GU FAMILY BOOK EPISODE 21

Wol Ryeong is staring at Yoon Seo Hwa.  He wonders who this woman is and why it hurts him just by looking at her. When Yoon Seo Hwa calls him, Wol Ryeong remembers a pretty young woman calling him. 

Then, at present, he sees a middle-aged, sad-looking woman calling him .  He asks her who she is and if she knows him.

Wol Ryeong gets anxious seeing Seo Hwa’s tears roll down her cheeks but Seo Hwa could only utter his name.  

Then Choi Kang Chi suddenly stands right in the middle of his parents,  telling Wol Ryeong that he will not allow him to kill anybody anymore. Teary-eyed, he stressed that he will stop him.  Kang Chi attacks his father but Wol Ryeong overpowers him.  

In the middle of the fight, Kang Chi says he knows that Wol Ryeong is suffering, that his real appearance is different and he is the only one who can stop Wol Ryeong. 

Since he is much stronger now, Kang Chi gives his father a good fight but Wol Ryeong remains much faster and stronger and cornered his son.  

Wol Ryeong is about to kill Kang Chi when Yoon Seo Hwa begs him not to!  For unknown reason, Wol Ryeong stops but still holds Kang Chi. In between tears, Seo Hwa begs Wol Ryeong, telling him that Kang Chi is their son.  With Wol Ryeong's bewildered expression, Kang Chi takes advantage and attacks his father.  Kang Chi fights hard to protect his mother. 

Wol Ryeong is persistent in going after Seo Hwa, however,Kang Chi blocks him with all his might.

But when Kang Chi sees some guards of Jo Kwan Woong with bow and arrow aiming at Wol Ryeong, he blocks himself to protect him.  Kang Chi gets hit!

Wol Ryeong is shocked to see Kang Chi severely wounded.  Guards are about to throw another set of arrows but Wol Ryeong noticed them.  Just like a speeding bullet, Wol Ryeong attacks and sucked life out of them.

Seo Hwa runs to Kang Chi and notice that Wol Ryeong is gone.  While talking to her child, Kang Chi assures his mother there is nothing to worry about despite his suffering.  

Yeo Wool, Gon and Tae Seo arrive after their retreat from the ninjas.  Yeo Wool is surprised to see her boyfriend all wounded with arrows still on his back.  She orders Gon to help.  While Yeo Wool holds Kang Chi, Gon removes the arrows from Kang Chi’s back one by one. 

Unknown to them, Wol Ryeong is watching them with great confusion and pain written on his face.

After Kang Chi’s wounds heal, the group arrives at the martial arts academy along with Seo Hwa.

Later, the Admiral arrives and Kang Chi introduces his mother Seo Hwa.  But as soon as the admiral asks what Seo Hwa will tell him, the lady merchant orders her son to leave the room.

Outside, Yeo Wool, Gon and Tae Seo are surprised to see Kang Chi step out of the room.  Kang Chi explains that his mother might reveal something confidential to the officers when they heard a grumbling sound! It turns out its Yeo Wool’s stomach!  This elicits laughter among the four and also serves as a breather in their always tense-filled situation.

Master Gong Dal prepared them a sumptuous meal – a whole chicken! 

 Gong Dal commends them for doing a great job.  Kang Chi then offers a good part of the chicken to the hungriest – Yeo Wool – but his girlfriend refused saying he should eat it because he was injured.  Kang Chi pushed back the plate towards Yeo Wool explaining he is fine but Yeo Wool insists.  

Looking on are Gon and Tae Seo who are also hungry.  And since the couple couldn’t decide who should eat the thigh part of the chicken, Tae Seo took it from them!  Gon immediately took a good meaty part from the bowl leaving the couple to share with the remaining parts – wings!  And the couple begins to argue again on who should eat it!

At the meeting, Seo Hwa reveals that Toyotomi Hideyoshi will start a war and that Gong Boon merchants has been providing funds to Jo Kwan Woon to expand his political network within Joseon and squeals more confidential details to Master Dam Pyeong Joon and Admiral Lee Soon Sin.

