In 180 B.C., after enjoying its golden age for 2100 years, the Gochosun Kingdom finally falls as the result of a year-long war with the Han Empire. The Emperor of the Han Dynasty divides the territory that previously belonged to Gochosun into four different administrative districts (Nak Rang, Jin Beon, Im Doon and Hyeon To) and deploys his military. People of Gochosun strongly stand against the Han Dynasty. Hae Mo Soo is the central figure of the resistance. The king of Bu Yeo, Hae Bu Roo, is very pleased with the fact that people of Gochosun are settled in Bu Yeo with the help of Hae Mo Soo. However, he’s deeply concerned when Bu Deuk Bool tells him that protecting people of Gochosun might invite the Emperor’s anger. Meanwhile, Yeo Mi Eul, oracle of Bu Yeo, sees a three-legged crow appear in the Sun. She knows that the two legs represent Hae Bu Roo and Geum Wa, but she isn’t sure who the other person is. The governor-general of Hyeon To calls a meeting for all the tribal chiefs. Geum Wa goes to the meeting in place of his father. There, he meets Yu Hwa. The governor-general warns that whoever harbors Hae Mo Soo will be severely punished. He kills innocent Gochosun refugees in front of the tribal chiefs. Geum Wa gets enraged, but for the fear of future troubles, he can’t do anything. All of a sudden, Yu Hwa comes in and calls out to the governor-general to stop.

Accused of harboring Hae Mo Soo, everyone in Yu Hwa’s tribe members gets killed except her. However, Hae Mo Soo manages to sneak away. He happens to meet Yeon Ta Bal and his group. He’s shocked to hear that the whole tribe was murdered because of him. Yeon Ta Bal Soon realizes that the man who seems very shocked about the news is Hae Mo Soo. In order to turn him in, he hires Hae Mo Soo as his help. Later, someone attacks Yeon Ta Bal and his group, but Hae Mo Soo helps them escape danger. That night, Geum Wa rescues Yu Hwa and runs away with her. She tells him that Hae Mo Soo is still alive. Meanwhile, Yeon Ta Bal’s wife gives birth to a baby girl. Yeon Ta Bal names her So Seo No. He pledges that he’ll raise his daughter stronger and wiser than any other man in the world.

Geum-wa hears from Bu Deuk Bool that his father lured Hae Mo Soo into a trap. He is devastated. He plans to help Hae Mo Soo escape. With the help of Geum-wa and his soldiers, Hae Mo Soo manages to escape. However, he’s struck by an arrow and falls from a cliff. Yoo Hwa gives birth to a boy. She names the boy ‘Ju Mong’. She tries to leave Bu Yeo with her baby. However, Geum-wa insists that she stay and raise Ju Mong in Bu Yeo. In order to protect the baby, whose father is Hae Mo Soo, Geum-wa decides to raise him as his own son. Meanwhile, Yeo Mi Eul has a vision that the three-legged crow in the Sun flew away. She believes that it’s an ominous sign. She tells Bu Deuk Bool about the omen. He suddenly realizes that Yoo Hwa’s baby might be the son of Hae Mo Soo. He orders Jeok Chi to kill the baby. Yoo Hwa becomes aware of the danger and flees with the baby. Soon, she’s caught by the Han soldiers. Jeok Chi shows up and gets rid of the Han soldiers. However, he tells Yoo Hwa that it was Hae Bu Roo the king of Bu Yeo who wanted Hae Mo Soo dead. He’s about to kill Yoo Hwa and Ju Mong with a sword raised overhead. Twenty years later… King Geum-wa’s continuous conquest almost doubles Bu Yeo’s territory.

King Geum-wa realizes that Ju Mong didn’t attend Young Go Je (a ritual when people celebrate the harvest and thank God). He finds out that Ju Mong is locked in a barn for harassing Bu Young. He’s very disappointed with Ju Mong. He orders that Ju Mong receive twenty lashes. However, Dae So asks the king reduce the punishment, saying that the following day Ju Mong and he are supposed to go looking for Dae Mool Hwal (a legendary bow that the founder of Bu Yeo always carried with him). Geum-wa grants Dae Soh’s request. Ju Mong promises himself that he won’t do anything inappropriate. He also promises that he’ll never disappoint his mother. Dae Soh, Young Po and Ju Mong leave the palace to look for Dae Mool Hwal. Ju Mong takes the lead. While passing the foggy mountain paths, Ju Mong gets separated from his friends and gets lost. He tries to look for his friends, but he gets stuck in a swamp. So Seo No and her group pass by and help Ju Mong. Ju Mong is surprised that the leader of the group is a woman. He’s very impressed by her leadership and beauty. Meanwhile, Dae Soh and Young Po arrive at the Founder’s Mountain. They find an old poem on the map indicating the location of Dae Mool Hwal. However, they can’t figure out the meaning of the poem. After dark, they manage to understand the meaning and rush to the cave where Dae Mool Hwal is located.

