue energy (or spirit) was protecting both of them.
That’s why, in Ep 8 Master Lee remained calm when there were reports that Uk’s binding bracelet was found at the temple near the spot where the AoS had taken place. Heo Yeom was worried that someone else’s soul was shifted into Uk’s body. Master Lee reassured him, “Do not worry. I am sure he is fine. She will protect him.” He’d seen the spirit/soul come out to protect both MuDeok and Uk.
5. when Naksu and Uk were laid hands on the Mirror of Longing
Naksu claimed that it was her who destroyed the glass because she regained her power for a bit.
But I say it was both of them. Laying a hand on the mirror, Uk called out to her, “MuDeok, I miss you,” and she responded by putting her hand on the mirror too. They were both trapped: she was trapped inside the mirror, and he was trapped in the vault because he wouldn’t leave without her. The blue energy (or spirit) sensed their distress and entrapment, and released them.
6. Uk was about to be switched souls with GilJu
Naksu hugged Uk to protect him with her small body, and the Great Soul of MuDeok/Buyeon appeared in the alchemical pool to rescue Uk.
Noteworthy: this marks the first time that Uk became aware of the existence of the real MuDeok/BuYeon.
Thus, if we remember these six occasions when the Great Soul manifested itself to rescue either Naksu or Uk (or both of them), we can safely assume that the Great Soul once more came to their protection in Episode 12.
Trapped in Jin Mu’s spell, Uk implored for help. “Master, help me once again. Give your hesitant pupil confidence.”
Meanwhile, trapped in the Eunuch soul shifter’s grip, Naksu whispered “Jang Uk” before she fainted.
To me, their situation is familiar. We’ve seen this before when they were trapped in the Jinwoyon’s vault and mirror in Episode 7, right?
Then, Uk escaped from Jin Mu’s spell (or illusion) with a giant leap of faith.
What’s a leap of faith?
Well, a leap of faith is when you decide to do something despite your uncertainty about its success, practicality or rightness. In Uk’s leap of faith, he was risking his life on a course of action that he wasn’t sure would succeed and would be the right thing to do. All he knew was he had to get out of there and get to Naksu’s side.
So he leaped into air…and he landed in water again. (lol. @NoOne, I told you that water was his element. He could have landed on jagged rocks.)
Once he escaped, he began searching for Naksu/MuDeok. He was shocked to see her gripping the Eunuch’s head. She was draining the Eunuch of his energy.
For me, this scenario is similar to the time she jumped off from the cliff and unsheathed her sword under waters.
Back then, she assumed that the energy from the Lake Gyeongcheondaeho itself did it. This time around, she assumed SHE was draining the Eunuch’s energy. She didn’t know that a Great Soul in her was doing it.
Naksu: (frightened) I…I just fed on his energy.
Uk: (puzzling it out)
Naksu: Am I running wild?
Uk: (approaching her) MuDeok.
Naksu: Do not come near me. (shaking her head)
Uk: No, you are fine. You are all right. You will be fine.
To my “sensitive” ears, he wasn’t sure that she was altogether fine. But he repeated said it to reassure HER — and himself — that everything was fine.
Naksu: No. Do not touch me. If I am truly running wild, then you must not touch me. Otherwise, your energy will be stolen, and you will die.
Uk: (stares at her, then hugs her)
I already explained this in my “Hugs” thread. But this is an addendum.
To me, this hug is a symbolic “leap of faith.” Uk wasn’t sure that she wasn’t going to steal his energy. There was big chance he could die. He was uncertain of their future. He didn’t know if he’d succeed in stopping her from running wild. He was taking a big risk to be with her if she was turning into a monster.
Nevertheless, he was taking this leap of faith because he was following his heart.
That was what he said to Yul, right?
Yul: I slashed a soul shifter. Master Kang who had passed away yesterday was a soul shifter.
Uk: Really? How did you know that?
Yul: If they hide their blue mark, they can easily blend in with other people. But once they run wild, there is no turning back.
Uk glanced down. He already knew that the condition is irreversible. He knew this when he killed GilJu. But Yul was just learning about it now, so he was still in shock. Note, however, the difference in their reactions. When Uk found out about Naksu’s irreversible fate as soul-shifter, he grew more resolved to prevent her from meeting the same end as Gilju. Yul? He seemed bothered, conflicted.
Yul: (continuing) They will start to petrify as their energy seeps out. They can prevent that by feeding on others’ energy. But once they do that, they will no longer be humans, but monsters.
Uk: Monsters?
And then Naksu/MuDeok appeared, and the men looked at her.
Yul: And it is our duty to protect this world…from such monsters.
Uk: We can also protect the monsters from this world. Once we keep them in check, the world will be at peace.
lol. He reminds me of Professor Xavier from the X-Men series who wanted to protect mutants from humans and ensure the coexistence of mutants and humans.
Uk: (continuing) Everyone had high hopes for you ever since you were little, so you think you need to do something grand. But I was told to sit still all my life. I will follow my heart.
Then he left with Naksu. This is a great exit line but visually, his heart (aka Naksu/MuDeok) was trailing after him.
