Taealha breaks the news of Mihol’s death to Hae Tuak and Yeobi and even reveals that she did it herself.

Tagon hides Taealha’s pregnancy from Saya, however, Saya senses that something went wrong.

Tagon seems to be unfazed by the brewing rebellion and by the news that Ago tribe released slaves. Mubaek deduces that Tagon already thought of a solution.

Daedae is worried that Arthdal might fall if things continue this way. Tagon asks Daedae to think why he sent Red Claw to spy on Ago tribe and Dae Dae seems to have realized something. Tagon says that a storm will be subdued by a bigger storm.

Tagon thinks about his unborn child and thought “The little Aramun will continue the god’s bloodline. It will continue my bloodline,” while Taealha vows to continue her father’s mission and promises to accomplish it. (They have different dreams now.)

Nunbyeol wants to become a full Neanthal again begs Chaeeun to reconnect her lineages. Nunbyeol wants revenge against Tagon and Taealha and she know Chaeeun wants it too.

Eunseom tells the slaves that they can go home but they doubt his words. They expect he wants something in return. Eunseom then reveals that if they’re from Ago Tribe they should (1) go home and (2) free the slaves just like he did. They couldn’t believe he doesn’t want anything else. Eunseom reiterates that he wants everyone to go back to their clans and spread the word.

“He who lowers himself despite knowing his sublimity. He who protects darkness despite knowing his brilliance. He who endures indignity despite knowing his dignity. Tell everyone of the second coming of Inaishingi, the one the God of Waterfall spat out.”

The Chief of Myo clan vouches for Eunseom and declares him second coming of Inaishingi. The Chief continues to say that he is hosting a meeting and calls on all the leaders of each clan to come before Inaishingi just like they did hundreds of years ago.

Dachi and Nima (the slaves Eunseom freed) return to Tae clan and relays the message from Inaishingi.

In the Fortress of Fire, Tagon arrives at Miho’s funeral. Taealha remembers the Fruit of Hae Detu – a sword made of pure steel – but they have no idea who did it. (It’s most likely Yeolson.)

Tagon apologizes to Taealha but she asks what he is sorry for. (She always addresses him informally but for the first time she addressed him formally. Probably to build a wall between them.) Tagon says he’s sorry for making her give the news about her pregnancy in anger instead of joy. Taealha asks Tagon that he should be sorry for doing things without telling her. Tagon says that a King should not say sorry for using his authority.

Taealha apologizes for getting pregnant but Tagon says he wants her and the child and asks her to marry him. Tagon agrees to Taealha’s demands: (1) she will not share the secret of the bronze; (2) Tagon will share his power. Tagon knows that if he breaks his promise, Taealha will kill him and their child. Taelha says she will send Hae Heullip because wants to know how they will divide power and wealth before they get married and Tagon agrees again.

Taealha thinks that a marriage proposal during her father’s funeral fits their personalities. Both of them met while hating their fathers and both of them killed their own fathers. Taealha says, “We’re probably meant to be together, don’t you think?” before leaving. (They’re a match made in heaven indeed. What used to be love is now replaced with hate and greed.)

Tagon orders Saya to secretly find the secret of the Bronze.

Taealha tells Hae Tuak that she learned some things can’t be shared and you’re left with two choices – will you give it up or will you make it yours? Taealha says:

“I, Taealha, will make it mine.”

Taealha meets with Asa Sakan and the latter deduces she needs something from her. She holds Taealha and gazes at her and seems to see God’s will.

Saya is getting anxious of all the secrets people are keeping from him. He finds out from Myung Jin (Tanya’s assistant) that Tanya cried a lot after speaking to Doti and Sucheon.

In the room of fire, Tanya quietly cries and looks back at what she found out from Sucheon – Wahans were sold as slaves because Moongtae betrayed them; Teodae took his life in front of Eunseom; Eunseom escapes from the mine. (That’s too much for one day! No wonder she cried tons.) Tanya answers Yangcha’s unspoken question (She can read his mind) and says,

“Why am I crying, you ask? People usually cry when they’re in distress or when they can feel other’s pain. But I guess you can also cry when you’re brimming with dogged determination. I just learned that today.”   

