Joseon X-Files - Secret Book
Episode 4: Behind Those Crimson Eyes
The left limb.
Aigoo... My...
Use cold water to cleanse it.
Ahh... It's hot!
- Yangju, Gyeonggi Province -
Water... Water!
It's burning!
He was beheaded,
both limbs torn apart,
his body completely covered in livor mortis and bite wounds.
It's our fifth case already.
We're not all that far from the capital,
why isn't the court sending any tiger-hunting squad to curb this butchery?
Two months have already passed since my last emergency report.
Are you positive tigers were behind this?
Both preliminary and secondary autopsies have confirmed it.
Without knowing whom this corpse belongs to,
what would be the use of performing autopsies?
Inspector Kim Hyeongdo, you said?
I may respect your authority as an Office inspector,
but I suggest you more wisely choose what to meddle in.
This case is under the local administration's jurisdiction.
If you're so eager to investigate,
do it at your leisure once our work is complete.
Ravenous beasts tend to target their prey's entrails,
so I was wondering why they'd banquet on meager victuals like human heads.
Is that not the case, Your Excellency?
You certainly have a point.
Had we been dealing with tigers, entrails would have been targeted.
However, a completely different culprit is not out of the question.
Startled by humans invading their territory,
ferocious beasts might assault them simply out of fear.
Based on your findings,
did those bite wounds truly come from tigers?
Other than a severed head and torn flesh,
there were no other wounds we could describe as fatal.
Not to mention that tigers are the only beasts that could...
tear a man's head off in a single assault.
And when you're dealing with a corpse over a month old,
any wounds you might possibly discover can be the result...
of other beasts devouring his flesh, rendering any analysis fruitless.
Over a month old, you said?
Aigoo... Being forced to handle corpses at his age...
He didn't look all too healthy himself.
Guncheol.
Is this what you were looking for?
Ohh... I'll be damned, really.
They called it "Yangju steed."
Yangju steed?!
A wild horse-like creature which appeared in Yangju three decades ago,
desultorily devouring both men and beasts.
The tiger-hunting squad sent on its trail suffered severe casualties,
and as the entire town was engulfed by fear,
the streets of Yangju became deserted at night.
Nobody was ever able to explain its true nature,
shrouding its legacy in mystery.
The Yangju steed drawn here has sharp canines,
and have you seen how large its mouth is?
A quick look at the wounds on that corpse in Yangju,
and they could not have come from a mouth this large.
But didn't the officer who performed the autopsy say it was a tiger?
He merely refuted any alternative theories,
he never claimed with certainty that it was a tiger.
By the way,
have you brought it?
This is really something.
Wow... Remarkable.
It sure is. It took the Court Arsenal a full decade to make it.
But... How do you fire this thing?
Should have asked them that...
Then, what was the point of bringing it along?
We're facing the prospect of hunting tigers or this "Yangju steed,"
and with this meager blade at our disposal, we might risk demise.
Go back there and have them teach you how to use it.
Ahh... At this hour, you mean?
Or else, you could follow me to Yangju right now.
Yangju?!
So that autopsy officer might be aware of something,
but he could not be fully honest in the Yangju magistrate's presence?
Indeed.
But why are you going back there in such haste?
It's a once-in-a-month event.
What?
The interval between those murders.
It was nearly one death per month.
Although I can't speak with certainty.
The last victim's corpse was found around a month past.
Then, are you suggesting that another victim will soon be discovered?
Isn't that the very reason leading us there, in the moonlight's embrace?
No tiger would ever hunt at regular intervals of time.
Same goes for your "Yangju steed."
Then, what else are we looking for?
A monster methodically feasting on humans.
What?
Did I just hear "monster"?
That's right. Monster.
Why, does it state anywhere that I should not utter those words?
Quite the meager dwellings for a physician.
Isn't that so?
What is this smell?
What?
Take a look over there.
Guncheol... Here.
So he was his son.
What?
At the administration offices, he was helping with the autopsy.
Hang in there, uh?
One last sip, come on.
Thank you.
So, what shall I repay the courtesy with?
If you want me to slay anyone for the trouble, I'll happily oblige.
Let's hear it.
You must have let me escape for a reason.
I don't know what you're trying to scheme,
but you better not try anything funny with me.
Couldn't...
this be a human liver?
Ehh... How could it be?
Well... I guess Assistant Heo might have an answer.
I do smell something strange here?!
Maybe he tried every sort of remedy to treat his son, and then...
Last resort, human flesh.
I never got the feeling he would be capable of that?!
It's exactly what you least expect...
that you should be worrying about.
Ahh... Right.
- Ahh... So did you learn it? - Yes... Well...
There wasn't really much to it.
So here's the hole, right?
The pellet.
You stick it here, like this.
- Then, gunpowder. - Ahh, powder!
No, wait, that wasn't it.
- First, the gunpowder. Down the hole. - Gunpowder first.
Then you take the pellet,
and with this thing over here, you know?
And then...
But what would this be?