Dae Soh is surprised to see Ju Mong alive. He orders Young Po to keep an eye on Ju Mong’s every move. Yoo Hwa tells Ju Mong that he should become the king of Bu Yeo and accomplish a very important task. She introduces Moo Song, a master of martial arts to Ju Mong. Seeing Ju Mong’s baby-like soft hands, Moo Song tells Ju Mong to climb up and down the mountains. Ju Mong gets impatient and annoyed because Moo Song only makes him climb the mountains instead of teaching him real martial arts. One day when he confronts his master, Moo Song takes him to a prison cell located inside a dark cave. Ju Mong finally starts learning the basic moves of the martial arts. His skills are improving every day. King Geum-wa hears that they successfully made a new weapon from iron. Excited by the news, Bo Deuk Bool and the king go to see the new weapon. When they’re about to test the new weapon, Dae Soh volunteers. He suggests that Ju Mong and he fight with the new swords. Hesitant at first, Ju Mong agrees to fight with him. Meanwhile, So Seo No and the group of merchants come back to Jol Bon from Ok Jeo. Yeon Ta Bal is very happy about his daughter’s successful deal. He tells So Seo No, Gye Pil and Woo Tae that he will make every effort to obtain Boo Yeo’s secret method of iron weapon manufacturing. He emphasizes that it’ll be the only way for Jol Bon to survive among other surrounding countries.

Bu Deuk Bool hears that Hae Mo Soo is still alive. Yeo Mi Eul and he go see Hae Moo Soo who is locked in a prison. When Moo Song brings them to the prison, Ju Mong hides himself and overhears their conversation. After confirming that Hae Mo Soo is alive, Bu Deuk Bool asks Moo Song not to tell anyone that he came. Dae Soh finds out that Ju Mong secretly leaves the palace every night. He takes Ju Mong to the training field and gives him a sword. He volunteers to teach Ju Mong how to become a good swordsman. Ju Mong is surprised, but he accepts Dae Soh’s proposal. In the middle of the night, Ju Mong visits Mo Pal Mo at the weapon manufacturing yard. Ju Mong asks Mo Pal Mo to make him a sword as strong as Dae Soh’s. Mo Pal Mo doesn’t know what to do because he knows he needs the king’s permission to do so. Meanwhile, the Xianbei (nomadic people residing in modern Manchuria and eastern Mongolia), who acquired the steel weapons, keep invading Hyeon To. King Geum-wa hears that the newly appointed general-governor of Hyeon To will visit Bu Yeo. He has a bad feeling about his visit and calls up all the statesmen.

Yang Jeong, new general-governor of Hyeon To, sends King Geum Wa a letter. In the letter, he informs the king that he’ll regularly check on Bu Yeo’s weapon manufacturing facility to make sure that it remains closed. Insulted by Yang Jeong’s arrogance, King Geum Wa orders to burn the letter. Beol Gae suggests that the king proclaim the Prince Royal to the throne as soon as possible, in order to strengthen the royal authority. However, King Geum Wa tells him that this isn’t the right time yet. He orders not to bring up the same subject again. Won Hoo hears that the king delayed Ju Mong’s investiture. He believes that King Geum Wa is hesitant because Ju Mong isn’t qualified to become the king. Young Po decides to get rid of Ju Mong. He sends an assassin. Ju Mong is stabbed by the assassin in the street. Ma Ri, Hyeop Bo and O Yi happen to find Ju Mong who is injured and unconscious. They take him to Bu Young. Meanwhile, Yeon Ta Bal plans to raid the smuggler, Do Chi, in order to seize control of the salt market. However, while making a surprise attack on Do Chi, So Seo No is kidnapped by Do Chi.

Ju Mong finds out that So Seo No is captured by Do Chi. He helps So Seo No escape. At first, So Seo No didn’t trust Ju Mong, but she soon realizes that he’s trying to help her. Yeon Ta Bal and his soldiers come to rescue So Seo No, as well. O Yi, Ma Ri and Hyeo Bo find out that Ju Mong released So Seo No. They try to kill him. To save Ju Mong’s life, Bu Young can’t help but tell everyone that Ju Mong is the Prince of Bu Yeo. King Geum Wa gives Dae So and Young Po access to the weapon manufacturing facility. He orders them to find out the secret method of iron weapon manufacturing. While looking for a place to hide, Ju Mong remembers the prison inside the cave. Searching for Ju Mong, Lady Yoo Hwa and Moo Deok finally find him in the cave.