In short, he was telling Yul that it didn’t matter to him if Naksu became a monster, he was staying by her side and nothing would stop him from protecting her.
In closing, @Azlina, this is why I told you yesterday that for the Hong sisters, the “badder the heroine, the more lovable she becomes to the hero.” In their mindset, this constitutes a GREAT love story because the hero must go against his common sense, his better instincts, his own nature to love the girl.
Uk is consciously deciding to love her.
That’s why we must study and “understand” Naksu the way she is, with her many facets: shy girl, pathetic servant, manipulative master, scheming maid, exploited orphan, cruel assassin, a cute brown-noser, and now, a potential monster.
🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
I’ll answer your question on the baby BuYeon’s soul next, @Snowflower.
@pm3
excellent disposition on love between the hero and heroine – the Hong sisters’ way.
Thank you! At this juncture of the drama, Uk knows that Mu Deok is his to protect and he accepts her as she is, badass and all. Since a lot of people are now aware that Mu Deok is not who she seems to be, what would the plot’s tangent be for Episodes 13 and 14. Cue the open thread, pretty please 🙏. And there’s the last fight for the blue jade pendant to look forward to .. after they both escape from Jin Mu. The weekend can’t come soon enough!
P/S: Also curious as to how the blue energy of Mu Deok will determine the fates of Uk and Naksu.. or is it Mu Deok.. since it is her and Uk who were not supposed to be born but for the Alchemy of Souls.
I wonder whether speaking forth Bu Yeon’s name in Mudeok’s presence will spring forth who she is or unlock her – like the way Words of the Heart could be read. I thought of this after going through the same list of the times (who we think is) Bu Yeon revealed herself.
She seems to appear in times of need and senses that need- when Lee decided not to kill her, he stopped sensing that life force/ energy in Mu Deok.
Also I’m wondering and pondering on a few things:
Master Lee
– there was no follow up to Lee’s blatant break in of Jin Yo Won. Wouldn’t the female guards wake up to report what happened? Or did he somehow conjure their memories away.
– the relics, or rather, sapsali, listens to him. Why?
Seo Gyeong
– I keep going back to words of the heart and the blue light making him cry/ sigh
– Wondering if there was also a misuse of the ice stone then in relation to Seolran
If both mages above were at Hwansu level + the Queen has the ice stone-
– Why does Queen need to make soul ejectors then?
– Why doesn’t Master Lee do some soul shifting of his own since his won’t become a case of turning into monsters?
– Similarly, if Jang Gang had the ice stone then why could he not prevent his experiments from running wild?
@pm3 could I please read your pw protected AoS posts? Thank you!
Thank you for breaking down those points when the blue energy comes out of Mudeok’s body @pm3! It’s good to remember them in times of confusion.
At this point I guess that neither Jang Uk nor Naksu is aware of BuYeon’s soul inside Mudeok’s body. Naksu is only aware that it’s Mudeok’s body, the ordinary blind girl with weak body. As you mentioned (am I right @pm3) that it’s Buyeon’s soul who chose Mudeok’s body at the time that Naksu will soul shift. While Jang Uk noticed and see Mudeok when Gilju tried the AOS and soul shift with him, Uk doesn’t know about BuYeon inside Mudeok’s body. He only knows Naksu’s soul.
Both Jang Uk and Naksu may know about the eldest daughter of the Jin family, but I guess they are not aware that they are part of the future “resurrection”, (not sure if this is the right term to use here) of BuYeon.
More to see and I can’t wait for the next episode.
@Eureka,
That’s my *theory* so take it or leave it. 😂 The Great Soul inside the Blind Girl’s body CHOSE to soul-shift with Naksu.
Yes, Naksu hasn’t figured out yet that a Great Soul is inside the weak body with her. She dreamt of meeting the Blind Girl in the Alchemical Pool, though. The Blind-folded Girl smiled at her and she looked — I don’t know — dismayed? guilty?
But Naksu didn’t process what that dream meant. She dismissed it as a dream.
Jang Uk, on the other hand, saw the Blind Girl while he was being AoS. But if you notice, he didn’t hug the Blind Girl and just looked at her with a puzzled look. He could have sensed that the Blind Girl was different.
Then when Naksu was gleefully commenting, “The poison opened your gate of energy and the Soul Ejector surged your energy. Uk, you truly are astoundingly lucky”, Uk recalled what he saw. He told Naksu, “I am certain that I saw you there.”
He certainly SAW the body. But despite being tugged closer and being smiled at by the Blind-folded Girl, Uk did not close the gap and hugged her.
And Uk likes to hug Naksu.
That tells me that subconsciously, he knew what he SAW wasn’t Naksu.
I know it’s like I’m beating a dead horse here, but this is what I am trying to hammer out. Is Buyeon’s soul in Buyeon’s original body and she only changed her name to Mudeok during the 10 years she was away from the Jin family?
So, Buyeon has never soul shifted out of her body and has only allowed Naksu access to her body, while retaining the ability to regain the controls when Naksu’s soul is in danger.
There is no original Mudeok or backstory for her, she was made up for Buyeon to use as an alias and so far the only person that we have met that’s known “Mudeok” with a single soul who was truly blind is the girl Jin Mu has taken in to pretend the be Buyeon.