That one... Uh...
So this would be...
What was it...
When you finally figure it out, let me know, will you?
Did you look into it?
Our guess was wrong, they were just simple medicines.
- Medicines? - Yes.
It's known as muskpouch.
In layman terms, it's a musk deer's bladder.
Ahh... Quite the blunder we made.
That's that,
but seems like howls coming from the hills in Yangju were heard last night.
- Did they discover any other bodies? - None as of yet.
The tiger-hunting squad has left for Yangju as we speak.
The hunting squad?!
Why? Will you join them?
How could we continue ignoring this matter?
Shouldn't I verify firsthand whether it's a monster or just a tiger?
- So we're going tiger-hunting? - Tiger or whatever it is...
I do not know whose daughter you might be,
but may I ask you what brought you here at this hour?
How did it go?
Just like the other time,
he disappeared in a heartbeat.
The stock he was bound to vanished as well.
If he still has it on, I doubt he will have gone...
Discreetly transfer all the criminals to the cellars,
and once you find the corpse, eliminate any and all evidence.
Wait a moment.
I was asking myself whom you might be,
but it turns out you're His Excellency's daughter.
May I ask why the daughter of the Yangju magistrate...
was maundering those premises so early in the morn?
Perchance, does it have anything to do with these recent occurrences?
Whatever it is you might know, you must tell me.
I don't know anything about this.
Care to tell me what happened near the small spring?
That...
I saw it myself.
Really... You did?
Then, are you aware of what it might be?
If you tell me what happened there, I will tell you as well.
Naeuri... Are you really going to join them?
Why... Too daunted to come?
These few days my fortune doesn't look too auspicious,
so I fear something could happen...
Why, did providence ever bless you with good fortune?
I mean it...
- I'll come. - What the...
Did you not meet with the autopsy officer?
They said he didn't come to work today.
Ohh Ohh... I'm sure losing sight of such remarkable medical specimen...
will end up ruining his day?
If they really are as precious to him as you claim,
shall I bring them back? Firsthand, that is.
You know how I've been feeling as of late.
No appetite whatsoever, and I barely have the strength to get out of bed.
And what would be the point of this,
when I don't even know how to use it?
Then... How about taking it along as a good-luck charm?
I'll join you.
Join me where?
That...
If you'd asked me a little earlier, you'd know by now.
Let us go.
Why...
Are you telling me you knew how to shoot that all along?
And why didn't you say a thing?
Couldn't you tell me?
Head that way, I will check over there.
Naeuri is not back yet, is he?
- You couldn't find him? - He wasn't there.
I looked at the entire hunting squad, but no traces of him!
If I knew this would happen, I would have tagged along...
Naeuri!
Naeuri! I thought we had lost you for good!
You're not hurt or anything, are you?
Everything is all right, I hope?
My... I guess he did lose it out there, after all.
Uh?! Naeuri!
What is all this smell?
And what is this?
Went hunting or something?
Ohh... What the hell...
I saw it.
I saw it with my own eyes.
Saw what?
That monster.
Monster...
Monster?!
Ajeosshi... Ajeosshi!
Ajeosshi...
Ajeosshi!
Ajeosshi... Help me...
Please...
Ajeosshi...
Now...
If we don't go now...
Ajeosshi!
Now...
Now!
- Ajeosshi, let us go. - Go where?
Where?
And Guncheol?
In that state, he was barely recognizable.
Serve the physicians with drinks and meat,
and spare no expenses in rewarding them.
Yes, Your Excellency.
They call it Chilgak.
It wears a paper skirt, and wanders about on its bare bones.
This was the Yisuyaku found in Hyeonseong Creek.
That is the Dopisaeui. Euiju, Pyeongan Province's Bangmaek.
This one with dragon-like scales is called Yongyeongyongshin.
The Yibaekgoryong, with two horns on its forehead,
and this one,
known as the invisible man.
And this? What is this one?
Noguhwaho.
It's a monster taking human form.
Taking human form how, exactly?
At first it's just a monster running on its four legs.
It eventually goes from four to two legs,
turning into its human form in the end.
Set aside folklore, there have been plenty of sightings.
But while assuming human form,
is this creature a male or female?
That was not recorded.
But, what did you bring this for?
Ahh... Because of the bite marks.
It will need further investigation,
but I thought it could help us find what kind of creature we're dealing with.
Did you find any useful leads?
One dismembered human body, a tiger and two wolves.
Dismembered?!
Could you identify the body?
No.
And what is all the more peculiar,
the tiger remained immobile, howling in pain like a dying rooster.
What?
Guncheol.
Hold it, will you?
- But I'm scared! - I said it's dead!
- Get moving! - All right.
Can't you see the blood?
Ahh... What do you care? What else would bite a tiger?
Is it really that Yangju steed or whatever they call it?
Yoonyi. Here I am!
I can't speak with certainty,
but I could probably vouch for two things.
One, that this creature which bit off this arm so voraciously...
must have really been hungry.
