Tale of the Nine Tailed (Gumihodyeon / 구미호뎐)

Where are we headed though?

Where A Eum and my story began and ended.

This is the mountain I used to rule.

It was my hometown, my home,

and my workplace.

Did you know that there was a day...

similar to Valentine's in Joseon Dynasty?

On March 5, when all living things awaken,

couples exchanged ginkgo nuts as a token of their love.

Why ginkgo nuts though?

Male and female trees mate to reproduce...

and they live way past 1,000 years.

So you're still holding on to the Valentine's Day gift...

from your ex-girlfriend.

Actually, these were a parting gift.

We parted ways after exchanging them.

Here.

I'll protect you.

What?

A mountain spirits protect all creations of the woods.

One must also be protected in return.

Why you though?

Because I like you.

What gives you the right?

You're too powerless.

Why are you being this way?

Being able to converse with me doesn't make you someone special.

In your dreams.

You'll never be as powerful as I am.

In what way will you protect me?

You're a mere mortal.

Do you mean that?

Yes, I do.

So don't ever come up here again.

You didn't mean it though, did you?

I was scared.

I didn't know what would happen if I fell for a human...

who would someday die.

How did you two meet again then?

Did you seek her out?

I'm the ruler of the mountains...

and therefore bound to it.

A mountain spirit can't leave where it has been assigned to.

What would happen if you do?

I'll grow weaker...

since I'll no longer have the powers of a mountain spirit.

This one time,

I crossed the boundary while chasing spirits...

that were disrupting the peace.

A nine-tailed fox has attacked our village!

A nine-tailed fox? Is that what you just said?

We must catch it. - My gosh!

A nine-tailed fox! - It's a nine-tailed fox!

Where did it go?

It left a blood trail.

Over there. - It went that way!

Goodness! - Go after it.

My gosh.

What a disgrace!

Let's go that way. - My goodness.

Can you believe it?

Now, go.

If you follow this path, your forest will appear.

A Eum.

I did not see you today.

Thank you.

I will repay you for this no matter what.

I found you.

I'll soon be coming for you,

so sit tight.

What's so funny?

The stage is almost complete.

"The stage"? - Thanks to the Spirit of Darkness,

I was able to find out that Lee Yeon...

will never be able to kill her in this life.

But is there a reason why it has to be those two?

I was supposed to have it all.

I was meant to be the mountain spirit...

and have that woman by my side.

Are you saying... - I'm going to take over...

the mountain spirit's body...

and have her become my wife.

Gosh, this place is mesmerizing.

Why aren't you asking me anything?

Why aren't you asking me why I betrayed you?

Don't you want to know why I killed you?

On my way here,

I noticed that there are many legends...

regarding this beautiful waterfall.

It's about a married couple who were madly in love.

But some stories say the wife dies and some say the husband dies.

So I'm sure there's also something I don't know...

about the Tale of the Nine Tailed...

where the nine-tailed fox tragically had to kill his first love.

A Eum.

Why did you shoot me?

This woman's body is very useful.

Mountain spirits never let their guard down,

but I was even able to shoot you with an arrow.

Imoogi.

Long time no see, Yeon. I waited for you for a long time.

Where is A Eum? - In here.

She willingly gave me her body so she could save her father.

Come out from that body.

I forgot to tell you something.

That was an evening primrose from the burial ground.

I told you to come out.

She's mine. - Show yourself!

Should I kill her and leave her body?

She means nothing to me.

I do not believe you. - You think you used her as bait.

But don't you get it? I used her as bait to get to you.

Don't kill me!

I don't want to die.

You promised me.

You promised to love me until the day I die.

Yeon.

No...

A Eum.

Is that you?

Don't come near me!

It's you.

I...

I killed the villagers.

I killed everyone.

It's not your fault.

Help me, Yeon.

Stop me from hurting anyone else.

Stop me from hurting you.

Just kill me.

It's okay. You have me.

Everything will be all right.

This girl is pretty feisty.

You can't kill me, but you can't keep me alive either.

What you want is me, right?

Take my body,

and let her go.

How touching.

Don't make me repeat myself.

Will you choose the body of a mountain spirit or her body?

Fine. I'll let her go.

Instead,

give me your heart.

I heard the energy of mountain spirits...

lies in their hearts.

Give me your heart.

A Eum.

You're listening, right?

Promise me one thing.

Promise me that you'll forget about me.

Forget about me...

and live a long life.

You don't need to be sorry...

or grateful.

My life belongs to you anyway.

Who says you can die?

A Eum.

Let me go. I'm okay.

Yeon.

You asked me to forget you.

But I won't ask the same.

Don't forget me.

What are you saying? - I'll crawl out of my grave...

if you ever fall in love with another woman.

Let go.

Repay what you owe me, Yeon.

No.

Please kill me.

See? I promised...

that I would...

protect you.

Thank you, Yeon,

for keeping your promise not to forget me.

And...

I'm sorry...

for making you wait so long.

That's precious to you.

Because you are not a shadow of my past.

I'll take...

a good look at you.

Not A Eum reborn, but you.

You're here?

I thought you had died in the Forest of the Starved.

Whatever. I'm disappointed.

Now?

Well, come or not. Whatever.

Are you all right? Should I call Shin Ju back?

Stop freaking out. It's nothing.

It isn't the poison, is it?

Your life is expiring.

I'm right, aren't I?

I've lived pretty long for a half fox.

Please eat the ground cherry.

You can steal years from people and live for as long as you want.

Yeon is on his way here.

I'm going to tell him who Imoogi is.

I'm the only one who knows what he looks like.

What about you?

It's not like I've ever dreamed of the future.

Don't do it! Please stop!