Correct?
aNNyeong 🌼
@PM3, Enjoyed reading your interpretation on the Leaps, Hearts, and Monsters of AOS.
I am appreciative of the “great soul” that is in Mudeok/naksu because it includes Uk or UK is around/near her.
That leap of faith by Uk was outstanding! I was afraid for him, but so glad he landed on water instead and not boulders. eeeks. oh what are we without Faith or Love?
I like that UK decides to follow his heart as Mudeok follows him and his heart eyh. I like what UK said to Yul when they were talking about Monsters and looking at Mudeok before them. He will be standing by and will protect Monster Mudeok – he has so much faith to risk his life for her- to hug her even though she just fed on the energy of the eunuch.
I also wonder when they will both realize the “great soul” in Mudeok.
@birdie007, I agree with your line of thinking. I also believe MuDeok is an alias for BuYeon after she survived the “accident” ten years ago. (Once BuYeon found the ice stone, it was taken from her and an attempt was made to eliminate her, but unknown to her assassin, she did not die.)
Why did BuYeon stay away from her family for ten years rather than reuniting with them? She was in hiding. Someone tried to kill her, so that’s a good reason to lay low. If the one who tried to kill her was her own uncle, Jin Mu, that’s even more reason to maintain distance from the family. There may have been a child named MuDeok whose parents died, and who also died around the time BuYeon survived her assassination attempt. (Jin Mu said a girl’s body had washed up; it may not have been recognizable after being in water awhile. Jin Mu seems to sincerely believe that BuYeon is dead while, for his nefarious reasons, pretending in front of Madame Jin that she could still be alive.) BuYeon adopted MuDeok’s identity, but not her body. As long as she had a plausible cover as an orphan taken in by a kind old lady, she stayed put as a matter of survival. After her guardian died in debt, it was not BuYeon/MuDeok’s choice to come to Chwiseonru Courtesan House, she was sold there to pay back her guardian’s debt.
Why doesn’t BuYeon’s own mother recognize her? MuDeok was a lowly servant, and Madame Jin may not have even bothered to look carefully at her. She was also accustomed to seeing her daughter wear cloth over her eyes, and MuDeok was obviously not blind. When MuDeok was framed by Cho Yeon for the breaking and theft of the yin-yang jade, Madame Jin was prejudiced against MuDeok; she would not likely see her long-missing daughter in someone she considered a lowlife criminal. As @Packmule3 has said, Madame Jin is a snob.
BuYeon/MuDeok did not become marked with the usual blue spot over the heart that indicates soul shifting has taken place. MuDeok’s mark of soul shifting is the blue in her eyes. BuYeon was blind, but the entrance of Naksu’s soul through her eyes gave MuDeok vision.
With a touch of her hand, MuDeok was able to open Jinyowon’s magical vault. Only members of the Jin line can open the vault.
The magical artifacts in the vault responded to MuDeok. They recognized “the blind girl.”
Naksu is not aware she is sharing the body with a “great soul.” That’s not how she was taught Alchemy of Souls works. Naksu’s expectation was that her soul would eject the barmaid’s soul, which would go into her own dying body. Meeting BuYeon in the alchemical pool (love that term, @Packmule3!) was a surprise to Naksu. I believe at that point BuYeon, being the more magically powerful of the two, took over the Alchemy of Souls spell. It was her force and will that allowed both souls to reside simultaneously in one body. BuYeon is aware of Naksu, and can take control of MuDeok at will, but chooses to remain out of sight except in life-and-death situations. When BuYeon’s soul takes precedence in MuDeok, Naksu is not conscious. When Naksu is conscious, her memories are at the forefront of MuDeok’s mind. Naksu would not recognize Madame Jin or Cho Yeon.
I wonder if Master Lee is so powerful, became Master Seo’s pupil, and can call Samsali from Jinyowon without opening the vault door because he’s got Jin blood in him. Did Master Seo lose his beloved to the arms of another mage, with whom she had children? She must’ve had children, at least one daughter, for the matriarchal Jin line to be unbroken. What if Master Lee is her son? He did, after all, have his 100th birthday when Park Jin was a youngster.
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@Welmaris, in view of what we now know about Master Lee, it makes me wonder how so few people knew that the older mage’s soul transferred into another body. Master Lee knew Park Jin when he was in diapers and Park Jin remembers dancing for Lee’s 100th birthday. I’m trying to imagine a timeline for this.
If the soul shift happened when the homeless boy was between 6 and 8 years old (purely based on his still erupting teeth – possibly inaccurate) and also if it happened before Park Jin’s birth, I can imagine that at about 10 years old, Park Jin might dance for then 16-18 year old-looking Lee’s 100th birthday. However, that seems like it would have been a public event. I wonder why people have forgotten about it when it should be legendary?
Hello there
I am watching AoS and once again following your thoughts with interest
Reading this blog is a great help…and sometimes a source of great merriment (@packmule3 -new meaning od following someone blindly :-))
The character which intrigues me most is still Naksu/MD so I am going back to binge watching
Have a nice weekend