Welcome to the Open Thread, everyone! Thanks for joining this group watch! ❤️

As mentioned in the announcement post, these are my episode notes exactly as they originally appeared on Patreon.

ZERO SPOILER POLICY

Only events that occur in the episodes discussed here may be referenced.

No future developments, relationship outcomes, mythology reveals, major twists, or “just wait…” hints — even vague foreshadowing can affect first-time viewers.

If you’re ahead of the group watch, please keep that knowledge to yourself. Let’s protect the innocent! 😉

Since spoiler tags don’t work in email notifications, we will not be using spoiler tags in this Open Thread.

Without further ado, here are my reactions to this set of episodes. Have fun in the comments! ❤️

My thoughts

Episode 7

E7. Gosh, this show. I just never have any idea what’s going to happen next. It’s such a wild ride, and y’know what, I really like it.

I feel like this show has managed to mesh the best of kdrama and xianxia together, to make something that’s the best of both genres.

On the one hand, this ride is magicky and wild, because you just never know where the story might go next, thanks to all the magic.

And on the other hand, you get something that’s heartfelt and emotionally engaging, which is what kdramas do best, and which is what many C-dramas don’t succeed so well at (or in some cases, don’t even seem to try very hard at, actually).

The result is pretty cracky, I have to say, and I am having an excellent time, while feeling like I’m in deft hands. Fingers crossed that Show keeps this up all the way to the end!

This episode, just as I’d suspected last episode, the spirit in the mirror masquerades as Mu Deok, and goes about, trying to deceive people.

First of all, I’m tickled that this whole concept of the Mirror Of Longing, brings out into the open, that facts that the Crown Prince and Yul were both longing for Mu Deok, while alone in their chambers.

Tee hee. Yes, this is a play on the reverse harem trope, where everyone seems to be attracted to a single female character, but it’s working out in a pretty amusing fashion.

I’m especially amused because neither the Crown Prince nor Yul should really have any business thinking about a maid who has nothing to do with either of them, and they know it.

Their awkward embarrassed looks, when called out on thinking about Mu Deok, tickle me.

Secondly, I’m actually very pleased that neither of them falls for the illusion, because they know Mu Deok well enough, to be able to call out a fake when they encounter one.

This endears them both to me a little more, because this shows that their feelings for Mu Deok are at least rooted in some real understanding of Mu Deok and her personality.

It also amuses me, that when it comes to entering Jinyowon to search for Mu Deok, both of them volunteer to go with Uk – even though it’s quite ludicrous that the Crown Prince should be seen in search of a maid who doesn’t even work for him.

His excuse, that it’s a rare chance to see the inside of Jinyowon, is a pretty good one, heh.

That flashback, where Mu Deok thinks about how she ended up trapped in the mirror, is particularly intriguing, because, as we see, the doors to Jinyowon open for Mu Deok, even though Madam Jin’s emphasized that only members of the Jin family have the power to unseal the doors to Jinyowon.

Innnteresting. Then.. could Mu Deok actually be Madam Jin’s missing older daughter Bu Yeon? Meaning.. could Bu Yeon also have been soul-shifted into Mu Deok’s body, and is now somewhere in Mu Deok, while Naksu remains at the forefront and controls the body..?

I don’t know. It sounds farfetched, but with this show, it’s possible?

On a tangent, I thought it was very clever – and a bit sly – the way Mu Deok provokes Cho Yeon by leading her to believe that the person who breaks the yin-yang jade will, as a result, never experience a long-lasting relationship.

Muahaha. That was quite perfect, because that’s the very thing that would terrify Cho Yeon.

I am loving the way Show is bringing out all these indications that Uk and Mu Deok are more bonded and connected than the people around them might expect.

First, there’s the way Uk refuses to leave Jinyowon without Mu Deok, even if it means being sealed in there with her.

The risk is real too; as we see, Madam Jin’s ready to seal Jinyowon with Uk in it, even if it means that Uk would then die inside.

Second, there’s the way Mu Deok knows Uk’s hand, without him having to say anything.

She recognizes everyone’s voices, and responds to them all correctly, but when Uk takes her hand, he doesn’t say a word. And she simply turns to him and addresses him correctly, as Young Master.

Eee!! I mean, to everyone else, isn’t this evidence that she and Uk have held hands before?? Otherwise, how would she know him by his hand, right??

Backing up a bit, I also really like the conversation that Uk and Mu Deok have, while she’s still inside the mirror.