Saya tells Tanya to make up a new name for the people of the Union but Tanya thinks creating a nation is a bad thing because it can go and attack other countries or trample on its own people.

Saya changes the subject tries to uncover Tanya’s secrets and lies but Tanya gets frustrated and tells him to stop.

Yangcha escorts Tanya to Geungseok workshop where slave kids are shaping stones while shackled and getting whipped. Tanya forbids the manager to shackle the kids from now on and orders him to feed them three times a day. Then Tanya herself went and gently put the shoes in the child’s feet. The child thanks her for giving them hope and they start crying.

Tanya feels thankful and sorry to the slave kids. They’re her hope but they could be put in danger because of her.

Yangcha wonders why Tanya did something so unnecessary. Tanya once again hears his thoughts and tells him it’s not unnecessary because those kids will run around the market telling everyone of her kindness. And there’s nothing more important than that.

Saya decides to find answers to his own question. Saya finds out that – Chaeeun sent Sucheon to Doldambul even before Tanya became High Priestess; Yeonbal seeing his look-alike in Doldambul; the Wahan slaves escaped Doldambul; Mubaek, and only Mubaek, saw how Eunseom fell down the river.

Sul Clan and Tae Clan arrive for the meeting but chief’s started throwing blame to each other and left the meeting. Eunseom speaks to Tae Clan and tells them that though it’s true that he survived the waterfall, he himself is not sure if he’s Inaishingi or not. He declares that if he’s Inaishingi, Apdok will die by sunrise. If not, then he, Eunseom, will die by sunrise. Eunseom’s decision was met with a lot of opposition but bets his everything on Ipsaeng’s words. (Ipsaeng doesn’t remember the words himself. LOL.)

Saya blackmails Mubaek that he will kill the Wahans he captured if Mubaek doesn’t reveal their secret. During the parade, Mubaek tells Saya that Eunseom is alive and that they’re benetbots(twins). Tanya seems to have heard it or read Saya’s mind. (I think Saya felt betrayed. He was definitely hurt by what he found out.)

Tanya crowns Tagon as King.

Tae Clan arrives and presents Apdok’s head to Eunseom and chooses him as Inaishingi. Ipsaeng finally remembers what he said to Eunseom. “If you fail to respond to the aspirations of 30,000 people, you will be dead meat.” Ipsaeng is amazed that Eunseom managed to kill Apdok just by saying a few words. Eunseom accepts the Tae clan and declares that he is now Inaishingi.

Tanya, with her words, removes tribalism and gives everyone a new name – “baeksong” which means subjects. (If you’ve seen a sageuk then you’ll be familiar with this word.) But in her mind, Tanya casts a spell:

“I, Tanya of Wahan, cast a spell on all of Arthdal. You may begin in this world in lowest social status but you can become anything. My fate is now entwined with yours. I hope you provide support as long as I protect you. My subjects.”

Tagon gives his first royal order – conquer the Ago Tribe – exactly what Tanya was worried about.

Suhana is Red Claw and she sends a message to Tagon reporting that Inaishingi will be Arthdal’s biggest enemy.

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Suhana being red claw might be a big blow to Eunseom but I can’t help but think otherwise because she had a significant role in bringing Tae clan to Eunseom. Suhana used to encourage Apdok to meet with the other tribe leaders for peace and she’s the one who told him to go to Myo’s territory to meet Eunseom.

Will Tanya’s plan work? We now know that Tanya’s curses and spells are effective so I’m really curious of what’s next.

Taealha and Tagon’s love/hate relationship is also an amazing plot twist. But I think they will find their love for each other in the end.

Seriously though, when are they ALL going to meet? I’m not even sure yet if there’s a next season. But surely, they will not leave the viewers hanging? With so many cliffhangers, I will go crazy if the show just ends this way.

Momo tribe rejoices to have repaid their debt while Eunseom is still disoriented after the fall. Dalsae rushes to him giving him a hug and tells Eunseom that he’s alive and it’s not a dream. Badoru joins them and they happily embraced each other.

