Igniting Wook’s core magic energy, the failed soul-shifting sorcery ripples rumors, regrets and victory in the latest episode of Alchemy of Souls.
More importantly, it spurs the beginning of Jang Wook’s journey to find his worth as a mage and live his life on his own terms. Along with that, our female lead also confronts the reality of her long-held grudge and liberates herself from it.
How we wish we can watch this series every day. Done with taste and imaginative flair, the narrative just keeps getting better.
abbyinhallyuland watches Alchemy of Souls on Netflix
Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 & 18 | 19 | 20 |
Alchemy of Souls Episode 8 Highlights
Previously in Alchemy of Seouls, Kil-ju blackmails Mu-deok to bring Wook so he can claim his body. However, their bond and loyalty have been stronger for them and they conspire to defeat Kil-ju knowing he withheld the information that Naksu’s soul is inside Mu-deok.
Inside the limbo, Wook and Kil-ju stare at each other. The latter moves upward, but Wook was held by blind Mu-deok who utterly mesmerized him.
“So you have shifted souls with my pupil, Kil-ju. I may have been too weak to protect him from you. But I will make sure to end your life.”
Unaware that Wook did not shift souls with Kil-ju, raging Mu-deok wields the sword keen to kill what she thought to be Kil-ju’s soul inside Wook’s body.
It took a lot of Wook’s strength to subdue her. Finally, she believed him when he mentioned that he was the only person who can stare at her at a close distance.
Embracing Wook hard, Mu-deok’s fear dissipated as tears welled in her eyes. He returns the embrace, but their moment gets interrupted by Kil-ju’s last attempt of harming Wook.
They come to the conclusion that Kil-ju’s soul-shifting attempt failed while it brought a blessing to Wook since the soul ejector surged his energy.
Barely holding on to life, Kil-ju warned Mu-deok that she will suffer the same fate and also revealed that Naksu’s father is a soul-shifter who killed her family.
Realizing the grudge she has been holding towards the four noble families of Daeho is unfounded, Kil-ju drops another bomb that Jin Mu is not the real leader of the black magic group she used to belong to.
However, he did not name the Danju leader but tells her that he possesses the ice stone, from which the soul ejectors are being created.
After wounding Mu-deok with poisoned sorcery, Kil-ju runs for his life. Wook follows her order to chase after Kil-ju in the forest.
“Jang Gang commited something irreparable to Do-hwa and Wook.”
While resting inside the hut, Yul and Dang-gu with other mages and the sapsali dog arrived.
Barely escaping the scene, Mu-deok’s sad reverie about her father’s real identity was cut as she heard the rapid barks of the dog who can sense she is a soul shifter.
Yul, accidentally hits Mu-deok as she tries to flee. Knowing her identity, he tells the other mages that he will bring her to get treated.
Trailing Kil-ju, Wook gets halted with his pursuit when a noble lady and her maid ask him to stop following them.
Baffled at the situation, he gets more bewildered when she responds men are always mesmerized by her beauty. That’s why she thinks he was also the same.
Straightforwardly, he breaks her subtle hubris and tells her that he’s not following her nor does he find her pretty.
That same noble lady almost died in the hands of Kil-ju if not for Wook’s timely appearance.
Sensing Kil-ju’s disappearance, Jin-mu learns about the former’s intention towards Wook. Thus, he orders his mages to look for him.
Master Heo was also alerted of the situation while Master Lee is confident that Wook can’t be harmed with Mu-deok beside her.
Finally, Master Park also connected the puzzle pieces of how his friend shifted his soul to the king’s body through dark magic.
His conversation with Maidservant Kim gets interrupted owing to Dang-gu’s arrival and the news that Wook could have shifted his soul.
“Naksu is back! Last night, the mage who appeared in front of the palace used Tansu. That was Naksu’s special skill!”
Stealthily following Kil-ju to determine his leader, they reach Cheonbugwan. Instead of going inside, the villain who knows he’s being tracked continues walking to the gates of the royal palace.
When the palace guards refuse to let him in without showing his face, he creates havoc and bolts out. Realizing he is a shapeshifter, they run after him and one almost died if not for Wook’s interference.
With “tansu” – that one skill Mu-deok asked him to master, Wook finally ends Kil-ju’s life for good.
The next day, Cheonbugwan mages report to Jin Mu about the mage skill that was used to end Kil-ju’s life.
Remembering it to be Naksu’s specialty, his interrogation pauses when Master Park approached along with his company.