“I thought about it after I heard about my marriage. “He finally has a way out.” “But how will I manage without him?” I bet you thought that and felt lost. But now that you are not here, I feel just as lost. Mu Deok-ah. I miss you.”

Ahh. I love the empathy and vulnerability inherent in these words.

I love that when Uk was faced with his marriage news, he didn’t think as much of himself, as he did of Mu Deok and what this development might mean to her.

And I love that he’s being so open now, in telling Mu Deok that he misses her. That’s the most overt sign of affection that he’s shown thus far, even though we’ve been reading the signs, that he cares a great deal about her.

On a more magicky note, the spirits in the various pots in Jinyowon are literally crying out that Mu Deok – the blind girl – is the ice stone, which we’d heard Master Lee talking about, at the top of the episode.

Woahh. The plot thickens, though I’m not exactly sure what this means.

I mean, we know what Master Lee’s laid out, that the ice stone produced the Soul Ejector black powder which is used in the alchemy of souls, and is therefore extremely powerful.

But.. how is Mu Deok the ice stone?

Did the ice stone somehow become part of original Mu Deok, the blind girl, or.. did the ice stone take the form of a young girl, and there is no original human Mu Deok..?

If the ice stone took the form of a young girl, then would it really be possible for Naksu’s soul to inhabit that body..?

So many questionsss!

Also, this makes me wonder if the ice stone relationship, is the reason the doors to Jinyowon opened for Mu Deok, or if my original theory, that Mu Deok might also contain Bu Yeon’s soul, might still stand. Very curious.

On an unrelated tangent, I’m becoming rather amused by the romantic tension between Park Jin and Maidservant Kim.

That whole thing, where she asks if he would have sealed the doors if she’d been the one inside Jinyowon, is so typical of girlfriends testing their boyfriends’ hearts, and Park Jin, poor stoic fella that he is, has no idea how to answer.

His parting shot, though, that it would have shattered his heart if he’d had to seal her inside, feels very honest and true to character. Yes, he’d do it, because that’s for the greater good, and he’s just that kind of duty-bound person, but it would have broken him.

Aw. He does care about her, in his own dorky way.

It’s interesting that Uk’s encounter with the magic Mirror Of Longing, has him pondering reality and illusion in such a personal way.

I find it thoughtful and quite insightful, the way he tells Park Jin,

“All my life, I tried so hard to prove to everyone that I was my father’s son. But you told me I was not. Though it hurt, it got rid of my illusion.”

“The illusion I tried so hard to prove no longer exists. So from now on, I am going to try even harder to find out who I really am and what I must do from now on.”

I do really like how this seemingly side plot point, has turned into a core issue of identity, for Uk. Nicely played, Show.

With Uk telling Madam Jin that she’s taking a risk in accepting him as her son-in-law, and Jin Mu planting ideas in her head, that Bu Yeon will become the leader of Jinyowon while Cho Yeon can become queen, it does look like things are shifting, in our drama world.

I’m curious to see how Jin Mu’s going to push a marriage between the Crown Prince and Cho Yeon, particularly since Cho Yeon’s recently embarrassed herself with the whole yin-yang jade incident with Mu Deok, and the Crown Prince is clearly on Mu Deok’s side.

Also, I’m only now becoming cognizant that Jin Mu’s relationship with Madam Jin, is that of a stepbrother, and one born out of wedlock to a mistress, for that matter. No wonder Madam Jin doesn’t want anything to do with him.

In the meantime, it seems that more people are becoming aware of Mu Deok’s true identity as Naksu.

Not only does Yul piece it together when he sees Mu Deok play the bird whistle, Jin Mu’s righthand man Gil Ju knows as well – and wants to use that knowledge to strong-arm Mu Deok – well, Naksu – into giving him Uk, because he wants to soul-shift into Uk’s body.

Yikes. I do wonder why he picks Uk, of all people, though. Is it because Uk has that energy torrent from Heo Yeom, or is it because he knows about Uk’s true identity..?

Also, we get confirmation via Heo Yeom, that Naksu’s father had been the victim of a soul-shifter.

Ahh. So even though the four families had come together to eliminate him, it had been the soul-shifter that they’d been fighting, not her father per se.

That’s interesting context, which I hope Naksu / Mu Deok finds out sooner rather than later.

Finally, it makes sense that Mu Deok would be tempted to lead Uk to Gil Ju as demanded; she’s always spoken in very transactional terms, when it’s come to her relationship with Uk.

She’s been consistent in reminding Uk of how their relationship is only for a season, and that they will part ways, when the time comes.

So, it’s not entirely surprising that she would default to a transactional way of thinking, when presented with her choices by Gil Ju.