Carried away by Hae Mo Soo’s splendid demonstration of swordsmanship, Ju Mong begs Hae Mo Soo to teach his swordsmanship to him. Hae Mo Soo, getting Ju Mong seated near, sweeps Ju Mong from head to waist. With his hand on Ju Mong’s back, Hae Mo Soo asks him to stop breathing. The moment Hae Mo Soo takes his hand off Ju Mong’s back, Ju Mong gets his breath back but falls on the ground unconscious. Dae So and Young Po, with their soldiers, head for the cave prison to murder Ju Mong when King Geum Wa, at the same time, under escort leaves for the prison to see it for himself. Into the prison where Hae Mo Soo and Ju Mong are in training move Dae So and Young Po launching harsh attacks. Ju Mong’s tensed look becomes dismayed when the disguised assassins, including Young Po, reveal themselves. In the meantime, King Geum Wa’s guards, who arrived at the cave prison later, report to the king on the site of the scattered corpses and he furiously gives an order to investigate the case thoroughly.

King Geum Wa after hearing the news that Hae Mo Soo is still alive looks up in the air and falls into a deep thought. Lady Yoo Hwa visits king Geum Wa and breaks into tears thinking of Hae Mo Soo, when the king starts to drink and talk about him. Gye Pil approaches Mo Pal Mo, who was drinking alone, and treats him to free drinks. While Mo Pal Mo strolls outside the Bu Yeo Palace, Ju Mong appears and asks if any swords are available. Hae Mo Soo takes out a bamboo letter, hands it over to Ju Mong and tells him to deliver it to King Geum Wa without revealing his status. Ju Mong calls for Moo Deuk’s help to deliver the bamboo letter, and King Geum Wa, while reading wooden letters from Yeon Ta Bal, finds the bamboo letter and gets nervous.

Ju Mong visits So Seo No and asks her to take O Yi, Ma Ri, and Hyeo Bo in Yeon Ta Bal’s commerce band, but So Seo No refuses. Dae So and Na Ro visit the commerce band to Ju Mong’s surprise, but Ju Mong greets them with courtesy. While Ju Mong, Dae So and So Seo No together have a tea break at Yeon Ta Bal’s office, Dae So treats Ju Mong as if nothing has happened between them. After asking So Seo No to excuse himself for a while, Ju Mong approaches Dae So, kneels down before him and begs for his life. Dae So, infuriated by the past 20 years of miserable memories of Won Hoo and himself, promises not to forgive the insolence again. King Geum Wa calls General Heuk Chi and an orders him to find Hae Mo Soo, the runaway from the cave prison. Bu Deuk Bool, from a distance, watches with a worried look. Meanwhile, Hae Mo Soo suddenly pulls out his sword toward an approaching object.

Hae Mo Soo reunites with Yu Hwa as arranged by Yeo Mi Eul. Yu Hwa tells him everything she had kept buried deep in her heart during the years past as tears keep flowing from her eyes. After an emotionally charged meeting with Yu Hwa, Hae Mo Soo returns to his mountain hideout to find Ju Mong soundly asleep. As he quietly lays his hand on Ju Mong’s cheek, tears fall from his face. Back at the Palace, Yu Hwa confesses to Geum Wa that she has met Hae Mo Soo. Utterly shocked, Geum Wa tells her that he, too, has been desperately looking for Hae Mo Soo and asks her to tell him Hae Mo Soo’s whereabouts… Ju Mong learns archery from Hae Mo Soo in the grasslands near his mountain hideout. Saying a master archer must be a fast shooter, Hae Mo Soo astonishes Ju Mong by firing a second arrow even before the first arrow reaches the target. Determined to leave Buyeo, Hae Mo Soo sends off Ju Mong telling him to go visit his mother. Meanwhile, Dae Soh approaches Hae Mo Soo’s hideout on the mountain leading some two hundred soldiers as Geum Wa and Yu Hwa in disguise leave the Royal Palace secretly, under the protection of armed guards.