Heaving sighs of relief when Master Park hints the body is not Wook’s, he affirms the identity of the dead soul shifter to be Kil-ju.
At the palace, the royal family receives the same report about Kil-ju which made the queen quite agitated.
Daeho goes atwitter with respective theories on the mysterious mage who used tansu, the signature skill of Naksu.
The aftermath even raised a trend as people get hold of the trademark blue cloth of Naksu.
“While growing up, I thought he was unjustly murdered by the mages of the four families. Jin Mu took me under his wing and I called him Danju. However, my father was a soul shifter who used sorcery. And I was used and abandoned.”
Wook meets Yul who looped him into what happened to Mu-deok. Apparently, to heal her fatal wound, Yul exerted quite an energy wounding his hand in the process.
When she sees Wook approaching, Mu-deok ensures their story tallies as she signals him to cooperate.
Bringing her student to the cliff where dead soul shifters are sent for their final resting place. She relays the recent revelation about her father and asks Wook what he will do when the time comes that her life as a soul shifter ends.
Wook reassures her that he found where the real Danju is which is at the royal palace. Learning from Kil-ju that they only need the ice stone for soul shifters to stay tamed, Wook promised to work hard to become strong to enter the palace walls. He also vows to look for the ice stone to save her.
Surprisingly, Danju is the reigning Queen. She orders Jin Mu to kill the person who killed Kil-ju.
Meanwhile, Master Park speaks with Master Lee to inquire if the ice stone was really destroyed, but the latter remains mum about it.
“First, do not do anything and just defend. If you make the first move with your current skills, you will die. You must only attack when he loses focus.”
It’s D-DAY to the sword duel between Wook and Crown Prince Won. All the dignitaries and important figures in Songrim gather to witness the event.
Giving instructions to her student to play smart, Mu-deok also asked Master Lee to place crocks of water at the hall where the duel was to be held.
However, the wily Jin Mu asked his men to remove the crocks. Left with no choice, Mu-deok cuts her palm and throws drops of her blood at him. Executing Tansu, Wook lands a finishing blow at Prince Won making him the winner of the contest.
Of course, Jin Mu refuses to accept the result as he deemed it cheating. He demands to know who taught him that advanced mage skill.
Enter Master Lee who vouches how Wook really accidentally trained the skills by hitting the droplets of water. Proving his innocence and extraordinary skills, now the mage families offer to train Wook.
He asks Mu-deok where he should go and follows her advice to be trained by Master Park in Songrim.
K-Travel: How “Alchemy Of Souls” Has Been Taking Viewers To Virtual Korean Tour
K-Travel: How To Visit The Zelkova Tree Featured In “Alchemy of Souls”
Alchemy of Souls Episode 8 Musings
Alchemy of Souls literally gives us energy each week for its creative and clever narrative. It keeps us engaged in formulating our very own theories.
Mu-deok’s men are all totally smitten by her in different ways of showing their affection. And we can only feel jealous and happily send her to whoever her hearts beat for ultimately.
The idea of how Wook has embraced Mu-deok’s identity and willingness to find a way to break her predicament easily convinces us their connection has reached a deeper level.
Yul, sacrificing his hand to heal her and keep her secret to himself, has also been efficiently swaying our hearts with the second lead syndrome.
Adding the clumsy prince to the mix, we also can’t deny that his role would equate to a more meaningful presence down the stretch.
This episode provides a new possibility in the intricately woven concept of “alchemy of souls”. Previously communicated, the difference between energy and physical strength matters to make it work.
I think there could be bodies immune to it or with special force to dispel it like Wook. There are also souls that could merge inside one body because of the similar frequencies of their energies.
Master Lee mentioned in passing this episode that Wook can never be harmed with Mu-deok around. We also heard him say that strong energy resides inside Mu-deok’s body. The fact that we saw Mu-deok’s soul adds mystery to this cryptic line of thought.
For those who successfully soul shifted with distinct disparity to their energies, the risk is high. It also can lead to irreparable damage. What we want to know is the details of how Jang Gang returned to his old body.
Wook and Mu-deok at least know where the ice stone is that would prevent the latter from running wild. With Jin Mu and Queen/Danju conniving to bring chaos to Daeho, the plot foresees more exciting development in the future.
Is the ice stone really in the palace? Could it be what Jang Gang ordered Jin Mu to get so he can return back to his body in the first episode?
Witness an energizing and magical story in Alchemy of Souls every Saturday and Sunday. International fans can watch it on Netflix.
Photos: tvN
[wpedon id=”2271″ align=”center”]