Eunseom thanks Xabara for saving his life. Xabara tells him that they have been untwined (their fate previously intertwined/joined when Eunseom saved Xabara’s child have now been separated because she saved his life). Xabara asks Eunseom what he plans to do now. Eunseom says he will have to go save Ipsaeng. They try to explain to him that since he survived the waterfall he will become someone else. Xabara offers for Eunseom to go with them if he doesn’t want any of that. But Eunseom insists that he must save his friend. Xabara tells him that if Eunseom runs away he will be welcome to join Momo tribe as a guest. She says “All the water in the world is our home.”

Tachoogan, who is skeptical about Eunseom, tells his clan members that they’ve lost their minds. He wants to prove that Ipsaeng lied about Inaishingi so he let him go on purpose. Ipsaeng takes the chance to run away but was caught by Tachoogan. Ipsaeng tells Tachoogan it’s okay for him to die there because everyone will end up like him. Everyone will die in the hands of their own tribe so he will just wait for them in the after world. It enrages Tachoogan but it made the others reflect on themselves. Miroosol asks “Why did we let him fool us? Because we want it so much. We believes because we desperately want to change. We want to get out of this situation at all costs. Everyone in the Ago Tribe is desperate at the moment.” Tachoogan tells them to stop having unrealistic hope and says that Inaishingi will not come and save them. But then Eunseom arrives and picks up the sickle.

All of Myo clan was surprised of Eunseom’s return but he just wants to take Ipsaeng and go. Eunseom tells the clan that Inaishigi or whatnot, he thinks what their doing (turning against their own tribe) is not just wrong but also stupid. Even Ipsaeng who thought he was never coming back believes he’s Inaishingi. (He’s Ago Tribe after all.) Myo clan rejoices of Inaishingi’s return and even Tachoogan is dumbstruck.

Eunseom is ushered inside the tent with the clan elders. The chief says that he’s the only one to survive the waterfall after 1000 years, so he asks Eunseom to lead them. Eunseom denies it and reveals that someone helped him. The elder tells him that it doesn’t matter because they don’t even know if Inaishingi himself got help. The fact that someone risked his/her life for Eunseom in this cruel and cold world and surviving the waterfall with help or not is impossible without heaven’s will. The elder tells him he’s fully qualified. Eunseom still doesn’t want to believe it and was about to reveal that he lied about the dream when Tachoogan stopped him and dragged him outside. Tachoogan shows him the Myo Clan warriors who are gearing up to retrieve the slaves just like Eunseom asked. Tachoogan makes Eunseom realize the weight of his words and tells him it doesn’t matter whether he had the dream or not. Tachoogan says “Now, you are Inaishingi no matter what. Don’t you dare deny it. You are Inaishingi.”

Eunseom talks to Ipsaeng in private to ask him what to do. Ipsaeng tells him he can’t leave. Eunseom blames Ipsaeng for lying but Ipsaeng says Eunseom is the one who told everyone to save and help the other clan. Ipsaeng tells Eunseom that everyone is willing to risk their lives for him and calls him crazy for wanting to run away. (Now he has moral standards? Is the real Ipsaeng starting to come back?) Ipsaeng even uses Eunseom’s own words at him and says “I’m sure that is not how they taught you in Iark.” Eunseom says that he need to save the Wahans and Tanya. Ipsaeng reminds him that his goal is to fight against Arthdal itself and that he needs subordinates. By being Inaishingi, he will have 30,000 people from Ago tribe at his feet. (You tell him Ipsaeng.) Eunseom reveals what’s really worrying him, the truth is he’s scared of being responsible for 30,000 lives. Ipsaeng tells him that’s not what he should be scared for, “If you fail to respond to the aspirations of 30,000 people, you will be dead meat.”

Eunseom talks to Dalsae next to tell him that he can’t rescue the Wahans now. Dalsae tells him that the Wahan Tribe no longer exists. Everyone’s selfish and thinks of their friends as nuisance so they betray them, desert them and eventually kill them. In Arthdal everyone thinks the same. The strong stomp all over the weak so the weak are terrified. And those who are frightened betray their people, run away, and desert their tribe. Together they remember Mother Choseol’s words on their first day of hunting “If everyone is frightened, we are not cowards. It’s just that your opponent is too strong. At such times, you have two options. If you’re going to fight, do it together. And if you’re going to run away, flee quietly.” Dalsae thinks that maybe Ago Tribe wants to fight too but they can’t do it themselves. Dalsae believes Eunseom can do a good job and all he needs to do is play the role they want him to play. If Eunseom is Wahan’s dream, he just needs to become the dream of even more people and nothing will change.