Ju Mong hurries back to the Palace at the news of his mother’s critical condition. Tears well up in his eyes the moment he sees Yu Hwa’s thin and haggard figure... Meanwhile, Dae So and Won Hu are struck speechless when they hear from Young Po that Geum Wa personally brought Ju Mong back to the Palace from outside, but they struggle to get their poise back. Mo Pal Mo says he has something very important to tell Ju Mong and takes him to his quarters, where he says Young Po and the palace messenger are smuggling weapons out of the iron workshop. Stunned by the news, Ju Mong mulls over for a moment and suggests that they had better pretend that they know nothing about it as divulging the fact would endanger their lives. King Geum Wa calls Ju Mong to his quarters. He asks Ju Mong for the identity of the assassin who tried to kill Ju Mong, but Ju Mong answers he doesn’t know…A moment later, Geum Wa inquires Ju Mong about his exceptional martial arts skills, and Ju Mong answers that he acquired them from a teacher named Hae Mo Soo while he was living outside the Palace. Meanwhile, King Geum Wa calls up all the statesmen, Won Hu, Yu Hwa, Ju Mong, Dae Soh and Young Po to his quarters, and drops a bomb that he convened the meeting because he wanted to discuss what they should do about proclaiming the Crown Prince.

Ju Mong leaves the Palace and goes to Yeon Ta Bal, and asks him to hire him. Yeon Ta Bal, in response, says he needs some time to think it over, and collect the opinions of So Seo No, and Woo Tae. Oh Ma Hyeop, who thought Ju Mong’s return to the Palace would give him an opportunity to get a good position in the Palace, is disappointed by Ju Mong’s sudden announcement… Upon hearing that Ju Mong is working for Yeon Ta Bal, King Geum Wa relays the news to Yu Hwa who becomes worried about Ju Mong, not knowing what her son’s motive is. Dae Soh and Bu Deuk Bul go to Hyeon To’s Palace to settle the salt trade matter on behalf of King Geum Wa. Yang Jeong says that he has nothing to say to the two and that the only way to resolve the issue is for King Geum Wa to come to him and receive the order of Han’s Emperor…To this, Bu Deuk Bul suggests to Dae Soh that they should return to Buyeo and seek other options rather than endure such insult, but Dae Soh is determined to resolve the case before returning. Meanwhile, Yeo Mi Eul visits Geum Wa after much deliberation and expresses her resentment at Geum Wa’s sole decision on how to install the Crown Prince. Geum Wa says he can’t discuss state affairs of Buyeo with Yeo Mi Eul, for she is responsible for Hae Mo Soo’s incarceration for twenty years and his death.

Yeo Mi Eul summons the priestesses from Buyeo’s all four regional districts and says that King Geum Wa is trampling on the authority of the oracle, stressing that they must stop him. Hyeon Mu, one of the priestesses listening to Yeo Mi Eul, relays the unbelievable news that she has seen the Da Mul Bow (a legendary bow that the founder of Buyeo always carried with him) broken in the cave in the Mountains. Yeon Ta Bal has been watching Ju Mong practicing with his bow and says he has never seen a better archer than Ju Mong in his whole life. Remembering Hae Mo Soo who once saved him from trouble with his superb martial arts skills, Yeon Ta Bal is quite surprised to find out Ju Mong was trained by none other than Hae Mo Soo himself. Meanwhile, So Seo Noh, upon hearing the news that Dae Soh has returned after settling the conflict with the Han Empire, visits him in his quarters. Delighted by her visit, Dae Soh brings out a wooden box on to the table. Precious stones are inside the box.

So Seo Noh pleads to her father Yeon Ta Bal to let her and Ju Mong lead the merchants to the nation of Go San, and Yeon Ta Bal decides to see what his daughter is capable of. Ju Mong, So Seo Noh, Oh Ma Hyeop and Sa Yong make their preparations for the journey to Go San. Ju Mong visits his mother in her quarters and tells her that he is going to Go San for the salt trade. After thinking for a moment, Yu Hwa takes off the jade ring that she wore around her neck and hands it to Ju Mong, telling him to give it to the woman he loves. Yeo Mi Eul sits at the same table with So Ryeong, the youngest priestess in Bu Yeo, who says that she’s been pressed under a mysterious power ever since she entered the Palace and Yeo Mi Eul remembers how Byeo Ri Ha fainted in front of Ju Mong.

Ju Mong and So Seo No fight off masked men who raided the group. So Seo Noh gets mixed feelings after discovering that one of the fallen men was a military official whom she often encountered while trading weapons with the nation of Haeng In. While Hyeop Bo and Ma Ri insist on continuing the journey, Ju Mong says he will follow So Seo No’s decision since she is the leader. Geum Wa is troubled by the Han Empire’s request to dispatch Bu Yeo’s 10,000 soldiers for its battle against the southwestern barbarians. To prevent his achievement from being wasted in vain, Dae Soh proposes negotiations to Yang Jeong, saying that Bu Yeo will send its troops conditionally, but Geum Wa decides to prepare a war with the Han Empire. So Seo Noh is determined to abort the journey but decides to wait on account of Ju Mong who asks her to give him two days of time. To carry on the journey, Ju Mong sneaks into the mountain hold of the bandits, but ends up getting caught, and So Seo Noh enters the hold to make a deal with the bandit leader.

