57 B.C. As the tribal age drew to a close-
-the kingdom of Silla began to annex nearby tribes.
Auta - leader of the Moon Tribe.
Bak Hyeokgeose - the first emperor of Silla.
Why are you so full of hate and desire to kill my people?
How can I forgive those who disgrace my land with their vicious spells?
Your land?
This has been our home as long as that Great Tree has been here.
How dare you claim this land?
I gave you the opportunity to serve my kingdom - but you refused.
I'll grind your skin and bones into ashes.
While this sword is here, you will not trouble the world again.
896 A.D. - the ninth year of the reign of Queen Jinseong of Silla.
The rebels are everywhere, and our people are crossing the border.
Our country is in distress.
They say that heroes emerge in times of trouble.
If you could help us...
I've never heard of subjects choosing their own monarchs.
Don't get me wrong.
I mean that people suffer because of the monarch's wrongdoings.
Then you must faithfully serve Her Majesty.
You only see what you want to see.
I can no longer protect Silla by myself-
-from all the rebels.
Great Emperor of Silla...
Give me the strength to defend the 1,000-year-old kingdom of Silla.
Charge!
I've alerted the rear guards.
Talwi!
Even after a victory, they look like a bunch of stragglers.
Hold your tongue.
You haven't even taken part in a proper battle, General Bang.
Your Majesty... My duty is to protect you.
I've never had the opportunity.
How should we deal with the rebels' overwhelming forces?
We have to make sure they don't get any support from the people.
Your Majesty...
We should send an envoy to China and wait for their reply.
I'm afraid China would attack Silla under the pretext of reinforcements.
You have to get rid of the nobility and find able men.
Confine yourself to defense matters, and I'll handle domestic affairs.
You should focus on your own tasks.
Silence!
The country is crawling with thieves...
And in the palace, people are conspiring to assume the throne.
Biharang...
Will you stay and defend me?
I will do my utmost, Your Majesty.
Biharang.
Your Majesty...
Ja Woon-bi was the name?
Don't get involved with a peasant girl.
How have you been, master?
Those wounds look severe. It must have been a bloody battle.
I'll be fine. Don't worry about me.
General!
Will you marry me?
About Biharang's girl...
Her father was executed for aiding rebels.
How can you trust someone who won't marry a royal family member-
-because of a peasant girl?
I've killed far too many to be able to save my country.
It is your destiny.
If you hold on to a passing fate, it becomes yours.
Your Majesty! Rebels have invaded Mujinju.
They are too powerful. We have to send General Biharang.
The capital was recently attacked by those awful peasants.
Send General Kim to Mujinju instead.
Your Majesty!
The rebels have captured Mujinju!
What happened to the ruler of Mujinju?
He was mercilessly killed.
Only General Biharang can save us from the rebels.
Your Majesty...
If Daeya Fortress should fall, then Silla is in great danger.
Let me defend Silla from the rebels.
I'll let you take your place in the field again.
That is my duty.
Nine years have gone by...
If it wasn't for all the fighting...
...you and I could have been together.
Back then, I needed Prime Minister Wihong to defend the throne.
On the other hand...
The only one who had a special place in my heart was...
Your Majesty...
I heard he was concerned about you even on his death bed.
Yes, he was.
Biharang...
If the fighting is too dangerous, save yourself and come back to me.
General!
It will protect you.
You have to be strong. Love turns into hate when it's broken.
-General Bang... -Yes, sir.
Her Majesty displays far too much affection for General Biharang...
The general has been seriously injured. Follow me.
Don't blame me for killing you. I'm just following orders.
Talwi!
We could sample her pleasures before we kill her.
I must be off. Take care of the rest thoroughly.
They might ambush you. Don't go by yourself.
The sword is gone.
This place gives me the creeps.
Let's get out of here.
Ja Woon-bi!
Let's split up and look for her.
Be careful.
Ja Woon-bi!
-Ja Woon-bi! -General!
Ja Woon-bi!
General!
-Get away! -General! It's no use!
Although she wanted to be my wife...
...she never asked me for anything.
And she never said anything...
She was afraid she would be a hindrance in the future.
Emperor Hyeokgeose's thousand- year-old seal has been broken.
The evil spirit Auta has been released.
Auta! Who's that?
Before the time of Silla, many tribes shared this land.
Auta was the leader of one of the tribes.
My ancestors were instructed by Emperor Hyeokgeose to guard the seal.
After a thousand years, the task was handed down to me.
Ja Woon-bi was supposed to succeed me...
General... On my way home, I saw soldiers dressed in black.
One of them had a big scar on his face.
Aren't they members of the Royal Guard?
Who dares to stop us?
Kill them!
General!
Bitch!
Don't you know what your soldiers have done?
How dare you treat the commander of the Royal Guard like a common soldier?
Besides, it doesn't concern you.
Are you telling me Her Majesty gave the order to kill Ja Woon-bi?
-That's not what I said! -Was it you?
I know Ja Woon-bi's father was a rebel.
You may get Her Majesty to believe that you're loyal-
-but I am aware of your evil intentions.
I find it alarming that Her Majesty holds you in such high regard.
General!
Did you give the order to kill Ja Woon-bi?
What are you talking about?
One of your Royal Guards tried to kill her.
I don't understand...
Are you telling me that you were not involved?
Your anger fills the entire room.
-Put the sword down! -Was it you or not?
How dare you walk in here with a sword in your hand?
Throw the sword away!
Get her!
Close the gate!
That way!
Kill her!
You can go...
Well? Did you find out who's responsible?
Punish me, for I have been disloyal.
I could punish you for treason.
But... I can understand your actions.
