Please support the authors by reading the manhwas on the official websites. This is where you can read the manhwa. https://www.lezhinus.com/en/comic/painter But be aware that this manhwa is a mature Yaoi, which means, it is about homosexuality with explicit scenes. If you want to read more essays, here is the link to the table of contents: https://bebebisous33analyses.wordpress.com/2020/07/04/table-of-contents-painter-of-the-night I am also using doctor Frost as reference again. https://www.webtoons.com/en/mystery/dr-frost/list?title_no=371
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1. The imaginary sick person
I have to admit that I was initially disappointed by Yoon Seungho’s behavior in episode 108. One of the reasons is that he didn’t trust his lover, though he didn’t buy the doctor’s statement right away too. That’s the reason why he went to the maids and asked for their observations and opinion.
(chapter 108) But then I changed my mind about the lord, for Yoon Seungho didn’t rely on just one testimony contrary to his father:
(chapter 86) Finally, thanks to the argument in the shed, I had another revelation which I will explain more details below.
However, the protagonist’s huge mistake is that he trusted the maids’ words too. While one might judge the apology from the main lead as a sign of humbleness, I view it in a different light: it exposes his low self-esteem.
(chapter 108) He blames himself for everything. For me, these women were lying to their master. Why do I think so? The first proof is that the painter’s fate is to go through the same experiences than his lover. And what did the valet admit in the shed?
(chapter 108) There was not a soul in this household who was standing by his side back then and now! This signifies that there is not a soul in the mansion truly standing on the painter’s side as well!! Back then (before the massacre) and even now… Moreover, while these maids’ attachment was sincere
(chapter 51)
(chapter 63), this doesn’t signify that it is the same for all the female servants. This would be just another prejudice.
(chapter 108) Yes, this woman is not the same than the one from chapter 51, for her clothes diverge despite the same pigments. She is wearing a white ribbon around her waist.
(chapter 108), whereas the other wears the belt more around the hips, hence her skirt has a bump on her butt.
(chapter 108) Finally, pay attention to the form of her mouth. It doesn’t ooze warmth or joy, quite displeasure and mistrust. But let’s return to my initial statement, the staff was actually deceiving their own lord.
(chapter 108) First, when the manhwalovers saw him in the kitchen, he was eating to his heart content and enjoying his breakfast.
(chapter 38) Moreover, the painter had long stopped eating with the maids, he would share his meals with the main lead.
(chapter 46)
(chapter 74) This explicates why the artist returned the table with the porridge to the kitchen himself.
(chapter 98) This means that they couldn’t witness how the artist would eat. To conclude, the statement from the staff was once again a mixture of truth and lies, for they were combining different situations together. Hence their apology was not genuine despite their gesture.
With their words
(chapter 108), they admitted that they had been fooled themselves. At the same time, they implied that the painter has been hiding his discomfort all along, as he was only eating properly in front of his lover. Moreover, they insinuated that the painter’s laugh and smiles weren’t sincere at all. In other words, the lord’s eyes had been “deceived”, as the painter had been acting. This explicates why he took the blame and apologized to the staff.
(chapter 108) He had not perceived the artist’s discomfort. Indirectly, they were putting the blame on the lord and Baek Na-Kyum. Nevertheless, they never stated that they had seen the painter vomiting. And now, observe that someone else had said the same thing about the artist in the past:
(chapter 62) The painter had been faking his “submission”, hence the “valet” got fooled. He had trusted the artist blindly. Thus the lord got angry, and resented the butler, for he wished the opposite. He didn’t want to admit that the artist had been acting. Yet, the seed of doubt was implanted in his mind. Consequently, in episode 108, we have the exact same situation, yet contrary to the past, the lord didn’t get angry at his lover. He never condemned the painter for his dishonesty, though he was not truly lying either. To conclude, chapter 108 is a reflection from episode 62. Thus it dawned on me that the valet could have attempted to fool his master once again. The artist was a hypocrite, for he was acting in front of the lord hoping that he wouldn‘t cut ties with him. It was for his best interests to send back to the kisaeng house. Yet, nothing like that happened.
Yet, in reality, the artist had been eating properly, as we could see him glowing in this image,
(chapter 104), a sign that he was recovering. But due to the two incidents during that day, Baek Na-Kyum had been feeling unwell and was hiding his discomfort out of fear of getting abandoned. This means that the deceivers were trying to portray the painter’s actual disposition as something unchanging. Since the painter had trouble with eating now, his eating disorder existed in the past. And this perception got reinforced, for the lord could notice afterwards that the maids’ statement had become a reality. What they had described, truly happened afterwards. Due to worries and anxieties, the artist lost his appetite. He would fake his “happiness”. The manhwalovers could witness how the painter had slimmed down
(chapter 108), just like his “husband”
. (chapter 108), a new version of episode 51. This time, the roles had been switched, the painter was sitting in the patio. To sum up, the schemers and the accomplices were creating a prejudice, a so-called universal truth. This is the negative reflection of season 1, where the gossips about Yoon Seungho were turned into a reality. In many of my previous analyses, I had outlined that these rumors about the protagonist had been false.