Risking her own life, So Seo Noh jumps into the enemy hideout to rescue Ju Mong and proposes a deal to Bae Mang. Ju Mong and Oh Ma Hyeop, both locked in a cell, are dumbfounded to see So Seo Noh so unexpectedly. Upon hearing from Do Chi that Ju Mong and other members of the merchant group will be soon killed by Bae Mang, Young Po runs to Won Hoo’s quarters and relays the news with a huge smile on his face. However, Dae Soh scolds Young Po for blabbing about things he has only heard at second-hand. Bu Young meets with Yu Hwa, and tells her that Ju Mong is in grave danger. Driven by misgivings, Yu Hwa decides to report the situation to Yeon Ta Bal. Meanwhile, as people crowd each and every street of Bu Yeo to get salt, and fights amongst them ensue, Geum Wa feels increasingly troubled…

Ju Mong and So Seo Noh stand before King Geum Wa. Ju Mong proudly says that Bu Yeo does not need to go to war with Ok Jeo now that he has found a salt mountain that will ensure a sufficient salt supply for generations to come. Highly delighted by Ju Mong’s announcement, Geum Wa says he will hold a banquet to celebrate. Dae Soh and Young Po watch them with a devastated look on their faces. So Seo Noh says she should go back to the merchant group but Ju Mong suggests that she pay a short visit to his mother with him. The two and Yu Hwa talk over tea at Yu Hwa’s residence. Ju Mong says that So Seo Noh saved his life by striking a deal with the bandits and it was also So Seo Noh who helped him get out of a swamp long ago. Quite impressed, Yu Hwa smiles warmly as she looks at So Seo Noh.

Dae Soh is troubled to hear from Oh Yi that Ju Mong is trying to figure out the secret of making stronger iron. Young Po goes to Do Chi to thank him for saving his face. Ju Mong, back at the Bu Yeo Palace from Hyeon To where he was dispatched as King Geum Wa’s special envoy, says he has delivered Geum Wa’s message to Yang Jeong that the Han Empire has frequently intervened with Bu Yeo’s affairs and Bu Yeo will be prepared to go to war if it continues to meddle with Bu Yeo’s business. While all statesmen are stunned at Ju Mong’s announcement, King Geum Wa laughs heartily and praises Ju Mong. Dae Soh calls in the blacksmith’s assistant director Dok Gu to ask him on the progress of the iron weapon manufacturing. Trembling with fear, Dok Gu confesses that not long ago, he accidentally made a sword that could easily stand comparison with the strong iron swords of the Han Empire…

Ju Mong pretends that he let slip some important information in front of Young Po. King Geum Wa has his three sons compete their martial arts skills against one another. The three princes practice their skills for the upcoming match. Dae Soh invites Soh Seo Noh to the contest. At the archery contest, the first round of the competition, Ju Mong shoots arrows with his eyes blindfolded. At the second round, a fistfight and sword contest, Ju Mong and Dae Soh are evenly matched. After the competition, Ju Mong earns trust from the statesmen who used to regard Ju Mong as a mere headache of the royal family. Depressed, Dae Soh visits So Seo Noh and demands an answer for his proposal. Dae Soh, enraged by So Seo Noh’s answer, reports to King Geum Wa that it was Ju Mong who broke the Da Mul Bow. Won Hu’s plan is foiled because of Yeo Mi-eul.

Under orders of Young Po, Han Dang kidnaps Bu Young. O Yi loses his temper and says he will beat Do Chi to death and rescue Bu Young at once. Ju Mong, Ma Ri and Hyeop Bo dissuade him, saying that they shouldn’t act recklessly at a critical time like this. Yu Hwa and Ju Mong are very worried to hear the news that an assassin broke into the Shrine and that Yeo Mi Eul’s safety is unknown at the moment. Geum Wa is furious with the Shrine’s poor security. Geum Wa orders General Heuk Chi to ascertain Yeo Mi Eul’s whereabouts and track down the assassin.

Yeo Mi Eul discloses the secrets of Ju Mong’s birth. Utterly confused, Ju Mong talks to Yu Hwa and King Geum Wa. Using Bu Young as his hostage, Young Po threatens Ju Mong to withdraw from the contest, which will eventually determine who becomes the Crown Prince of Bu Yeo. Ju Mong says to King Geum Wa that he wants to drop out of the contest.

