This is Part 2.
Part 1 is here: Alchemy of Souls: Ep 16 My Notes, Part 1
Part 3 is here: Alchemy of Souls: Ep 16 My Notes, Part 3

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In Episode 15, Master Lee instructed Uk to bring the Sapsali dog inside the palace. Master Lee would reward him if he successfully brought the dog in. I’d like to think that Naksu’s sword was the reward. Even though the dog didn’t actually enter the palace hall, Master Lee gifted Uk with the sword for his efforts.

Uk then hands it over to Naksu.

Naksu: Why should he give you my sword?
Uk: Because I have you, I should have your sword, too.

This sub is missing a prepositional phrase, “by my side.” Uk actually said, “Because I have you by my side, I should have your sword, too.”

Naksu: Anyway, this means he will continue to turn a blind eye. That is good.

In reality, Master Lee has NOT turned a blind eye to their situation. He explicitly ordered Heo Yeom to relay a message to Uk. He wanted Uk to keep that sword safe. If anyone tries to use the sword, Uk must kill him (or her, as it’s Naksu). If Uk fails to do so, they will die together.

But Uk keeps Master Lee’s instruction hidden from Naksu. He reveals nothing to her. He processes the information all by himself.

He understands that Master Lee is warning him that he will kill them both if MuDeok ever uses the sword as the assassin, Naksu. And he knows that this isn’t just an empty threat because Heo Yeom already corrected his misconception about Master Lee.

He thought Master Lee was open-minded and gracious, but Heo Yeom disabused him of that notion, saying, “You have no idea how strict he can be. He is merciless towards those who stray. So you must always be careful.”

Naksu: The sword feels strange, even though it is mine. He must have let me live because he knows that I cannot use it.
Uk: It means you will be safe as MuDeok.
Naksu: If I become Naksu, I will be in danger. Once I find the ice stone and regain my energy, I will also gain many enemies. What happens to me then will have nothing to do with you.
Uk: Why? Because we will no longer be master and pupil?
Naksu: You will no longer have a reason to protect me. Nor will I have a reason to go easy on you. That was our promise from the start.

Naksu is referring to her condition when she agreed to be his master. She specifically said that their relationship as master and pupil would only last until he became the best mage and helped her get her energy back. The moment she got her energy back and became Naksu again, they’d cease to be master and pupil. When Uk asked her why, she said it was because Uk would no longer have a reason to protect her. Likewise, she would no longer have a reason to “go easy on him.”

Now, “to go easy” on somebody means to be lenient and merciful. Naksu is telling him that she will NOT show him leniency, mercy, or pity once their master-pupil relationship ends. She won’t cut him some slack.

To me, her statement is ominous because I suspect that it was Uk’s father who caused Mage Cho to become a soul-shifter. If ever Jang Gang was the reason for the ruin of Naksu/Cho Yeong’s family, then Naksu won’t let Uk go free without punishment for his “father’s” sins.

Uk: Then promise me one more thing. Out of duty and loyalty, and also out of the so-called love, you can grant me one more wish.
Naksu: Fine. What is it?
Uk: When you regain your energy and if you must draw and point that sword at someone, point it at me before at anyone else.
Naksu: (looks at him)
Uk: If you stab me, then I will die as the one who released the assassin.
Naksu: (still looking at him)

Three things:

One, he’s clearly decided to defy Master Lee’s order. He won’t stab her, but he’ll allow himself to be stabbed and killed.

Two, he’s taking responsibility for her actions and her urge to execute people.

Three, I think he’s hoping that she’ll think twice before assassinating anybody because she’ll have to kill him first.

He’s offering himself as a deterrent. He doesn’t want her to turn into a monster (either as a soul-shifter or an assassin) so he’s counting on her and her love for him to hold herself back from slaying him.

Uk: (continuing) If you withdraw your sword, I will make you another promise. Something along the lines of the promise you wanted to hear from me about our future.

This sounds like he’s bribing her. lol. Earlier, she demanded some guarantee — or certainty — that he was hers. He called her out for being dramatic. Now, he’s offering to be hers if she restrains herself from using the sword in bloodshed. Who’s being dramatic now?

Uk: (takes the sword from her hand) I will look for the ice stone so you do not run wild because I promised to do so.

My point here is that Uk is thwarting her need to wield the assassin’s sword, NOT because he feels obligated to kill her should she use it, but because he won’t be able to stop Master Lee from killing her when he’s no longer alive to protect her.