At the Hundred Year Inn, Jo Kwan Woong receives reports that his men died in the forest and that Seo Hwa is gone missing because Choi Kang Chi and his group interfered.

After eating, Park Tae Seo bids goodbye to Choi Kang Chi. He must return to the Hundred Year Inn because the Goongbon merchants are still in there and he needs to continue spying on them.  Kang Chi reminds him to send his father in case something happens.    Tae Seo noticed the paper he is holding and Kang Chi explains it is the challenge that Head gisaeng Chun gave him. 

He explained that the head gisaeng wants him to use the wood and build a house from it.  Then Tae Seo cuts a portion of the paper explaining it should start from the bottom.  Kang Chi realizes sees the word root and wonders if its all about essence again. Tae Seo  believes that the main of the challenge is for Kang Chi to find his essence. He explains that a man should know his essence to know himself.

Inside their room, Kang Chi prepares the bed for his mother who doesn’t have to sit while sleeping.  Seo Hwa asks her son’s wound.  Kang Chi is thankful of the power he has because his wounds heal quickly.

Seo Hwa, while holding the hand of her son, commends Kang Chi for growing up well and she is grateful for it.  Kang Chi is happy for the compliment.  Seo Hwa admits that she went out to find him as soon as she woke up.  She returned to the moonlight garden but the path never opened.  She went there for a month looking for him.  She confessed that she never meant to abandon him. And she had never forget him not even a single day.

Outside their room, Yeo Wool heard the conversation and later talks about parent-child relationship with Gon.  Gon asked if the master had hurt her feelings, Yeo Wool admits he did whenever he’s mean to Kang Chi. Gon defends the master explaining the fate that one them may die is unacceptable for the master.  But Yeo Wool boldly say that she is not afraid of something that hasn’t happened yet.  And that future is based on what is happening today and believes she can change the future if she changes the present.  Then Yeo Wool invites Gon for a sparring.

At the naval base, the admiral receives reports of Wol Ryeong’s massive killing in several villages already and is set to kill everyone in the province.  The admiral orders his men to coordinate with the local authorities and evacuate all villagers to safety.

At the martial arts academy, Kang Chi is happy sleeping on her mother’s lap.  Then Seo Hwa took the dagger she is keeping underneath the bed. 

Meanwhile, Gon and Yeo Wool continue their sword practice.  As soon as their practice ends, Yeo Wool notices Seo Hwa standing nearby.  Then later a report was sent to Master Dam and Seo Hwa, who was then inside the room and seems to understand the situation, nods to the officer.

Yeo Wool enters the room where Kang Chi is sleeping.  Then she remembers Seo Hwa’s wish – to take care and treasure Kang Chi.

Seo Hwa explained that she will stop Wol Ryeong and that she cannot allow her son to carry the burden of killing his own father.  With Seo Hwa just returning to Kang Chi's life, Yeo Wool argues that Wol Ryeong doesn’t remember anybody and just wants to kill everyone.

 She also asked how can she leave Kang Chi who is happy right now when they just met.  But Seo Hwa explains that beautiful Yeo Wool can bring more happiness than her.  There is nothing else she could wish for. Holding Yeo Wool’s hand, Seo Hwa advises the young woman to protect the love she has because she couldn’t protect the love she had out of her foolishness. 

Back inside the room, Yeo Wool wakes up her boyfriend who is surprised to see her inside.  Yeo Wool confesses to Kang Chi what Seo Hwa plans to do.

In the village, people are panicking as they get evacuated towards the Hundred Year Inn.  Jo Kwan Woon is ready to kill Wol Ryeong with his rifle while the Japanese merchants are planning to attack the naval base which is now empty after reinforcements were sent to help the villagers. 

Tae Seo are spying on them when Ja Ryung caught him.

