Following a coup d'état, a new king takes over the land...
...and the world is thrown into darkness.
The people wait for the light to reemerge...
Is he always that brutal?
His skills with the sword are outstanding.
But he didn't have to go and do that...
That's why they call him the Butcher.
Do you really think that your rebellion was a success?
I see that your swordsmanship hasn't rusted.
Your Highness, I apologize for the disturbance.
l feel fortunate to have generals and loyalists like you.
Many government officials are asking for your help.
They are afraid that their lifes are in danger.
Go ask the Justice Ministry or someone else.
Here, we only look after the King.
I will take care of the King's safety for now.
This is a murder case involving a high minister.
It's a tragedy for the whole nation.
lf you catch the murderer, you will be rewarded.
A reward? I see...
I bet you're more interested in that one.
Watch your mouth.
What? Another minister?
Sir, it's a very savage scene. It might be hard for the stomach.
We were blood brothers.
I need to see him one last time.
The heavens have punished him...
What are you talking about?
He... he should have known that this would happen.
Get him out of here!
Get your hands off me, you bastards!
Just wait and see. The heavens will punish all of us!
Punish all of us...
Minister!
lt must have been a ghost... A ghost seeking revenge.
Ghosts can't use a sword. Execution of the dead.
Punishment for high treason is done by cutting off the heads...
...of your ancestors' corpses.
What do you mean...?
The time has come.
Shut that damn mouth of yours.
After the restoration...
...hundreds of officials were beheaded during a purge.
The two murdered ministers took part in the purge.
They were among the eight leaders who oversaw it.
So, what are you implying?
- I mean... - Do you have a death wish?
- Everyone already knows that. - That's not what I meant.
We must investigate the families of the beheaded officials.
And keep watch over the remaining six ministers.
Are you saying that one of the ministers did it?
Nonsense.
He's saying that we should protect them.
I don't care whether they live or die.
Just as long as we do our job.
- We must calm the people down. - Nonsense!
You're always so concerned with the sentiments of the people.
We need to focus on catching the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
He's right. This isn't the first time.
We must get to the root of the problem, or it'll get out of hand.
Get some backbone! All this fuss over one assassin?
I heard that the assassin takes orders from someone.
Can you trust me?
Remember when we went to China together?
At the time...
...I secretly prepared an assassination.
Why did you do such a thing?
Why else? Only by doing so can we pave a bright way for us.
Who says we can't move up in life?
Damn it.
I haven't seen my wife's ass in over three days.
Quit drinking, sir. What about your belly!
What about it?
Why must l waste my youth doing this kind of crap?
Are you referring to me?
What are you doing here?
Who the hell are you?
What's going on?
Who are you?
What are you doing? I'm not the one you're after.
I'm the one who hired you.
Don't you speak Korean?
Who are you? lf you let me live, I'll pay you double.
Who's there?
Stop where you are!
The assassin is here!
This way.
He's over here.
Get him.
Get him!
Get him.
Get him!
Jae Duk noticed something strange about the assassin.
On his sword...
There were words engraved on his sword.
It said 'Sword in the Moon'.
Restricted area
What are you doing? This area is restricted by order of the King.
By order of the King...? You care not for your own life?
Here it is.
Choi Ji-hwan - deceased
What are you doing this late in the night?
Getting ready for a war?
l felt disgraced for not being strong enough.
Do you know what disgrace really is?
You'll never know.
You've drunk a lot.
Give me a drink.
Do you... remember Choi Ji-hwan?
Is he alive?
The people call our army 'Sword in the Moon'.
Why would they call us this?
A sword in the moon...
...prepares for a bright day.
It's the common people's hope...
...for us to create a peaceful nation.
Mylord.
You're not trying to discard me as well, right?
Why do you speak such nonsense?
I've served you for over 20 years.
I don't want to die like the other ministers.
You fool! Why would l want to kill you?
Once the bridge is completed and the memorial for the dead king is over...
...nobody will care whether we follow his design or our own.
Once this happens, our relationship with the King will improve.
I was hoping it wasn't you.
Whether you've been hired, or for whatever reason...
lf you show up again...
...l will kill you.
Is it true that you let the assassin slip away from you?
Please refrain from wine and women for now.
How dare you?
You're nothing but a concubine's son.
I see that you're clenching your sword.
Why? Do you want to use it?
A dog should never bite its owner, no matter how mad it is.
Leave here this instant.
Wait.
You can quit if you're not confident.
Brushes are thrown away once they're all used up, right?
Do you want to rot here forever?
Or do you want to find a way out?
You are guilty of high treason, and you will die in jail...
...but you can be free if you catch that bastard.
Long time no see.
Do you feel better now?
I guess my friend is dead.
He's back in his hometown.
My hometown is like here.
Around this time, you can see the schools of salmon.
Do you know what their habits are?
They instinctually know how to find their way back home.
I'm going to return to my hometown.
Come visit me one day.
They sure are taking long.
Let's see how long!
They're fishfood by now.
About half of you will return as palace guards.
And the rest of you will protect the northern border.
I'm worried about our country.
The northern barbarians are getting stronger.
Foreigners are waiting to attack.
Rivalries are endless, and the court is full of fraud.
Here's to the bright era. Sword in the Moon seeks!
The Sword in the Moon!
Friend.
You seem very drunk.
Not at all.
You seem a lot drunker than me.
Know what?
I like this place. I have a very good friend.
And a teacher who's like a father.
Everyone's worried about where they'll go afterwards.
But I'm okay.
I'm not worried at all...
...since my life...
...was never valuable.
I like the fire in your eyes.