What I do love, is that it’s Uk’s sincerity that moves her to change her mind. In making that decision, she’s essentially putting herself in danger, in order to keep him safe, and I find that very touching.

Beyond that, I might love even more, that Uk won’t let Mu Deok go just like that, and manages to figure out that there’s something about the empty temple where she’d been taking him.

And, I love that what that results in, is Uk and Mu Deok working together to face Gil Ju, instead of one of them sacrificing themselves for the other. Partnership for the win, I say! 🤩

It’s pretty great that, working together, they manage to wound Gil Ju significantly, with Mu Deok being the strategist, and Uk being the one to carry out the strategy, without his binding bracelet to hold back his energy.

How alarming, though, that Gil Ju still seems to set the alchemy of souls into motion! Gah. Is he going to successfully soul-shift into Uk??? I’m on tenterhooks to find out!

Episode 8

E8. The alchemy of souls that Gil Ju sets in motion, doesn’t go at all in the way that I’d feared, ohthankgoodness.

How intriguing, that the person who had appeared to protect Uk from falling victim to the alchemy of souls, looks to be Original Mu Deok, whom we’ve heard the spirits in Jinyowon refer to as the ice stone.

But.. Gil Ju claims that the real Danju has the ice stone, and that the ice stone can protect a soul shifter from going wild and being petrified. That surely doesn’t match up with the idea that Original Mu Deok is the personification of the ice stone?

Unless.. the ice stone broke into two, like the yin-yang jade? And the part that broke off, took the form of Original Mu Deok..? I mean, in this drama world, it’s possible?

Also, we learn that the real Danju is the Queen.

Ohhh. Well, no wonder Jin Mu’s at her beck and call, and no wonder he keeps secretly sending stuff to her. And no wonder it’s fine to use a soul shifter eunuch, for the task.

Although.. I am really curious to know how the Queen became Danju, or rather, how this Danju came to be, and how and why she’s decided that it would be beneficial for her to be in the position of Queen.

Coz I can’t see it having unfolded the other way around, where the Queen, already being Queen, then became the Danju.

Also, while the whole thing with Uk becoming an urban legend with the blue cloth wrapped around his face is quite amusing, I have to admit that when Uk first tossed that blue cloth around his face, I was quite grossed out by this.

I mean, that blue cloth had just been around Gil Ju’s swampy, petrified, oozy face. Blech. 🤢

But, I am suitably amused that this whole thing ends up creating a larger-than-life urban legend, that the blue mage is Naksu, soul-shifted back to life, and now invincible,  because she’s found a strong body.

Lol. That’s so near but so far from the actual truth.

The whole thing where the blue cloth becomes a hot trend within the capital, is so fun. That’s classic Hong sisters for ya; never forgetting a bit of pop culture, even when in a sageuk setting. 😁

Also, that little side arc of Uk being mistaken for a pretty young lady’s stalker, is just the kind of tropey amusing thing that I’m up for.

Plus, it looks like Uk’s just won the young lady’s heart by saving her from Gil Ju, AND it looks like the young lady’s related to Heo Yeom, so.. love rival alert? Coz she’s definitely going to show up again, if she’s related to Heo Yeom. 😁

Which is going to complicate the situation even more, since we already have Yul and the Crown Prince showing interest in Mu Deok.

This episode, I’m mildly amused that the Crown Prince is still thinking about Mu Deok, and gets all defensive that no one else should use the nickname he’d given Mu Deok, because that is his alone to use.

Heh. Tell me again that you don’t care about Mu Deok, Princey. I will won’t believe you. 😉

While it’s completely convenient that Uk’s energy has been surged by the Soul Ejector, I do like how Show calls it out, with Mu Deok remarking with that pleased sardonic tone, that Uk is unbelievably lucky.

Also, I would rather have Uk being capably in control of his energy, because he’s been wearing that binding bracelet for long enough, and I’m ready to move on to a new narrative stage.

The way Show manages that, while maintaining at least a technical semblance of narrative integrity, is quite nice.

The fact that Mu Deok gets quickly healed by Yul is also a little convenient, but again, I like that Show has a reason for Yul to be there, and we already know Yul is very skilled, so it’s not surprising that he would choose to heal her, once he finds her and realizes that she’s hurt.

I can’t help wondering whether Yul is suffering any lingering effects of the poison though, after healing Mu Deok of it. After all, his hand looked alarmingly torn up, after he removed the poison from her shoulder.

