Serving a dose of their own medicine, Jang Wook protects Bu-yeon from the wicked scheme manipulated by the villains in the 4th episode of Alchemy of Souls Part 2.
Bu-yeon also keeps Yul’s secret as he finally confronts So-yi about the dark energy inside his body that could kill him.
abbyinhallyuland watched Alchemy of Souls Part 2 on Netflix
Episode Recaps: 01| 02| 03| 04| 05| 06| 07| 08| 09| Final Episode + Series Review |
Alchemy of Souls Part 2 Episode 4 Highlights
Previously, Bu-yeon stumbles on Naksu’s gravesite and retrieves the blue jade while trying to look for Jang Wook. She has also grasped the ill-fated connection shared by her husband and the woman Daeho branded to be evil.
“Last time you created a non-existent witness. Are you making up memories now?”
Baffled at seeing Bu-yeon holding the blue jade, Wook thinks she’s testing his patience. But she shuts him up by revealing exactly how he and Naksu exchanged the stones back then.
Explaining her theory that her divine powers could read memories inside the jade stone, Bu-yeon mutters how she was hoping he’d be happy to know about her progress. Mutually feeling disappointed, Bu-yeon wished he did not come while Wook hopes she gains more memories from the stone to answer questions he still has.
Promising to build the stone tower her power accidentally knocked off, Bu-yeon worked until evening. Unknown to her, Wook stayed furtively with her and even lit up her path with fireflies.
“Hearing you comfort me makes me want to fall into your arms for a big hug.”
Finding Yul inside Jeongjingak, Wook learns that he will be staying there as well. Listening to Wook’s words about how the place is cold because the stone inside him attracts wraiths, Yul wields his expected compassion.
Wook tells him not to do it since his puppy worried eyes can make him go to his arms for a big embrace. Yul stretches his arms and offers a hug but scares Wook immediately. He is saved when Dang-gu arrives feeling left out by his two best friends.
Telling Dang-gu how their friend seems to have changed, Yul mutters meaningfully about how people who die can suddenly change. Using their friendship as leverage, Dang-gu successfully brings the two to eat Master Park’s breakfast.
Surviving a tasteless full meal, the three friends were offered dessert which they think they can easily pull off until Master Park declares the dessert he prepared had a twist. Calling it leave-it-to-luck rice cakes, he shares two are filled with honey while one is with fish sauce.
Leaving a lesson to the trio that even when life is unpredictable, they should choose their destiny; Master Jin asserts to take the sweetness and the bitterness of life. Wook refuses to affirm if the rice cake he got is fish sauce flavored.
“Everyone is scared of Naksu, but do they know what she even looks like.”
Unknown to them, Jin Mu’s scheme to create chaos in time for Naksu’s anniversary is in place. After a merciless massacre of people inside a vessel voyaging on Lake Gyeongcheondaeho, a survivor declares seeing a grotesque appearance of Naksu, announcing her return, and will be soul-shifting soon.
Amulets start selling like pancakes in Daeho owing to the news of Naksu’s return. Convening to discuss the situation, Sang-ho relays the death anniversary of Naksu is probably stirring the news since the boat reported was not registered.
Yul volunteers to investigate Gaema village where the rumor starts as well as the survivor who claimed to have seen Naksu. The news also reaches the king, but he made a sound comment that people are scared when they don’t even know what Naksu looked like.
Meanwhile, Bu-yeon bumps into Ju Wol who invited her for a drink. But when they reach the courtesan house, Ju-wol was informed that the Crown Prince is inside. She tells Bu-yeon to go to the corner room but then bumps into Prince Won who recognized her and calls her “turtle shaman”.
Conversing about how she felt abandoned because her husband is not returning home, Prince Won tells her that he kept the turtle when she was about to go and buy it. He tells her to cheer up and she’s glad that her initial impression of his warm heart is true.
“This is what concerns me. I am afraid that people might think that he is not getting involved not because it does not exist, but because he still cares for Naksu.”
Summoned by the King, Wook refuses to make a move in capturing the rumored grotesque Naksu since it does not even exist. Jin Mu argues that people will not like the idea and might think that Wook is not doing it because he still has affection for her.
Buying his argument, the King ordered Wook to capture the rumored Naksu to appease the Daeho people’s woes. Later, Jin Mu loops Prince Won to his plan to make Jang Wook get trapped into a vicious cycle of vanquishing soul shifters out of his promise to do so. He will use the scare Naksu brings so he can separate Bu-yeon and Wook for his plan to bring Jinyowon to the palace.
Sang-ho reports to Yul about the man who spread the rumor. At the same time, So-yi already paid him and tells him to leave the town until Naksu’s death anniversary.
Back at the courtesan house, Bu-yeon is not happy at all with Ju Wol’s trip to memory lane narrating Wook and Naksu’s love story. When Seo Yun-o learned that Bu-yeon is with Ju Wol he asked the maid to make her come to the room.
“By any chance, are you not feeling well? Like I said I can see energy. Why is there something strange inside your body?”