(chapter 1) He couldn’t have a proper erection, and it was never his choice to have sex at any time and any place, because he was treated as a male kisaeng. And now, it is the painter’s turn. Gossips about him would become a verity. Yet the other difference to season 1 is that in season 4 the artist is exposed to the same “prejudices” than Yoon Seungho in the past: He is ill!! He needs to be treated and the “gibang” is the right place for that🤮. He would be with his noonas, a new version of the lord’s past. And now, you comprehend why father Yoon said this to the physician in chapter 57:
(chapter 57) A single incident was turned into a generality, implying that it was the same in the past!! To conclude, the noble is put into the same situation than his own father, the only divergence is that Yoon Seungho has indeed the painter’s best interests in his heart. He is determined to provide him with the best!! Thus he blames himself contrary to the elder master Yoon.
2. Yoon Seungho’s believes
But why did Yoon Seungho choose to trust others instead of his loved one? In my eyes, there exist two reasons. First, let’s not forget that the lord has been hiding the truth from his partner, his action in the shaman’s house. He is worried, but he doesn’t desire to burden his loved one, hence he chose silence and secrecy.
(chapter 104) This statement implies that the painter is responsible for the bloodbath, for he left the propriety. Yet, instead of confronting the painter, he was encouraged not to talk about the past. He was suggested that way, he would protect the artist’s mind and heart. Besides, his choice was influenced by his own anxieties. The lord fears argument, because the last time they had quarreled, the artist had threatened his lover to leave the place.
(chapter 85) I would like my avid readers to keep in mind that the lord wished to keep the artist by his side, sending the artist back to the kisaeng house was just a temporary measure.
(chapter 105), yet the painter had heard something different from his noona.
(chapter 105) That’s how a misunderstanding was created, provoking the painter’s abandonment issues to resurface. The lord had selected secrecy and silence out of love for the artist. Therefore when the lord sensed Baek Na-Kyum’s agony, he could only jump to the conclusion that the painter was acting the same way than him. He was also hiding something from Yoon Seungho. That’s the reason why the lord didn’t argue with Baek Na-Kyum.
(chapter 107) He imagined that the artist was doing it out of concern for the noble. He was projecting his own thoughts onto the artist.
Nonetheless, for me, the biggest cause for his mistake are his own believes, and more precisely the “rules” he was indoctrinated with. He might have dropped his suicidal disposition, yet his self-hatred was not solved entirely. Its source is based on the following principle: “bird of misfortune”.
(chapter 68) According to this belief, the lord brings bad luck to others. This rule can only incite the main lead to doubt himself, to judge himself in a negative light, to doubt his own judgement. Moreover, the perfidy is that this principle pushes the protagonist to deny the existence of his own misery. It was, as though the lord had never suffered, only the others. This “faith” represents the biggest lie and hypocrisy. However, the main lead questioned this rule in front of Yoon Chang-Hyeon,
(chapter 86), as he started putting the whole responsibility on the elder master and the ignorant servant. But due to the last massacre in the shaman’s house, Kim could use the painter’s suffering as the evidence of this “irrefutable truth”. Yoon Seungho brought misery to the painter. That’s the reason why Kim “suggested” his master to send Baek Na-Kyum away by proposing the opposite. Simultaneously, we have the explanation why the painter has abandonment issues again. Since their magical night in the gibang, Yoon Seungho and his lover are no longer sharing the same bed.
(chapter 108) He remains seated by his side, because he is projecting his own reaction onto his loved one. Remember how Yoon Seungho reacted in the past with Lee Jihwa: he pushed his childhood friend away.
(chapter 59) It was, as if Yoon Seungho feared to taint the painter by sleeping next to him. However, the artist’s biggest wish is to share the same bed than his lover.
(chapter 97) To conclude, Yoon Seungho’s life is still influenced by a false cult, by propagandism. This faith is is based on Rene Girard’s theories about mimetic desire and scapegoat mechanism.
