The King's obsession: Do-hwa will bear his son
In a flashback the King insists Do-hwa will bear his son, born when the hidden star at the Big Dipper's center appears.
S1E4 · Episode 4
24 moments · 51 min of essential viewing.
Moments, in order
Uk breaks his silence after being cast out
Mu-deok and Maid Kim worry Uk is heartbroken after his banishment, but he has been quietly practicing and vows Songrim will beg him back.
The torrent of energy boils then freezes Uk's bath
Uk's flogging makes the stolen energy surge early; his bath turns scalding then icy while Mu-deok covers with a medicinal-herb excuse.
A petrified victim and the lore of Hwansu
A plea to let Uk return is shut down; over a soul shifter's petrified victim, the Songrim leader explains the alchemy of souls needs Hwansu mastery.
Freezing Uk's bird egg story
Freezing through the night, Uk asks Mu-deok for warmth and tells her he is the egg atop the tree with only her to care for him.
Stupidity or vigor: Uk tries his father's sword
Uk struggles to unsheathe the sword his father left; Mu-deok explains he needs Ryusu first and calls his stubbornness an act of vigor.
Three friends each have an excuse to visit Uk
On the way to see Uk, the friends tease each other over their reasons for coming, from fishing plans to medicine to nitpicking.
The Crown Prince comes for two swords
The Crown Prince arrives for Naksu's sword and also demands the late Gwanju's sword; Uk refuses and the Prince proposes a fight for it.
Uk fights the Crown Prince over the line
The Prince dares Uk to push him over a line; Uk takes a beating until Mu-deok's chamber-pot splash forces the Prince across it.
Uk's sword arm runs wild against the Crown Prince
Uk unsheathes his father's sword but cannot control his arm; a binding bracelet stops him, and the Prince dares the four heirs to fight him together.
Everyone fights to drink the chamber pot water
Mu-deok offers to drink chamber-pot water as an apology, Uk insists he should, and the friends join in until the Crown Prince gives up.
The Crown Prince names her Filthy Mu-deok
Mu-deok hands the Prince Naksu's sword with lavish flattery so he can call himself the winner; he gives her a new nickname.
Mu-deok refuses to dirty the man she loves
Mu-deok explains why she splashed the Prince and turns down a handkerchief from the man she claims to love.
Gwigu stolen from Jinyowon
News that Gwigu was stolen from Jinyowon, which only the Jin family can open, sparks a bitter exchange with the illegitimate Assistant Gwanju.
Uk unsheathes his father's sword before Park Jin
Uk shows the Songrim leader he can now draw his father's sword and begs to be taken in, but unbound, his arm cannot hold the blade.
Uk locked up for insulting the royal family
Cho-yeon brags that Uk beat the Crown Prince, but the leader hears Uk threatened the Prince and orders him locked up as dangerous.
Park Jin tells Uk he is not Jang Gang's son
Uk vows to become Gwanju like his father; Park Jin tells him he is not Jang Gang's son and should stop dreaming.
Park Jin and Maid Kim argue over who is better-looking
Nursing a wound he chose not to dodge, Park Jin muses about claiming to be his father; Maid Kim's jab about his looks turns into a grudging truce.
Could Uk's maid be Naksu?
Someone links Jang Uk to the Spirit Plaque from Chwiseonru and wonders whether his maid could be Naksu.
Mu-deok ends Uk's pity party
Mu-deok tries to rouse Uk to train after only ten days of progress; he refuses and tells her to just be his maid.
Jin Mu demands Uk's arm and baits a royal duel
Master Heo's plea backfires: Jin Mu wants Uk's sword arm cut off, then proposes an official duel with the Crown Prince.
Uk flees before Cheonbugwan can take him
Royal guards come for Uk after the duel challenge; warned he could lose his arm or life, he slips away to Sari Village with Mu-deok.
The duel is set: show up or lose the Gwanju seat
The duel is fixed for next month; if Uk does not appear he forfeits his right to become the next Gwanju.
Mu-deok's real plan: train at Danhyanggok
Uk learns Mu-deok staged his escape so he would train, and their real destination is not Sari Village but Naksu's hometown.
Playlists touching this episode
Jang Uk's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Jang Uk, in story order. Played by Lee Jae-wook.
376 moments · 14h 31mby Favseen
Mu-deok's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Mu-deok, in story order. Played by Jung So-min.
233 moments · 9h 09mby Favseen
Seo Yul's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Seo Yul, in story order. Played by Minhyun.
134 moments · 5h 00mby Favseen
Park Jin's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Park Jin, in story order. Played by Yu Jun-sang.
114 moments · 4h 21mby Favseen
Crown Prince Go Won's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Crown Prince Go Won, in story order. Played by Shin Seung-ho.
99 moments · 4h 06mby Favseen
Jin Ho-gyeong's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Jin Ho-gyeong, in story order. Played by Park Eun-hye.
86 moments · 3h 12mby Favseen
Jin Mu's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Jin Mu, in story order. Played by Jo Jae-yun.
86 moments · 3h 17mby Favseen
Maid Kim Do-ju's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Maid Kim Do-ju, in story order. Played by Oh Na-ra.
86 moments · 3h 15mby Favseen
Park Dang-gu's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Park Dang-gu, in story order. Played by Yoo In-soo.
80 moments · 2h 45mby Favseen
Jin Cho-yeon's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Jin Cho-yeon, in story order. Played by ARIN.
67 moments · 2h 22mby Favseen
Heo Yeom's Best Moments
Alchemy of Souls
Every Alchemy of Souls moment featuring Heo Yeom, in story order. Played by Lee Do-gyeong.
37 moments · 1h 16mby Favseen