Fortunately, Yul arrives and respectfully puts back his uncle and classmates to observe proper attitude. He then escorts Bu-yeon back, but feeling flustered he lost his way again. Responding she is aware that they’ve been going in circles for a while now but she let him cool down, she confronts him about the deadly energy causing harm inside his body.
He pleads to ignore it but she insists that not treating it is foolish. Yul reminds her that they promised to be “foolish friends “and again pleads to let it slide, to which she relents.
Master Park wonders why Wook is invading his privacy when he’s supposed to guard the lake to catch Naksu. Teasing him how happy he can be at the news of her return, Wook shares how Bu-yeon smashed down the stone tower he built for Naksu.
Admiring Bu-yeon for fulfilling her promise when they met her last time of protecting Wook, he commands his adopted son to go home and protect his wife. He shares how people are talking that when Naksu returns, his wife will be the first to be in danger. Wook gets an idea of the villain’s ploy through what Master Park just said.
Proceeding to their evil plan, the Queen tells the King that she will hold an outside banquet on the day of Naksu’s anniversary to encourage the ladies who are in fear of Naksu to go out again and not fear the rumor.
“Your outfit is extravagant for someone who is awfully confident about her looks.”
Receiving the invitation for Bu-yeon, Maidservant Park excitedly plans how she will doll her up. At the same time, she intends to make her tired so she won’t worry about the rumors circulating about Naksu.
Just as she changed into a pretty dress, she sees her husband who comments that she’s wearing something extravagant when she claimed she’s pretty enough.
Correcting him not to think that she’s doing it for him, he replies he knows she’s invited to the Queen’s party and casually praises that she looks pretty. Checking on the wound on her hand, he tells her to have Maidservant Kim trim her nails since her body is precious.
He also tells her to sit at a spot where everyone can see her at the banquet. That is to make everyone know that she is his wife now.
Sensing Wook’s good mood, Bu-yeon starts asking if she can tell stories that they are doing well as a couple and if she can wear the jewelry with Jang’s family crest. Then, she also inquires if she can boast that he lit up a dark path for her to affirm her suspicion that she saw him at the mountain last time. Strangely, Wook agrees to all her demands making her beam with happiness.
“I could not cry. It felt like I was really abandoning you there.”
The Queen’s banquet arrives and she welcomed the young ladies to the party. At the same moment, Sang-ho and Yul plan their capture of the man who claimed Naksu’s return. Yul also learns that So-yi is involved.
Preparing for the party highlight that Jin Mu orchestrated, while the guests are busy with the fireworks display sent by Jang Wook, one of the instrument players transforms into a soul shifter and attacked Bu-yeon before fleeing.
It turns out that the nails clipped from Bu-yeon were used to create a decoy for a possible attack on Bu-yeon. Master Park meets Lady Jin and they use a gwiseo that takes the shape of Bu-yeon after eating her nails. Thus, what was killed by the soul shifter is not the real Bu-yeon.
Playing her part well, Bu-yeon obediently follows her husband’s plan of ensuring that after he killed Naksu, people will believe that she is gone forever.
Back at Gaema village, So-yi still denies her involvement in the Naksu ruse. Confronting her about the medicine she kept sending, So-yi assures him that he will be okay as long as he takes the medicine.
Unfortunately, Yul has not taken any of those which made her worry. He demands So-yi to reveal what he has inside before he dies.
After going to the cliff where Naksu died where he attempted to formally grieve for her, Wook drinks alone inside his cold room. He looks back on his memories with Mudeok. Worried for her betrothed, Bu-yeon goes to his room to bring warmth since he could be feeling cold after using the power of the ice stone.
Thinking he’s seeing a mirage of Naksu, he confessed that he couldn’t cry because he can’t still abandon her. Understanding his pain, Bu-yeon pulls him into her embrace.
Watching him sleep, Wook regains consciousness and sees Bu-yeon lying beside him about to touch his face. Inching closer, he kisses her and she closed her eyes to receive it.
Alchemy of Souls Part 2 Episode 4 Musings
Bringing the familiar picture of Naksu’s relationship with Wook, Prince Won and Yul; Alchemy of Souls Part 2 affirms how the heart remembers sincere connections previously forged.
What’s so great in this episode though are the subtle nonetheless sweet romantic attacks featuring Wook and Bu-yeon. Of course, we won’t be complaining and would even ask for more. But this whole find-me-in-your-memory love element is making the holiday season feels like love month, to be honest.
Interestingly, there’s also part of us that still wants to divide Naksu into three equal parts because her male leads are all worth it. The subsequent six episodes head to important choices for Prince Won and Yul. Hopefully, Bu-yeon can convince them to make better choices.
It would be so cruel for the second lead to meet an unfortunate end in the story. We’ve been only praying for Jin Mu’s death while waiting for Alchemy of Souls Part 2 to premiere, and not a heartbreaking death for one of the protagonists.
Did Wook kiss Bu-yeon because he’s still high on Naksu’s memories? Will So-yi make the right choice and brave the consequence that can risk her life?
Be entranced by the wondrous world of Daeho in Alchemy of Souls Part 2. International fans can watch it on Netflix.
Photos: tvN Drama | SC Netflix
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