Eunseom goes back to camp and a child approaches him. The child offers him her father’s clothes and sword. She asks her to rescue all their people. Eunseom accepts it and seems to have made a decision.

In Arthdal, Tagon arrives at the market and his warriors tell the people to bow on their knees in his presence. Mubaek thinks back on what he found out – Tagon killed Asa Ron without trial and Harim is murdered for saving Tagon’s life. He wonders what Tagon plans on doing. At the same time, Saya wonders about what Mubaek told Tanya – about the mirror, the sword and the bell.

The parade was halted when a shaman from Bato Tribe calls Tagon out. She curses him, “I curse you in the name of our great hunting god, Mihaje. Mihaje’s arrow will blind and deafen you. Your tongue will get stuck, so you won’t be able to scream as you’re dying.” Tagon responds and tells the shaman that Mihaje can’t curse a living god. The shaman continues to curse him, “You will be destroyed by what you were planning to destroy. The things that you overlooked will attack you!” She asks Airuju to allow harm to befall Tagon then kills herself with a knife on the heart. (In fantasy dramas that I’ve seen, nothing is more powerful than blood curses like this.)

Mihol and Taealha gives Tagon a tour of their library. Tagon asks if Mihol think that he, Tagon, owns everything under the sky. Mihol agrees and Tagon says he better thinks so for the good of both of them and Arthdal.

Mihol doubts Tagon’s promise of keeping the bronze secret and even Taealha is starting to doubt. In a private meeting, Saya tells Tagon that the first thing he must do become King is to get rid of tribalism and by calling Arthdal a nation. Taealha grabs Saya’s hand and touches his hair in a seemingly adoring manner. But then she grabs his chin the Hae Tribe way (Hae Mihol used to grab Taealha’s chin to show dominance) and tells Tagon that they have everything they need in Saya. She wants Tagon to remember that Saya is the fruit of her hard work. She leaves the meeting with the excuse of attending to her responsibilities as the head of Hae Tribe. After she left, Saya asks Tagon if he plans to leave the secret of the Bronze as it is and tells Mubaek that his army and the Daekan warriors will be leading the uprising. Tagon thinks hard about Saya’s plan.

Mihol tells Taealha that Tagon doesn’t plan on keeping his promise but Taelha shoots it down. He gives her a lecture about entrusting their fate to the hands of the heart of the people. Mihol thinks that Taealha changed because she put her trust in one man. Taealha tries to ignore him because his words seem to get to her. Mihol asks her if Tagon will risk his life for her just like she did for Tagon. Taealha is still in denial and tells him to stop. Mihol says he knows what a real king is and he believes that Tagon already knows what it is to be king. He says “Tagon will not share.” Not with Taealha nor with anyone else.

Tagon health deteriorates which worries Saya.

Yeonbal reports to Tagon but he was surprised to see Saya. Tagon introduces Saya as his son. Saya wonders why Yeonbal looked at him that way. Yeonbal tells Gitoha that Saya looks like Eunseom. Gitoha warns him about saying such things or he will be in trouble.

Tagon is too weak to continue with the meetings so he asks for a break. Daedae wants to read a report from Red Claw about Ago Tribe but Tagon dismisses it. (This report might be about Eunseom.) Saya overhears Gitoha and Yoeonbal’s conversation that he looks like the igutu in Doldambul. Tagon collapses on his way back to his bedchamber.

People starts believing that Tagon’s curse is coming true. Saya tends to Tagon’s wound.

Doldambul is under new management but they’re in for a rough night because Eunseom arrived with his cavalry and they start freeing the slaves.