Don't worry, and stand up.
Your Majesty...
I've thought about you every moment of every day.
Biharang...
Who are you?
Where's Biharang?
Biharang!
Guards!
Guards! Guards!
Didn't you hear me?
Your people do not change - even after a thousand years.
Trying to take away the only thing that's left.
I'll start with you, and then I'll destroy every living thing on this land.
The dead do not belong in living bodies. Get out!
Kill her!
Ja Woon-bi...
She's not Ja Woon-bi anymore!
Talwi!
Great Emperor of Silla...
With this sacred sword, may the evil spirit be defeated.
Biharang!
Talwi!
General!
Ja Woon-bi!
-What? -Put the sword away.
-She's the evil spirit! -Talwi!
It's not Ja Woon-bi.
If we don't kill her now, we'll never destroy the evil spirit.
She's still Ja Woon-bi.
I can tell by the way she looks at me.
-General! -Trust me for once.
We don't have much time.
How can she resist the incredible power of the evil spirit?
She's over there!
Talwi!
Get her!
Get him!
The peasant girl must have approached Biharang-
-in order to get to you, Your Majesty.
We shouldn'tjump to conclusions...
...but considering that Biharang protected her...
...maybe they planned this together.
Then they're rebels. They must be captured and killed!
We have to find their hideout first. How did it go with Talwi?
He won't say anything.
Your Majesty. We have a crisis here. We should hold a trial.
A trial...?
Why won't you say anything? You shouldn't suffer like this.
It's not even your fault.
I did not fulfill my duty of serving my general.
So kill me.
Master!
I can't believe you sucked the poison out of his wound.
General!
It will protect you.
My promise to protect the 1,000-year-old kingdom-
-was an empty promise.
I couldn't even protect you.
Ja Woon-bi.
General.
I've been having nightmares.
Don't worry.
You'll feel better once you get some sleep.
Drink.
I also hope that General Biharang is safe.
I value your loyalty to the general.
On the other hand...
What if...
...Ja Woon-bi really is the evil spirit?
What if Biharang has been bewitched by the evil spirit?
What if it was all part of the evil spirit's plan?
It may have been part of the evil spirit's plan to bewitch Biharang.
It's so tragic...
Who's going to help him in his time of trouble?
Talwi will show the way. Hurry!
Yes, Your Majesty.
She just fell asleep.
Tonight, a bloody moon which holds a thousand years of hate will rise.
When the darkness obscures the moon...
...the evil spirit will regain all its former powers.
Even the sacred sword won't be of any help.
What about Ja Woon-bi?
If you can keep her away from the moon-
-there's a chance you might be able to save her.
She has a powerful urge to be with you.
If I should fail, what will happen with her?
She'll be nothing but an empty shell.
It would be Ja Woon-bi on the outside, but Auta on the inside.
We have to sacrifice one life to save millions.
Ja Woon-bi!
I'm so scared.
Ja Woon-bi!
Ja Woon-bi! Ja Woon-bi!
It's too late for me. Save the general.
He's by the lake.
Hurry!
Come on!
General Bang has left the palace to kill the evil spirit.
-Did he bring his men? -Around a hundred.
And Her Majesty secretly followed him.
Lead the way. I want to see Biharang in person.
Of course, Your Majesty.
Ja Woon-bi! Ja Woon-bi! You have to fight it!
Ja Woon-bi!
Ja Woon-bi! Ja Woon-bi!
Ja Woon-bi!
General...
If I can't be the way I used to be...
...l want you to kill me.
Ja Woon-bi! Ja Woon-bi! You have to fight it!
Ja Woon-bi!
Ja Woon-bi! Ja Woon-bi! Please!
Ja Woon-bi! Ja Woon-bi!
I'll go first and have a look, Your Majesty.
Ja Woon-bi!
Ja Woon-bi! Ja Woon-bi! Ja Woon-bi...
Ja Woon-bi!
General...
Ja Woon-bi!
Master! Are you okay?
It's over.
The evil spirit will take control of Silla.
-General! -Biharang!
Here comes the mighty general...
Where did you hide her?
I can defeat the evil spirit.
Just give me some more time.
Draw!
I'll kill anyone...
...who gets in my way.
Stop it!
General Bang! Whose orders were you following?
I'm not the one who ordered you to kill Biharang!
Withdraw!
Biharang!
Your Majesty... I can hardly watch this.
You're destroying your country because of a shallow passion.
You're no better than a bitch in heat.
How dare you plot treason?
General Bang...
It's Her Majesty! Put down your swords!
I feel sorry for the girl. She should have died when she was supposed to.
So it was you...
General Bang!
What are you waiting for? Kill them all!
Your Majesty...
Is there any way to destroy the evil spirit?
Its hate is much too powerful for us.
So the thousand-year age of Silla will come to an end?
What about the sacred sword?
The great emperor used it to stop the spirit.
It no longer has any power.
If not even the sacred sword can help...
Should I stand by and watch while my empire collapses?
Ja Woon-bi.
Ja Woon-bi!
It's me!
Please, come back.
Please...
I don't know how powerful your hate is...
...but I'll take the blame for everything.
Let Ja Woon-bi go.
Take me instead. Take me!
General!
Talwi!
Talwi! Talwi!
It's not her.
Let her rest...in peace...
Talwi! Talwi!
Talwi!
If it's a sin for a queen to love a common man...
...then take me instead.
My people are innocent.
Stab her in the heart!
General.
Ja Woon-bi.
Thank you...very much.
Biharang!
Queen Jinseong abdicated in favor of her nephew Yoh.
She died six months later in the Northern Palace.
38 years later, the thousand-year-long history of Silla came to an end.