Lovers of the Red Sky (홍천기)

(This drama is fictional and people or stories are not tied to reality.)

Long, long ago,

there was a time when humans lived in harmony...

with nature alongside beings that were not visible to the human eye.

One such being was three deities dwelling in one body.

They were called Samshin.

The eldest presided over birth.

The second presided over death.

The third presided over the balance between the two.

One day, the deity of death that craved more blood...

ate up the deity that managed balance.

The balance of life and death fell,

and the world was overcome with fear and unrest.

Around this time, the Demon broke off from Samshin's body...

and lived off the evil greed of the humans.

A woman who had lost her lover...

because of the Demon's reckless madness...

completed a drawing.

Old lady Samshin responded to her plea...

and took possession of the painting,

and the Devil who had brought havoc on the world...

became sealed within that very painting.

And then that woman disappeared.

(Dan Dynasty, First year of King Seongjo)

(King Yeongjong ruled the world through the Demon in his body,)

(but he was afraid of the blood bath caused by the uncontrollable Demon...)

(that he passed down his throne to his son, Seongjo,)

(and decides to do a ritual of sealing his own portrait...)

Eun Oh, have you heard?

That this portrait is meant to be used to contain something?

They extracted something devastating from the king's body,

and are going to seal it in here.

I pray to you, oh deities.

May my husband's painting...

be completed without any problems.

I pray to you, oh deities.

This will do. Step aside.

But as a Seongjucheong shaman...

The Sealing Ceremony is held by Jokyeokjeon.

I understand.

How can a painting be this powerful?

It is truly amazing.

Now it is all...

up to the will of the heavens.

Baby.

My baby.

Darling.

Dear Buddha.

Dear deities.

Dear Samshin. If anyone can hear me,

please protect my baby.

Samshin.

Please protect my baby.

Please protect...

Cheon Gi.

(Old lady Samshin: Gave life since the beginning of time)

Dear Cheon Gi, you were afraid, were you?

What is wrong? What is the matter?

Sir.

Father.

Is it truly possible to seal the Demon...

in a portrait of you?

That is the only way to banish the Demon from this world.

Too much blood was shed in the long war against the Demon,

and I will end it today.

Begin.

Om Mani padme hum.

Om Mani padme hum.

Om Mani padme hum.

(The Demon: Caused death since the beginning of time)

Who dare awaken me?

Did you dare wake me up?

You fool!

He is our King!

The Demon must show his respect!

Do not look into his eyes. Do not make eye contact!

King. Step closer to me.

Take me in.

You can never escape me.

Hello?

Is anyone there?

(Hwacha: A goblin that lives on the energy of paintings)

Samshin.

Samshin, how dare you?

From now on, you shall all suffer from droughts and famine.

Your offspring shall endlessly wander in the darkness.

Your offspring shall never be able to paint again.

To think that he made you blind.

Then again, the Demon has always been mean.

Baby,

I cannot lift your curse,

but I will match you with someone who will protect you from the curse.

My Lady, you gave birth to a boy.

Baby, your name is Ram.

You are the eldest son of the noble Ha family,

Ha Ram.

That is a beautiful name.

Is something wrong?

Will this really bring peace to the world?

I am afraid the Demon will break free.

You do not have to worry.

Your kingdom will enjoy an age of peace.

The curse bothers me.

I mean the one about droughts and famine.

Giddy up.

What do you think you're doing?

Do you think you can get away with this?

Once the former king finds out...

The former king chose Seongjucheong.

You may step down now.

Slay!

Scatter!

To boil the hound once it has caught the rabbit.

I did what I did...

for the safety...

of the royal family and the people.

(9 years later, the 9th year of Seongjo's reign)

(The ritual was a success, but due to the curse of the Demon,)

(Dan Dynasty suffered 9 years of famine and drought.)

(the head priestess, Mi Su, looks for a helper...)

(to sacrifice for the rain making ritual.)

What does it say?

I can't read either. I have no idea.

- The king lacks virtue? - The drought is getting worse.

- I'm sure His Majesty has a plan. - Don't be ridiculous.

That's why it doesn't rain!

The drought has been going on for years!

- Coming through! - Father!

- Father! - Honey!

Not a single grain can leave the house.

Do you understand?

- Yes, Master. - Yes, Master.

- Oh, no. - Please.

- There's no water left. - Give us rain.

That boy has a marvellous ability.

- It's here. - Are you sure there's water here?

- Let's dig! - Dig!

The boy says there's water here. Hurry up and dig.

- Water... It's water! - It's water!

That boy must possess...

the energy of water.

We found water!

Father!

Hi, Ha Ram.

Did it go well?

- Isn't that man... - Yes, Father.

Master Ha Sung Jin?

Let's go inside. Come.

So he was alive.

It's been a long time, Master Ha.

How dare you show up here?

Even after all these years,

I'm sure your resentment is beyond words.

You haven't the slightest idea.

I was under the orders of the former king.

Tell me why you're here right now,

or I'll kill you with my own hands.

I'm here for your son.

You little...

I'm sure you're aware that he was born with the energy of water.

I'll pretend I didn't hear that.

Master Ha.

This kingdom has been suffering from droughts for nine years now.

We need him at the next dragon rain making ritual.

Shut your mouth! I don't want to hear any more. Leave right now!

Your powers have become stronger.

I'm the royal shaman now.

(Royal shaman: A shaman who performs royal rituals)

I'm taking your son as a helper for the ritual.

It's not a matter of choice.

Get prepared.

We shall leave early in the morning.

What's the most important thing when it comes to portraits?

It's not the eyes that you see,

but the eyes that see you.

Guys, it's the blind ghost and her father.

My mom says they're possessed.

Possessed? Really?

Guys, do you believe that?

That makes no sense!

Watch this.

- Come and take it! - Come and take it!

- Give it back! - Come and take it!

- Come and take it! - Give it back! It's my father's!

- Give it back! - Come and take it!

Go away, ghost!

You beggar.

You're filthy. Get lost!

Leave my daughter, Cheon Gi, alone.

- Leave her alone. - What's wrong?

Father, don't do that.

I'm fine. Father!

Father, please.

I'm fine.

Father!

Hey, let's go!

Let's run. Hurry!

Let's run!

Move out of the way!

Move out of the way!