Kang Chi storms out of the room and meets Gon.  He asks Gon what are the people hiding from him. 

Gon tells him that Wol Ryeong is killing people town after town and Yeo Wool informs him that the mythical creature will soon attack the Hundred Year Inn.  Yeo Wool then asks Kang Chi to wait for him to get her sword.  When she left, Kang Chi requests Gon to take care of Yeo Wool.  

Inside her room, Yeo Wool is explaining to her governess why she needs to bring her sword.  But when she slides down the doo, Gon blocks her path.  Kang Chi requested him to deliver a message – he will be back. Gon convinces Yeo Wool that Kang Chi always keeps his promise. 

Yeo Wool is worried that Kang Chi might get out of control when she is not with him.  But Gon explains that he Kang Chi knows his strength too well now that he can control his power on his own even without the bracelet or Yeo Wool.

Kang Chi runs and jumps high to immediately reach the village when he meets the Admiral along the way.

At the village, the soldiers and police are already prepared with their blockade as they await Wol Ryeong’s arrival.  Including them is Jo Kwan Woong and his assistant plus the rifle gifted to them by the Japanese merchants.

Then Wol Ryeong arrives and walks towards them.  He sees the rifle being prepared by Jo Kwan Woong.  Wol Ryeong is just a few meters away from the barricade when Yoon Seo Hwa blocks him. 

Seo Hwa calls his name and begs him to stop. 

With his memories gone, Wol Ryeong attacks and strangles Seo Hwa.  But as he strangles her to death, Seo Hwa calls his name.  Hearing his name and Seo Hwa’s tears dropping on his hand, Wol Ryeong’s expression swiftly changes.  

At this moment, Jo Kwan Woong prepares to shoot them when Wol Ryeong sees him.  As soon as Jo Kwan Woong fires his rifle, the mythical creature suddenly moves to protect Seo Hwa.  Wol Ryeong was shot in the back.  The bullet even passed through Seo Hwa’s shoulders. 

Seeing Wol Ryeong bleeding, Seo Hwa in between tears screams his name and tries to stop the bleeding using her hands.  While Seo Hwa panics, she then notice Wol Ryeong’s appearance slowly changes. Then he calls her name! 

Seo Hwa asks her husband if he remembers now. He nods.  And the first phrase he uttered is that he misses her so much!  Both in tears, the ill-fated lovers embrace each other.  

In her thoughts, Seo Hwa tells Wol Ryeong that they should return now to the Moonlight Garden where they used to be.  Then a heavy wind whirls around the area then the couple disappears.

Kang Chi,  meanwhile, refuses to let go of her mother but the admiral advises him to because it was her mother’s last wish.  

The admiral recalled how Seo Hwa begs on her knees.  She wants him to give Kang Chi guidance and care and let him live the life he wants to.  She said she doesn't want Kang Chi to see she go down the last path she will take. 

Kang Chi is in denial refusing to accept what he just heard because he just met her mother whom he can now finally call mother anytime and look at her face anytime.  Kang Chi pleads to the Admiral in tears to let him go because he cannot let go of his mother.  But the Admiral reiterates that it was Kang Chi’s mother’s wish and he should not let it go in vain.  The admiral asks him to understand that what her mother’s desire is to protect her son.  Kang Chi falls on his knees, as he couldn’t help the devastating pain he feels.  He weeps.

In the morning, a sad Jo Kwan Woong remembers the last day he had a talk with Seo Hwa where he gave her a chance to come back to him.  But Seo Hwa tells him that even after possessing everything, he will never be satisfied because he will never get what he really wanted to have. And that is his punishment.  Obviously, what he really wants is Seo Hwa.

Meanwhile, Seo Hwa wakes up at the Moonlight Garden.  She remembers the first day she came in the secret mythical place.  Then she heard the same question asked by the same man who saved her two decades ago - Wol Ryeong – her husband.  