Tanya finds out that the Wahan’s sent to Doldambul was not brought in because of the riot. Tanya makes herself believe that Eunseom is still alive. She arrives at the room of fire and finds Taealha there. Tanya senses something different from her. Taealha asks her why she wants power to which Tanya responds that no one knows what will happen because she’s dispensable and alone. Taealha realizes that even Tanya doesn’t trust people. Hae Tuak arrives and tells Taealha that Tagon collapsed.

Tagon covers up his wound when Taealha arrives and pretends he’s fine. Taealha tells him that rumors already spread that he’s being punished by Mihaje. Tagon declines Taealha’s help and decides to do something careless. Saya and Taealha tries to stop him since it’s too early and too dangerous. Tagon arrives at the market and finds people on their knees praying to the statue of Mihaje. In a fit of rage, Tagon destroys the the statue and tells his people to get rid of Mihaje’s statues and shrines.

Taealha thinks Tagon changed too and he starts to believe her father’s words. Taealha tells Hae Tuak to bring the woman who makes hallucinogen.

After Tagon’s persuasion, Saya treats Tagon’s wound himself. Tagon collapses in the process. When he wakes up, he finds Saya asleep on the floor and he covers Saya with a blanket. (The first fatherly gesture he ever did.) Saya wakes up and was surprised to see the blanket. Tagon tells Saya that he’s made his decision to own the secret of the Bronze. Like a good soldier, Saya goes right away to carry out his orders.

Mihol was summoned to meet with Tagon but was surprised to see Saya instead. He was brought inside a torture chamber.

Taealha confronts Tagon and he reveals to her that he asked Saya to question Mihol about the secret of the Bronze. Taealha asks him why he didn’t tell her but Tagon says that a king who doesn’t own everything will die. And what if Mihol dies without passing the knowledge on to someone. Tagon tells her that he can’t ask her to torture her own father even though she hates him. Taealha seems to have made up her mind. She agrees to Tagon’s plans and volunteers to get the information from her father.

In the torture chamber, Mihol’s lips are still sealed and Saya keeps on threatening him with more pain. Taealha arrives and orders everyone out. Mihol condemns his daughter for going along with Tagon’s plans. Mihol says that if she truly thinks of herself as the head of the tribe she should kill him before he spills the secret. Taealha reveals that she brought a bichwisan (poison) not a hallucinogen. Mihol seemed relieved but Taealha apologizes to him for what she’s about to do. Taealha pledges to get revenge and urges him to tell her the secret of the bronze. Mihol tells her to go to the Great Gochiju Rock to find the symbol of the people who caused their tribe to collapse. Taealha vows to take over the Hae tribe’s mission.

Tagon arrives and was surprised to see Saya and Gitoha outside the torture chamber. They force the door open but they were too late. Mihol already took the bichwisan and dies. Taealha kills the woman who knows how to make the hallucinogen . Taealha tells Tagon that she threw away all the hallucinogen and killed that only person who knows how to make it. And she’s the only one who knows the secret of the bronze.

Taealha blames Tagon for what she did saying he started it. She helped her become king but he went behind her back and conspired with Saya. Tagon threatens to torture Taealha but she laughs it off. She whispers in his ears so that no one else would hear, “You should be happy. I’m pregnant with your baby. I’m pregnant with Aramun’s baby. There’s a god growing inside me.”

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I believe the curse on Tagon will all come true. He made a grave mistake by making Taealha his enemy.

It was mentioned before that Inaishingi is the only one who could challenge Aramun in the past. If Eunseom is Inaishingi then someone else might be Aramun. Kanmoreu (Aramun’s horse) even left his side because he found him weak. But we can’t ignore the fact that Asa Hon (Eunseom & Saya’s mother who had divine powers) thought Eunseom was Aramun and that Tanya(descendant of Asa Sin) found Eunseom.

If Saya is Aramun and Eunseom Inaishingi then can we expect a 360 degree turn is their characters? Maybe Saya will find the good in his heart with Tanya’s help and Eunseom might experience too much loss and cruelty that he becomes evil.

Either way, I’m super excited for what’s next.

I have to say, this drama started super slow that I remember finding myself dozing off on two or more episodes. But now I’m intrigued with the story. I hope more people will realize that and starts watching.