Ju Mong decides to leave Bu Yeo for a while to track his late father’s activities with Oh Ma Hyeop. After telling his mother about his plans, Ju Mong embarks on a journey to locate the Da Mul troops. In his sleep, King Geum Wa sees Hae Mo Su chased after by the heavy cavalry and hit with arrows. Disturbed by his dream, Geum Wa goes to Yu Hwa’s quarters. Yu Hwa was having trouble sleeping as she keeps thinking about what Ju Mong had said to her. She is surprised to see Geum Wa visiting her… Yu Hwa is taken aback when Geum Wa asks if Ju Mong resigned from the Crown Prince contest because of Hae Mo Su. Bu Deuk Bul and all the statesmen suggest that Dae-so must be designated as the Crown Prince, since the contest between the remaining two princes is meaningless now that Ju Mong has dropped out, but Geum Wa emphatically states that he will wait and see. While Dae So’s face goes rigid at the king’s remarks, Young Po smiles with relief.

The Han’s heavy cavalry march captures the Gojoseon people when Ju Mong and Oh Ma Hyeop appear on the scene, vanquishes the troops and sets the people free. Yang Jeong, the governor-general of Hyeon To hears from his security officer that the Han’s troops were annihilated and the displaced people were set free. Enraged, Yang Jeong orders to send troops immediately to catch all of the prisoners back. Dae So is back in the Han Empire to make a deal with Yang Jeong. Yang Jeong says that he will transfer Han’s iron weapon manufacture techniques to Bu Yeo by dispatching the head of his armory. Dae So beams and expresses his gratitude. At that moment, Yang Jeong’s daughter Yang Seol Ran who has incredible beauty and poise comes into the room and the two exchange greetings. Meanwhile, priestess So Ryeong visits Yu Hwa in her quarters with Byeo Ri Ha, and tells her that Ju Mong must leave Bu Yeo at once. Surprised, Yu Hwa says Ju Mong is not in Bu Yeo at the moment, but to Yu Hwa’s shock, Byeo Ri Ha warns that if Ju Mong does not leave Bu Yeo, he could get killed…

Dae Soh and Na Ro test the sword newly crafted by a blacksmith of the Han Empire. The two compete against each other with one holding the new sword and the other the old one. Bu Yeo’s sword breaks in two by the new sword. Watching the match, King Geum Wa is very impressed and pleased, and gives an order to have a banquet to commend the workers at the armory. Young Po’s face becomes rigid with jealousy and envy. Discovering that Young Po has taken away all the trade records while Yeon Ta Bal was away with the merchant group, So Seo Noh goes to Dae Soh to demand that he tell her why on earth he wanted to put her family through such a humiliation. Completely taken aback, Dae Soh seeks Young Po out and asks him with fury what was on his mind when he acted so thoughtlessly. Dae Soh tells Young Po to settle the situation because it was Young Po who caused the mess in the first place. Ju Mong and Oh Ma Hyeop are back in Bu Yeo. Ju Mong first goes to his mother and then to King Geum Wa’s sleeping quarters. With Ju Mong, King Geum Wa reminisces about Hae Mo Su and brings up what it was like when he and Hae Mo Su were in the Da Mul troops. Ju Mong listens to Geum Wa without saying a word and confesses that while he is eternally grateful to Geum Wa for having raised him, he can’t forgive Dae Soh and Young Po who hurt his innocent father, Hae Mo Su …

King Geum Wa once again rejects the statesmen’s request to designate Dae Soh as the Crown Prince. Overwhelmed with anger, Won Hu can’t suppress her rage despite Dae Soh and Ma Wu Ryeong’s efforts at dissuading her. Yu Hwa advises Ju Mong to take extra caution because the Queen and Dae Soh are extremely distressed and Ju Mong could become an innocent victim of their rage.

Ju Mong says he will attack Jin Beon and Im Dun to rescue Gojoseon refugees. King Geum Wa expresses his apprehension over Ju Mong’s determination, saying that Ju Mong will face strong opposition from the statesmen. Ju Mong tells Geum Wa that if the king opposes his plan, he will leave Bu Yeo along with his mother. Mo Pal Mo shows Yeon Ta Bal the sword manufactured at Gye Ru’s armory. Ju Mong evaluates the sword to be either equal or slightly superior to the one developed by Dae So. Mo Pal Mo pledges that he will soon make much stronger swords than those of the Han Empire, now that he has found a clue to making stronger iron. Meanwhile, So Seo Noh asks Ju Mong to take extra caution with the ironworkers whom Dae Soh brought along, since Dae Soh made a deal with Yang Jeong on the condition that he would marry Yang Jeong’s daughter. So Seo Noh seeks her father out and entreats him to let her lead a merchant band for military supplies if Bu Yeo decides to go to war with Jin Beon and Im Dun.