When she turned around, the man she sees is the man she first met, Wol Ryeong, the good looking mythical protector of the mountains.  Then she realized she is just imagining because the one in front of him is Wol Ryeong, the hundred-year demon, whose memories about her just returned. 

Then Seo Hwa remembers about his wound.  Wol Ryeong admits that in the end, it is only Seo Hwa’s name and face that he can remember.  

He advises her to go back to where the humans live as soon as the day breaks because he doesn’t know when his memory will disappear.  Then he turns his back and walks away. 
Wol Ryeong stops when Seo Hwa apologizes.  Seo Hwa confesses in tears that she was too young then and her heart was not big enough to bear his love. 

For causing him pain, she is sorry.

Then Wol Ryeong’s reaction changes when he sensed something from Seo Hwa.  When he turns to look at his wife, he is surprised to see the dagger created by Monk So Jeong in Seo Hwa’s palms!  The dagger was originally created by the monk that must be used to kill Seo Hwa to save Wol Ryeong from becoming a demon. 

Seo Hwa explains that she kept the dagger as something important because just in case they meet and if its possible, she wants Wol Ryeong to return to the way he was and will do everything to bring back everything the way it was.  Wol Ryeong couldn’t comprehend what Seo Hwa means. 

Seo Hwa tells Wol Ryeong that she may be a passing wind to someone who has lived for a thousand years but she begs him to remember her because Wol Ryeong is everything to her.  Without a word, Seo Hwa, using the dagger, stabs her chest - eliciting a great, heartbreaking cry from Wol Ryeong!

Wol Ryeong begs Seo Hwa to let go of the dagger but the woman refused.  Then Seo Hwa, the young lady Wol Ryeong fell in love with, finally tells the man she loves the phrase “I Love You.”  She apologizes once more adding that this is all her love can do for him. 

Seo Hwa touches Wol Ryeong’s face whose hand reaches out to hers.  Seo Hwa smiles at her husband before she passes away, leaving Wol Ryeong in so much grief. 

Then the memories and unforgettable moments that the couple went through flood in -

from the time Seo Hwa fell unconscious in Wol Ryeong’s arms, the happy and magical times they shared in the garden, their precious wedding day, the night they made love, the tragic day when Wol Ryeong tries to save Seo Hwa from authorities, Wol Ryeong’s death and Kang Chi’s birth and most especially, the first time Wol Ryeong and Seo Hwa kissed.

Devastated by the death of his beloved, Wol Ryeong - who now returned as his original divine creature - wails.  In his thoughts he said he didn’t hate nor blame Seo Hwa for what happened to him.  He just missed her so much. And he just loved her so much.

Meanwhile, head gisaeng Cheon receives a note from Kang Chi who finally gives his answer to her challenge – his root, his mother. 

Kang Chi returns to the martial arts academy.  At the foot of the stairs, he sees Yeo Wool waiting under her purple umbrella. 

Unknown to Yeo Wool, Kang Chi, drenched in the rain, has been watching him.  When Yeo Wool stands up, their eyes meet.  She then notice Kang Chi’s wrist without the bracelet and remembers what Gon shared to him earlier about her boyfriend’s ability to control his power. 

Then she remembers what her father advised him early in the evening – that is to let go of Kang Chi so he could find the Gu Family book.

Yeo Wool walks towards Kang Chi to share the umbrella with him.  She asks him about his mother.  Kang Chi hugs her as he tells her Seo Hwa is gone. Kang Chi cries in his girlfriend’s shoulders.  Yeo Wool consoles him but cries as well as she remember her father’s order - to let go of her boyfriend.

No viewer has ever finished watching this episode without tears in their eyes. This is definitely one of the saddest and heartbreaking episodes of Gu Family Book. Wol Ryeong’s love for Seo Hwa is immeasurable that he even sacrificed his life for his beloved.

 Will Kang Chi follow the footsteps of his father?  Will he protect Yeo Wool or give up his life just like his father?  And with Yeo Wool planning to let him go, can Kang Chi let the woman of his life leave so easily?