While Master Park abides by his promise of making Wook live a low-key existence, his innate talent inadvertently leads him to his real and unimaginable strength in episode 4 of Alchemy of Souls.
Shaping up the good versus evil division among the characters, a new one with seemingly unfathomable mage skills is also introduced. Meanwhile, Seo Yul continues to be suspicious of Mu-deok as she keeps causing problems for his friend, albeit getting the things Wook desires.
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 4 Highlights
In the last episode of Alchemy of Souls, Wook was banished by Master Park from Songrim.
He has also learned from Mu-deok that he carries immense mage energy from Master Heo.
“Stay strong, Jang Wook!”
A flashback reveals the story behind Wook’s conception. The king insists that the prophecy told by Jang Gang will be fulfilled through his son.
Back at present time, Maidservant Kim worries about Wook and urges Mu-deok to check on him.
Thinking he was wallowing in sadness; she was surprised that her student is actually training alone.
When Wook suddenly felt hot, Mu-deok deduces the flogging heightened the movement of energy inside his body. If he can bear it, then he can claim the energy.
Wook confronts extreme changes in body temperatures and Mu-deok tends to him accordingly. She even gives her body warmth while sharing heartwarming stories.
The next day, Wook survived the extreme cold and attempts to unsheathe his father’s sword, but failed.
Mu-deok who sees him struggling explains the power of ryusu that he needs to master so he can channel his energy outward.
Meanwhile, Master Park and Master Heo huddle Yul and Dang-gu to discuss tackling soul shifters.
“My student is still weak to fight you. Until he becomes stronger, he should not get on your bad side.”
The next day, Wook tries to unsheathe the sword to no avail. Mu-deok explains that he has to master Ryusu to do so. Feeling disappointed in his folly, she reassures him that his desire is strength itself and he needs to bear with it.
Just then, the crown prince, Go Won, arrives to get Naksu’s sword. Wook agrees but when he was asked to also give up his father’s sword, he refused.
Because of that Go Won demands for a duel and if he steps on a boundary line, Wook can keep Jang Gang’s sword.
Trained by Jin Mu, the crown prince who is on level 2 skills is obviously more skilled than Wook. Left with no choice, Mu-deok intervenes and throws the chamber pot’s water to the ground which made Go Won cross the boundary line.
Riding the trick created by his maid, Wook declared winning. Go Won acknowledges it, but he demands to punish Mu-deok for her impudence.
On the brink of laying his sword, Wook magically unsheathed Jang Gang’s sword. However, he can’t seem to control it.
Fortunately, his friends fortuitously end up visiting him. Cho-yeon cast a magical binding bracelet to subdue Wook’s incontrollable hand.
Thinking he was being ganged up, Go Won’s fury rises. Mu-deok catches on it so she pleads to take the punishment by drinking the smelly chamber pot water.
Wook does not want to allow it and decides to do it as Mu-deok’s master. Maidservant Kim who loves Wook so much also volunteers to help and so is the kind-hearted Dang-gu.
Reminded by his aid not to cause harm to the four heirs of Daeho, Go Won takes Yul’s request to forego what happened.
Assessing the situation, Mu-deok takes Naksu’s sword and offers it to Go Won. She also sweet-talks his ego so he does not have time to think about her student whose strength still does not match him.
“What is the point of unsheathing the sword when you cannot even hold it.”
Yul who witnessed Mu-deok sweet-talking the prince softly chides her for her actions. She refuses the handkerchief he offered to clean her filthy hand and heads to the nearby stream.
Looking for his master, Wook finds her and locks her in his embrace. Fired up for his new feat, Mu-deok smiles and accepts the hug.
Meanwhile, the elders engage in a meeting after the sapsali under Jin family was stolen. Jin Mu subtly mocks his half-sister’s strength for the burglary. Master Heo chides him but the villain imposed his status as Gwanju deputy leader.
The meeting gets interrupted when they were informed that Jang Wook arrived to speak with Master Park.
Wook implores Master Park’s approval to take him under his wing and shows his successful drawing of Jang Gang’s sword.
But when Master Park learns that Wook cannot control the power concentrated on his right arm, he orders him to remove the bracelet. That leads to the sword piercing Master Park’s chest.
Master Park berates Wook’s audacity when he cannot control the sword. Backing up the man she likes, Cho-yeon blurts how Wook can still learn. She even relays how Wook broke the crown prince’s sword which stirred Jin Mu.