Here... Take a look.
It was so engulfed by hunger,
the bites even managed to leave marks deep down the victim's bones.
So what kind of bite marks are we dealing with?
They're human.
Likely left by someone of small constitution and face.
And two... I'm afraid this arm belongs to no ordinary specimen.
Here.
Wait a minute, this...
Sentenced to branding.
So it belongs to a criminal.
So the reason we haven't been able to verify any of the victims' identity...
All those corpses had been beheaded.
The heads of those sentenced to capital punishment are branded.
So all those victims...
were sentenced for severe crimes.
Are you suggesting the local administration might be involved?
Just that our culprit might be amongst them.
Let us go.
You were of great service.
Ahh... Right.
Could you wrap this arm for me?
Guncheol.
Drink your medicine.
Go ahead and drink it.
Do it, I said.
Drink.
Oh my...
Ahh... I see your son's ailments are quite severe,
seeing how pungent that smell is.
What is that?
Ahh... This?
So you were the one who took it.
I saw bloodstains on it, so I merely took a look.
I never imagined it would be just muskpouch.
- Wait. - Yes?
I have this fine liquor I brewed the other day, care to join me?
Liquor?!
Your Excellency, the inspector is here.
I have something for His Excellency.
What could be bringing you here, at this belated juncture?
It's just an arm a tiger did not feast on all the way,
but seeing as it seems to belong to one of your sentenced criminals,
I thought I would bring it back to its rightful owner.
Let such ludicrous palaver keep you company on your way out.
Turns out that the ferocious beast captured by the tiger-hunting squad...
had already met its demise before they could even catch it,
while all the reported criminals allegedly afflicted by the plague...
had merely escaped from prison,
but you were all too eager to cover this up through mendacious reports.
Bring me a list of all the criminals imprisoned here,
and open all cells at once!
Where did all the criminals go?
We could no longer keep them here,
so they were transferred to our cellars.
If we had not done this,
criminals would continue to escape beyond our control.
Must have been too compelled by your mendacious fabrications to notice those.
Naeuri, all escapees were sentenced to capital punishment,
so they were all bound to stocks.
They would never be able to reach that high with those stocks on.
And if someone opened their cells and unbound them from those stocks,
could it not be feasible?
What would that hole be?
It was used to serve food to the criminals,
but no man would be able to pass through it.
Would it not be possible for a child?
What child are you referring to?
Do you perchance believe my daughter could be responsible for this?
I never made such assumptions.
Naeuri, let us have a word.
Lady Sukmi is not in her quarters.
What else would bite a tiger?
As his hunting spree ended in failure last night,
it is likely he might be wandering in search of his next prey.
Magistrate Jang!
Raising a sick child all by yourself must have been truly challenging.
Aigoo... Looks like we ran out of drinks?!
The night is ripe.
Should you not make your way back?
Yes... I'm afraid so.
I appreciate the hospitality, I really enjoyed it.
Wait.
Yes?
If only to show you the way, I could send my son with you.
Ehh... No way, a sick child at that?
I'll just find my way back somehow.
He knows a very quick shortcut to the tavern.
Guncheol, would you escort Magistrate Jang?
Aigoo... He sure looks all grown up, on second thought?!
So you're Guncheol?
Quite reserved, is he not?
Thank you again!
Let us go, go, go!
Where is Magistrate Jang?
And Guncheol?
If you intend to waste my time with mendacious excuses, forget it.
I already know everything!
Where is Magistrate Jang?!
He doesn't have much time left.
Allow him some nourishment before death makes us part.
So you're telling me you've been feeding human flesh to your son!
All I did was feed my moribund son...
with the flesh...
of people who were soon going to die anyhow.
Shut your vile gob!
If you don't tell me where they went at once,
I shall behead you right here and now.
Do it.
I no longer have any reason...
or will to go on living.
Naeuri, the magistrate has deployed his men.
Say what?
The entire administration force has been sent out, looking for Lady Sukmi.
Let us go, now.
What the...
Aww... Really...
So that's the way.
Ahh... Guncheol, you fool.
How can you call this a shortcut, when there is not a single light...
Gunch...
Stop...
Stop it, Guncheol.
I beg you, no more murders.
Please, Guncheol.
I beg you...
Guncheol... Guncheol.
I'm sorry...
Forgive me, Guncheol...
It's all because of me...
It's my fault...
It's pretty.
Are you all right?
Ohh... What is this?
I'm sorry.
No... No...
Don't shoot!
Please, don't!
Guncheol... Guncheol.
Guncheol.
Get up... Run away.
Do it!
Now... Go!
Run away...
Magistrate Jang, are you all right? Magistrate Jang!
It's detailed enough to suggest someone witnessed it as it happened.
Can you even record with such clarity something that has not yet happened?
My brother...
My brother would never commit murder.
If it weren't for that book,
the Grim Reaper would be keeping us company by now.
It's sealed.
Did you perchance...
find a book there?
How have you been?
The inspector...
had a sword.