Sa Chul Do’s Ma Ga sends a messenger to King Geum Wa, who delivers the head of the official dispatched to Sa Chul Do under Geum Wa’s orders and a message that Ma Ga won’t send a single solder from Sa Chul Do for Bu Yeo’s war. Geum Wa and Ju Mong are appalled to see the head. Overwhelmed with rage, Geum Wa orders the general to make preparations to go to war immediately but is soon faced with rather formidable opposition from the statesmen. Yang Jeong sends a note to spies that he planted in Bu Yeo. Their faces turn serious after reading the note, and they throw the note into an incinerator soon after. Ju Mong and Oh Ma Hyeop are out in the market to investigate sentiments of the people. Passengers are in groups of twos and threes, talking about how the people at Sa Chul Do decapitated the official from Bu Yeo. Right then, the displaced people of Gojoseon, whom Ju Mong and Oh Ma Hyeop rescued before approach them, saying that they heard about the impending war, and ask the two to let them join in. Moreover, dozens of Da Mul troops flock to the Bu Yeo Palace to make an earnest request to Geum Wa to let them fight for Bu Yeo…

Dae So declares to King Geum Wa on bended knee that he will lead the campaign against Jin Beon and Im Doon. Geum Wa names Ju Mong commander of the vanguard, and directs Dae So and Young Po to aid Ju Mong in achieving certain victory in the war. Ju Mong goes to King Geum Wa and asks him to withdraw the appointment, saying he cannot have his older brothers serving under him. But Geum Wa stresses that the treasonous ambitions of Sa Chul Do and the Queen’s relations can only be quieted if he and Ju Mong lead this war together. Later, Yeon Ta Bal, accompanied by So Seo No, visits King Geum Wa and offers his services as a military supplier. When Geum Wa asks how in the world he plans to purvey enough food and munitions for the entire Bu Yeo army, So Seo No replies that they have long known about the impending war through Ju Mong and that all preparations have already been completed. Greatly pleased by So Seo No’s explanation, Geum Wa asks her and Yeon Ta Bal to make sure everything proceeds according to plan...

Having learned the attack route of the vanguard troops through Dae So, Yang Jeong busily prepares a countermeasure. While leading his men across the fields, Ju Mong observes that their movements have likely become known to the enemy and searches for a new position. As Bu Yeo’s soldiers engage in close combat, Dae So appears in full battle regalia and personally leads them in combat. After watching awhile, Geum Wa orders Dae So to take over the main force until Ju Mong arrives to join them. Meanwhile, Yeon Ta Bal’s merchant band assiduously prepares for war. So Seo No and Sa Yong suggest that it would be better to move before the main force and establish a camp; Yeon Ta Bal assents and declares that he will go to the palace to discuss the matter. Dae So suddenly appears and threatens So Seo No, saying that he will not be made to wait forever. At Yu Hwa’s orders, Moo Song rounds up the fortunetellers from the market streets. Yu Hwa discovers that the Queen and Priestess Ma Wu Ryeong are behind all the fortunetellers who have stirred up the populace with the same lie. She summons the Queen and Ma Wu Ryeong. She declares that inciting the people in wartime is tantamount to treason and warns that she will not tolerate another such attempt from them...

Yeo Mi Eul seeks out Bi Ryu’s leader Song Yang in order to free So Seo No. Declaring that Bu Yeo will come out victorious in the war, she tells him to release So Seo No immediately and reconcile with Yeon Ta Bal. But Song Yang, blinded by his own obstinacy, turns a deaf ear to her words. When the appointed hour arrives with no word from Yeon Ta Bal, Song Yang resolves to execute So Seo No. Just as Song Yang’s man lifts up his sword to kill So Seo No, Ju Mong, O Yi, Ma Ri, and Hyeop Bo appear on the scene and rescue her. Stepping toward So Seo No, Ju Mong rests his gaze upon her, and her eyes overflow with tears. Meanwhile, Dae So hears that the supply unit captured by Song Yang has returned safely. He rejoices, believing the unit to have been rescued by Na Ro. With hurried footsteps, he goes looking for So Seo No, but is astonished to find Ju Mong by her side instead of Na Ro...