Details of what happened at Jang’s house were unveiled to the elders resulting in Wook’s detention. Jin Mu warns Master Park of how Cheonbugwan will not tolerate Wook’s drawing of a sword to the crown prince.
“You are not Jang Gang’s son. You are the result of your mother’s love affair.”
Master Park checks on Wook and the latter reveals how the flogging and the hits executed by the crown prince might have stirred the energy inside him.
Recognizing how he has always been a quick learner, Master Park offers Wook to join him to do trade or learn medicine under Master Heo’s guidance. However, Wook insists on training to become a mage.
Confirming his desire springs from following Jang Gang’s footsteps, Master Park revealed he is not Jang Gang’s son. Rubbing salt to Wook’s wound, Master Park blurted that he cannot take Jang Gang’s footsteps since he is the result of his mother’s love affair. Thus, his only option is to continuously live as a clueless young master.
When Wook asked who his real father is, Master Park lies that only his mother knows it.
“Do not move. Just stay there. It might all crumble down. So just stay there.”
Wallowing in grief, Wook asks Mu-deok to stay by his side. But when Wook’s depression seems to be lingering aimlessly, she urged him to continue training. She reminds him how he was able to achieve a mage skill for 10 days when normal people can reach it in 10 years.
Dispirited Wook agrees not to be his pupil anymore. So, she asks Dang-gu for help. That leads them to cut a deal with Jin Mu through Master Heo to liberate Wook. Jin Mu insists on cutting Wook’s arm which Master Heo deemed preposterous.
When the negotiation seems to be not working, Mu-deok suggests another duel to validate the fairness of the fight.
At the same moment, Maidservant Kim tends to Master Park’s wound and reveals he deserves the wound for breaking Wook’s heart. He consults if he can just go with the rumors and claim he is Wook’s father. She replies Songrim needs a leader like him.
So, Maidservant Kim suggests claiming to be Wook’s mother, but he agrees that her face does not quite equate to Wook’s handsome features. To make each other feel better, they forced each other to acknowledge they are both good-looking.
“We will go to the place where I used to train. Brace yourself.”
Surprised to receive a duel invitation for Wook, Master Park is looped in on what transpired between Jin Mu and Master Heo’s talk of punishment regarding Wook. The duel’s stake is high as it can also cause the losing party his life.
Yul and Dang-gu hurry to straighten up their friend as Mu-deok tells Wook that he has to get up or he will lose his arm or life. Just when Master Park promised their presence at the royal palace, he receives news that Wook is not in the confinement room.
Wook’s friends know what to do and help him flee Songrim while the tension is still high.
Master Park meets the king and Jin Mu who both are firm to the duel that will happen in two weeks.
Mu-deok has deduced what will happen as well and relays to her student that they will be heading to Naksu’s hometown to train.
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Alchemy of Souls Episode 4 Musings
Alchemy of Souls episode 4 further asserts the deep fondness Master Park has for Jang Wook. While we fully empathize with his intention, we hope he just let Wook carve his own path.
This series is really hitting me home, probably because I grew up watching those old-school fantasy adventure-action Japanese anime series. Who would have thought that a K-Drama can channel that vibe?
Through Master Park and Master Heo, we learned that there’s a godlike skill known to have been mastered by the founder of Songrim and another figure that has not yet been named.
Keen to protect Wook at any cost, Master Park is hurting him and Wook in the process. It seems that the late king’s words about his son will proceed as planned.
This episode gives a peek at how the evil motivation shaped Jin Mu who was revealed to be an illegitimate son of Jin family and half-brother to Jin Ho-gyeong (Park Eun Hye). He is in the process of manipulating the royal family for his vested interest. We can already conclude that he also had something bad done when he was asked by Jang Gang to help him retrieve his soul.
The appearance of the new cryptic character who summoned the sapsali out most likely points to the godlike message discussed by the senior mages. Let’s hope he’s on the good side to aid Wook and Mu-deok.
Next episode’s preview would be an exciting treat to watch. It looks to initiate the expected love triangle as well.
Week 2 of this series continued the solid opening week and we can’t help but crave for more details to unfold in the story.
Witness an energizing story in Alchemy of Souls every Saturday and Sunday. International fans can watch it on Netflix.
Photos/Videos: tvN
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