“Girard’s fundamental concept is ‘mimetic desire’. Ever since Plato, students of human nature have highlighted the great mimetic capacity of human beings; that is, we are the species most apt at imitation. However, according to Girard, most thinking devoted to imitation pays little attention to the fact that we also imitate other people’s desires, and depending on how this happens, it may lead to conflicts and rivalries. If people imitate each other’s desires, they may wind up desiring the very same things; and if they desire the same things, they may easily become rivals, as they reach for the same objects.” Quoted from https://iep.utm.edu/girard/#H3
According to the psychologist and anthropologist, rather than bringing people together, convergence gives rise to hostility. Humans aren’t violent by nature. Our nature is social. The tragedy is that, even without deliberate evil on anyone’s part, our social nature constantly pits us against each other. Thus the French philosopher developed the following revolutionary hypothesis: human culture began with religion, and religion arose from our species’ need to master its own violence.
(chapter 250) Hence the man created the following theory which is inspired by religion.
“Girard calls this process ‘scapegoating’, an allusion to the ancient religious ritual where communal sins were metaphorically imposed upon a he-goat, and this beast was eventually abandoned in the desert, or sacrificed to the gods (in the Hebrew Bible, this is especially prescribed in Leviticus 16).The person that receives the communal violence is a ‘scapegoat’ in this sense: her death or expulsion is useful as a regeneration of communal peace and restoration of relationships.” Quoted from https://iep.utm.edu/girard/#SH3b
This means that the community deceives itself into believing that the victim is the culprit of the communal crisis, and that the elimination of the victim will eventually restore peace.
(Doctor Frost, chapter 250). Under this new light, it becomes comprehensible why the author from Doctor Frost utilized the image of a black sheep as the future scapegoat. IT was selected, because it stood out. And you comprehend why Yoon Seungho became the target in the end. His good reputation attracted envy and jealousy.
(chapter 57) Why? It is because each noble family aspires to the same: power and wealth!
(chapter 86) I had already detected father Lee’s jealousy and greed, just like Kim, Yoon Chang-Hyeon and Yoon Seungwon. The butler and the father might have desired the same (recognition and fame), but this could only end up in resulting in rivalry and jealousy.
“Scapegoating can happen to protect the image of the family or people who are favored in the family, not just the self. It is common for one person to be scapegoated, but it can happen with more than one person. Commonplace in families with unhealthy dynamics, scapegoating tends to start in childhood when children are blamed for all of the problems in dysfunctional households. The term “scapegoat” originates from the Bible. […] In addition, it results in an upbringing in which the scapegoated child’s inherent worth, goodness, and lovableness are ignored. Instead, insults, bullying, neglect, and abuse are deemed appropriate for the child forced into this position. […] Why a parent decides to scapegoat a child tends not to make any sense because this behavior is rooted in dysfunction. For example, a child who is sensitive, inquisitive, attractive, and smart might be perceived as a threat and scapegoated by a parent who lacks these qualities.” Quoted from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-the-family-scapegoat-5187038
As you can see, this article corroborates my perception of the elder master Yoon. Because the Yoons were a dysfunctional family, where the main lead was neglected by the mother, and the parents were alienated, Yoon Seungho was isolated, making him vulnerable. There is no doubt that the father just viewed his son as a tool for his own glory, it becomes understandable why the main lead lost very quickly his special status, when an incident occurred. The latter was definitely turned into an immutable truth, and Yoon Seungho had no one by his side to refute the deception. The lord’s good reputation could only be perceived as a threat by others. There is no doubt that it was the same for lord Haseon.
(chapter 107) This explicates why Yoon Seungwon was mentioned by the man with the purple hanbok. He implied that the son might have been well educated, yet he must be lacking elsewhere: his sexual education…. as his other task is to have a heir. This means that by standing out, Yoon Seungwon caught the jealousy and envy from other yangbans, though I have my doubts if he truly passed the civil service exam first. In other words, it is better not to stand out.
But let’s return our attention to Yoon Seungho who became the scapegoat. Nonetheless, he didn’t die, because his mother had sacrificed herself for her son’s sake. To conclude, since the mother killed herself and her son survived, the main lead got blamed for everything. Consequently, I deduce that the same occurred to No-Name who is “lord Song” according to me. With each sacrifice or punishment, peace was restored, however this was just an illusion, for the lord got still abused and the “real lord Song” came to lose everything. Hence there is still resent, jealousy and desire for revenge, because no real justice was delivered. With Rene Girard’s theory “scapegoat mechanism”, we have the perfect explanation why Min would lust after the painter. It is because everyone was looking at the artist either out of jealousy or greed. Finally, this connection confirms my interpretation: religion plays a central role in this story. And the main lead is not questioning this psychological phenomenon. Why? I had already pointed out that Yoon Seungho had been exposed to brainwashing and was suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. But how is it possible?