Ju Mong and his advance troops use kites to turn Han’s camp into a raging inferno. Bu Yeo’s main army, led by Geum Wa, advance with a war cry and wreak havoc on the camp, which has been torn by internal confusion. Flustered, Yang Jeong flees the spot with a handful of his soldiers. Geum Wa spots Yang Jeong’s party and pursues them on his horse with lifted sword. After cutting a swath through the enemy troops, Geum Wa gets off his horse and continues to fell the soldiers of Han on foot. Suddenly, an arrow strikes him on the left side of his chest, and he falls unconscious to the ground. Yang Jeong receives word that the governor of Jin Beon has been killed. With an ashen face, he orders his army to retreat. Meanwhile, Ju Mong begins his pursuit of the governor of Im Doon, who has taken flight...

Geum Wa lies unconscious on his bed. Ma Wu Ryeong musters her divine power in order to heal his wounds, but the attempt proves unsuccessful. Even the royal physician states that Geum Wa’s fate is in the hands of the gods. Bu Deuk Bul, observing that the king’s illness must not create a gap in the affairs of state, declares that Dae So should take over Geum Wa’s responsibilities for the time being. The ministers and officials convene a meeting and decide to have Dae So take on all the affairs of state until Geum Wa recovers. Dae So appoints Na Ro as the head of the Royal Guard, a post that had been left vacant. Yearning for Ju Mong, So Seo No sits in a daze with tears brimming in her eyes as Woo Tae looks on in concern. Meanwhile, Dae So and the Queen begin to mercilessly execute all the ministers and officials who are loyal to Geum Wa, in order to cement their power...

To assuage the Queen’s rancor, Dae So places Yu Hwa under house arrest and prevents her from going to see Geum Wa. He also instructs his troops to strictly prohibit Yu Hwa from leaving her quarters and prevent anyone from coming near. Meanwhile, Ma Wu Ryeong, Yu Seong, and Hyeon Mu hold a sacred rite at the altar. Throughout the ceremony, they feel a pressing on their hearts and speculate that Yeo Mi Eul must have returned to Bu Yeo. The Queen directs Young Po to find out if Yeo Mi Eul has indeed returned to Bu Yeo, and if so, to speedily seek her out and eliminate her without fail. O Yi, Ma Ri, and Hyeop Bo decide to get Mo Pal Mo, who is under threat from Dae So, out of the ironworks. Risking danger to themselves, they extract Mo Pal Po and steal him away to Gye Ru. Upon learning about Mo Pal Mo’s escape, Dae So flies into a rage at Na Ro and demands that he recapture Mo Pal Mo at any cost...

With great effort, Geum Wa finally recovers consciousness. All the ministers and officials flock to him and express concern for his health. Meanwhile, Dae So is plunged in anxiety, for fear that his father might find out how he has killed off Geum Wa’s devoted servants, placed Yu Hwa under house arrest, and even married Seol Ran. O Yi visits Yeon Ta Bal’s merchant band and apprises him of Geum Wa’s recovery. Yeon Ta Bal worries that an internal war might break out within Bu Yeo Palace, and Woo Tae recommends that it would be best to lead the band back to Gye Ru. Yeon Ta Bal suggests to So Seo No that she wait with them back in Gye Ru, but she resolutely replies that she will remain in Bu Yeo. At Yeo Mi Eul’s summons, Mo Pal Mo and Moo Song visit the Shrine, where they hear the incredible news that Ju Mong may be alive still. Accompanied by several soldiers, they set out in search of Ju Mong...

Geum Wa’s plan fails, and General Heuk Chi and the troops surrender to Dae So. Appointed by Geum Wa as regent in his stead, Dae So makes new changes to the government. Yeon Ta Bal is apprehended by Dae So on the charge of being a war profiteer... Meanwhile, O Yi, Ma Ri, and Hyeop Bo hear from Mo Pal Mo and Moo Song that Ju Mong is still alive. They set out to rescue him...

O Yi, Ma Ri, and Hyeop Bo, along with Mo Pal Mo, rescue Ju Mong while he is being transferred to Hyeon To. They are overcome with emotion at finding Ju Mong alive. Ju Mong and his three friends hasten to the village of the Han Baek clan and rescue So Ya in the blink of an eye. Hearing of Yeon Ta Bal’s banishment, Geum Wa calls him in and expresses his regret. Yu Hwa begs So Seo No for forgiveness in Ju Mong’s stead, telling her to forget him and move on. But all So Seo No can do is shed tears of heartbreak in Yu Hwa’s arms. In a corner of the palace, Young Po harasses the ladies-in-waiting, as Dae So looks on with displeasure written on his face. Dae So takes Young Po to task for his inappropriate behavior. When the enraged Young Po accuses him of committing incest, Dae So has his brother thrown in prison. Meanwhile, Yang Jeong discovers that Ju Mong is alive, and orders Dong Seon to immediately convey the news to Dae So...