What are you two doing here?
Better?
- Who goes there? - It's me, Shi-young.
I see that you're diligently practicing your martial arts.
- Yes, Father. - It's cold. Let's go inside.
What are you two doing here?
You've fallen very hard for Shi-young.
Does it show that much?
When we're under water...
...do you know why I can hold my breath longer everytime?
Come on.
I told you I lost on purpose.
Then do you want to go at it again?
Try me anytime.
- It's a letter from Seoul. - Really?
You and Shi-young must be a couple.
You've all worked hard in these remote parts!
Right now, a revolt has started in Seoul...
...and the whole country is in a crisis.
Now, let's depart for Seoul!
A revolt?
Doesn't it sound strange?
I have somewhere to go. Watch my place.
You want me to disobey the King...
...by joining your group?
No, I'm telling you to do what everyone else is doing.
The people expect Sword in the Moon...
...to protect the nation.
How dare you use them for your own ends!
You're out of line, General.
Face the reality.
Can you bring about a peaceful world with only words and no actions?
I'll ask you one last time.
Will you join the rebellion or not?
I don't know exactly what will happen now.
But it's best for you to leave here.
I came all this way to tell you this.
I have to go back now.
How do you expect me to react if you just pop up like this?
Listen to me carefully: There's no time.
If our family is branded as traitors, we'll all die.
Even if you survive...
...you'll be sold as a whore.
I will do as you say, Father.
General...
Leave here. Go to a place where no one can find you.
Since you made the wrong choice, all of your men will die.
Cut off their heads!
l will join you. Please save my men.
I will take the lead.
How can l trust you and your men to take the lead?
Please, trust me.
- Kill them all! - Wait.
If l trust you...
...what will you do for me?
I give you my neck.
That neck of yours...
You're saying that it's mine forever?
Then bring me Kim In's head.
So, you're here to take my head.
Fine.
What can I do if this is our fate?
Have you forgotten your promise? Behead him now!
I smell the blood in the palace all the way here.
Take my head!
I said, take it!
lf she won't talk...
...rip this bitch's body apart and throw it out on the street.
Yes, sir!
Find the other one!
Stop.
I should've killed you first.
lf you have any memories left...
...kill me now.
He won't leave me alone.
I guess we're next to die.
Right?
Would you rather kill yourself...
...than be that afraid?
You really are a human butcher.
What are you waiting for?
Private Suh!
You fool! What are you doing?
lf you pretend not to know...
...you must think everything will go away.
Then what are we?
We followed you, so what are we now?
To be the low-life soldiers that we are...
We've killed our comrades.
You're drunk.
Forgive him.
Let's go.
No.
I'm sick of living like this.
Private Suh. Private Suh.
Get a medical orderly now!
Private Suh!
What did you do?
lt was great back in the old days.
Wasn't it?
Private Suh, wake up.
Think it makes sense having 20,000 soldiers to protect you?
That's not all.
Who are those damn replacements for the dead ministers?
You put idiots in high positions.
Are you trying to wash the blood from your hands?
I know what you're feeling.
But we can't turn our backs on the people.
We must calm the court quickly.
We must not repeat a history of bloodshed.
Our comrades...
No, if l die, then isn't that also bloodshed?
I'm the one who got you on that throne.
How could you betray me?
Reinforce my security detail...
...and tell the soldiers to come this way immediately.
Yes, sir.
I can't believe I put that idiot on the throne.
How dare he?
What are you doing here this late?
Goodness.
Why are you doing this?
How dare you all do this to me?
Don't you know... who I am?
This picture.
It's a painting of the King crossing the Han River.
Sir!
- Minister Jung Yeo-kyoon has died. - He has?
But it wasn't the work of the assassin.
Also...
Private Jang is dead.
You don't look so well.
A lot must be on your mind.
You're not like yourself. Don't you think?
When there's a change, there's always a sacrifice.
Nothing in this world is easily attainable.
That assassin, you see...
What he really wants is me.
I've waited five years to gain respect from the people.
Understand?
For tomorrow's excursion, I've withstood everything.
You haven't forgotten our promise, right?
That neck of yours was mine ever since that day.
You will finally be executed.
So, take care of yourself until your excursion tomorrow.
Think you can change the world by yourself?
It's useless.
Give it up.
Useless?
Maybe so.
I can't change the world alone.
We live and we die...
It's simply a repetition.
Nothing changes. Nothing.
But we hoped for a different world.
Do you remember?
The common people's hope for a peaceful nation.
A world of hope that our teacher told us about.
Now l don't have a world to return to.
This is all that I can do.
Sir, are you here?
Sir.
Sir!
After that day, I strived for only one thing.
To seek revenge.
I've never once looked back.
Sometimes l forget what my father looked like.
I don't know anymore.
I don't think I'm doing this just to avenge my father.
For five years, you've never once looked into my eyes.
That's all that I hoped for.
lf you hadn't saved me that day...
...l wouldn't have survived.
When l first woke up in that pile of corpses...
...l was ashamed of myself for not dying with my comrades.
But what l was more ashamed of...
...was wanting to live in that hell.
I drank my dying comrades' blood to survive...
...because l wanted to live.
Then l thought:
"lf l'm able to live through this...
...then I'll kill the ones who caused this."
Stop!
Look out!
Put your sword down.
Then you can live.
I can... die for you.
Ji-hwan...
Please let us go free.
I want to return to the old days.
Please, I beg you.
When we were under water...
...I could hold my breath for a long time...
...because you were with me.
Because you were always by my side.
And even if l drowned...
...I knew you would save me.