Plus, he also does say, later on, that he might just have to let Mu Deok die, if it happens again.. I do wonder if this is about him being weakened by the poison, to the point that he wouldn’t be able to save Mu Deok, even if he wanted to..? 🧐

On a completely different note, I’m suitably amused by the romantic tension between Park Jin and Maidservant Kim.

It’s played for comedy, mostly, but I can’t help swooning slightly, when Park Jin turns on the smolder as he looks into Maidservant Kim’s eyes and holds her hands, saying that he truly does not want to hurt her. Oooh. Wobble.

Not gonna lie; my personal highlight this episode, is the showcase of how close Uk and Mu Deok have become.

From the way Mu Deok vows to kill Uk, thinking that it’s Gil Ju who’s soul-shifted into Uk’s body, to the way she knows it’s Uk, not just after hearing his words, but gazing into his eyes, to the way she throws herself into his arms in relief; it’s all such great evidence, that she cares about him too.

And then there’s how Uk’s shocked hands relax into position on Mu Deok’s back, to soothe her as she cries in relief, that he’s ok.

Augh. These signs of reciprocal care is melting me on the inside.

Additionally, I love all the various times this episode, where we see Uk and Mu Deok communicating with just their eyes.

They don’t need words; all they need to do is look at each other meaningfully, and it feels like a lot has been communicated, and with nuance to boot. I love that.

I feel like anyone seeing that would be able to pick up on how close these two are.

Like the way Mu Deok gets Uk to play along with the story that he’d run away from Gil Ju out of fear, leaving her behind.

There’s that beat, when he leans in to check her shoulder, when they exchange meaningful looks, that I really like. I don’t know; it just feels like they communicate so much, with that quick exchange of looks and tiny nods.

It certainly is enough to give Yul pause.

And, it does feel very momentous when Uk promises Mu Deok that he will find the ice stone, so that she will not be petrified and turn to stone.

The tiny smiles that they both tamp down, as they come to an agreement that Mu Deok will continue to push him towards death, because that’s how he’s been progressing and improving, also tells me that they’re both just happy to have a reason to stay together, which, aw.

The duel between Uk and the Crown Prince is quite exciting, and in particular, I was waiting for everyone to be shocked at how much Uk has improved in such a short period of time.

Apparently, though, his progress, aside from partial mastery of the Tansu, isn’t that shocking, since nobody but me seems to bat an eye. Huh. I was a bit disappointed about that.

I did like the detail, that Mu Deok’s come up with a strategy for Uk, and that even Master Lee is in on it, kinda, from the way she gets Master Lee to bring in those crocks of water into the hall where the duel is to take place.

I was quite concerned when we see that Jin Mu has his men break the crocks, based on a suspicious bad feeling, but mannn, Mu Deok comes through, by slashing her palm, to creating the “water” that Uk needs, in order use his Tansu move.

Woah. I really hadn’t seen that coming. And, ouch. 😝

I’m supremely pleased at their teamwork, though, and I’m also extremely pleased that Uk wins the duel, and that nobody has to die.

(By this point, I’ve gotten somewhat reluctantly fond of the Crown Prince, so I wouldn’t want him to die, just so that Uk could live.)

I’m not surprised that Jin Mu challenges Uk’s win and presses for the truth, and I suppose it’s not surprising that Park Jin would echo Jin Mu’s questions, as leader of Songrim.

I just.. kinda wish that Uk could’ve been celebrated upon his win right away, instead of being questioned like that. 😅

YAY that Master Lee steps in to corroborate Uk’s statement, saying that Uk had trained with no one else present but his maid Mu Deok. Which.. is true, technically speaking? 😁

And, I’m mollified and gratified that after this, everyone starts inviting Uk to join them, from Cheonbugwan to Songrim to even Jinyowon.

I definitely got a thrill, that in order to make his decision, Uk asks Mu Deok, in front of everyone, what choice he ought to make – and then does exactly as Mu Deok says, and chooses Songrim.

I know that will probably get people’s hackles up against Mu Deok, whether it’s out of jealousy that Uk listens to her, or out of anger that Mu Deok advised against their own organization, but I’m too psyched at Uk’s open demonstration of implicit trust in Mu Deok, to care too much about that right now.

That said, I am rather nervous at the fact that Uk is now on the Queen’s radar, since she’s the one who had told Jin Mu to get Uk into Cheonbugwan.

Did she say that because she put two and two together, and figured that he must’ve been the Tansu practitioner who had killed Gil Ju..? Coz that wouldn’t be very good, since she wants that person dead. 😬

Next Open Thread will be up on: Sunday, 29 March 2026!