But it turns out that he didn’t need her, because Hwi-kyung shows up on his doorstep with Sun-woo in tow. Minister Park is dismayed when he learns of Ji-dwi’s move to secure Ah Ro, having intended to use her as bait to force Sun-woo to go along with his plans. He calls Pa Oh and orders him to bring Ah Ro to the palace first thing in the morning. Ji-dwi sits up late, contemplating his broken bracelet. He’s unafraid of people branding it a rebellion, because he frankly doesn’t care what the people think. The councilors worry that the queen regent won’t allow it, so Minister Park decides they need to take away everything from her: money, power, and position. He clarifies that instead of a king, he will put forward a sacred bone scarecrow in the form of Sun-woo. Holding court with his royal council cronies, Minister Park says that he needs to change the king.

Ji-dwi looks deeply sorrowful as he says that the next time they meet, they will be enemies. Ji-dwi asks if this is the end, and Sun-woo answers that they have different paths. But instead of cutting Ji-dwi down, the dragon-head bracelet falls to the ground, sliced in two. Sun-woo stands shaking, then quickly slashes his sword. He says that he wants to change Silla with Sun-woo by his side and end the injustices caused by the bone rank system. But he asks if it really will solve anything, or if Sun-woo will just keep killing while more take the dead’s places. Ji-dwi throws down his sword, and says that if Sun-woo needs to kill him for this to end, then he tells him to do it. Sun-woo continues that he never could kill him, because he hoped Ji-dwi wasn’t really the king. Sun-woo growls that he’s killed Ji-dwi many times in his mind for causing the death of his only friend, and that he can’t forgive Ji-dwi for that. Ji-dwi and Sun-woo face off in the throne room, swords to each other’s throats.

In the end, it’s the Hwarang who will decide which man is the right king to lead their country into the future. They both dream of a Silla where the people can live freely while the king watches over them, but the decision isn’t up to them.

The future of Silla depends upon its king, and Ji-dwi and Sun-woo prepare to face off in a battle for the throne. 285 FebruFebruHwarang: Episode 20 (Final) by LollyPip

The master sun ep 5