3. The birth of “brainwashing”
In order to answer that question, I will use Doctor Frost as a reference again.
(Doctor Frost, chapter 183) Since deprogramming is like brainwashing, it signifies that for the brainwashing, the victim needs to be isolated and even imprisoned too. And in order to be effective, the target of the brainwashing has to be exposed to stress and lack of sleep.
(chapter 187) Fatigue and exhaustion are necessary in order to lower the target’s defense mechanisms. This explicates why it has to take place during the night, for the night is the time for humans to rest. Therefore the place of brainwashing is called “the fox’s hole” in Doctor Frost.
However, there is more to it.
(Doctor Frost, chapter 187).
(chapter 187) The Ganzfeld effect happens when you undergo sensory deprivation for some time, and your brain tries to make sense of what is happening. Just 15 minutes of sensory deprivation can induce vivid hallucinations, according to researchers. This process involves muffling the ears and blindfolding, so people are unable to see or hear. And note what had happened to Baek Na-Kyum during the abduction. His head had been covered
(chapter 66), and according to me, while his head was covered, he got strangled. Hence he had this nightmare.
(chapter 61) But he lost notion of time and chronology, hence his nightmare is not coherent. One feature of altered states of consciousness during Ganzfeld exposure is an altered sense of time. In general, regardless of the induction method, altered states of consciousness can be characterized by changes in the sense of self and time. But this can only happen, when the brain is deprived of stimulations.
(chapter 187) I had already outlined that Yoon Seungho had lost not only the notion of time, but also all his senses. And the nightmare is displaying the evidence of the Ganzfeld exposure. Hence the young master viewed himself flying
(chapter 74), and at the end his eyes and ears got covered by hands and blood.
(chapter 74) Besides, he was trapped in the dark room which looked like the servants’ quarters. Only thanks to the painter, the lord could recover his own senses, slowly he became the owner of his own body again. In addition, remember what he said to his own father:
(chapter 86) The darkness he was referring to is the indication of “Ganzfeld effect”. Because he was trapped in this nightmare, he lost the sense of reality. He had to rely on someone else’s senses and words. That’s how his memories got repressed and even distorted. Consequently, a new past could get recreated. That’s the reason why the lord had no memories for a long time. The valet was the “owner of the truth and as such of the time”. We could say that till the meeting with the painter, he possessed the lord’s memories. Besides, one of the side effects of scapegoating is becoming vulnerable to gaslighting.
“
- Trauma: Being deprived of a family’s love, singled out as the “bad one” in the household, and having one’s positive attributes overlooked can set up a child for a lifetime of emotional and psychological distress, where they struggle believing they are good, worthy, competent, or likable.
- Toxic relationships and environments: It can also result in these individuals entering friendships, romantic relationships, and working environments that are abusive and harmful.
- Normalizing dysfunctional behavior: Dysfunction and abuse often feel “normal” for family scapegoats, making it difficult for them to spot dangerous people and places before harm is done.
- Difficulties with boundaries: The fact that gaslighting is common in dysfunctional families makes it challenging for abused individuals to set boundaries and recognize when other people’s behavior crosses the line. They are more likely to believe that they are exaggerating, are being too sensitive, or can’t trust their judgement.
- Self-sabotage or self-harm: Scapegoats tend to internalize the harmful messages they’ve received about themselves from birth or early childhood onward. This could result in the child engaging in self-sabotage or self-harm, such as doing poorly in school, neglecting self-care, engaging in risky activities or behaviors, and acting out in ways that indicate they deserve the title of the scapegoat (even though no child does).Quoted from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-the-family-scapegoat-5187038
The information from Doctor Frost made me realize that the shed is the place where the main lead got brainwashed. This explicates why the main lead put a fire in the storage room, when the artist was brought there after the “fake abduction”.
(chapter 62) Under this new light, it becomes comprehensible why the lord didn’t lose his whole sanity and as such didn’t fall completely into despair. The warmth and light served him as a guidance. Consequently, I deduce that in his childhood, he was trapped there in the dark for hours!! Because he was jailed in that room, he was exposed to the Ganzfeld effect. Therefore he relied on the valet’s words.
(chapter 77) He trusted the butler, even after getting betrayed and abandoned each time. He developed blind faith in the butler. Why? It is because he was the only one “talking to him”. Though he wounded him so many times, he still remained by the lord’s side. That’s the reason why I come to the conclusion that the shed is not just a room for punishment, but also for “faith”, the place where the scapegoat was placed: “
(chapter 77) That’s the reason why he got treated like an animal. This is no coincidence that in the storage room, the butler utilized such a religious vocabulary: “I do not believe”
(chapter 62); “beg”, “trust” a synonym for faith,
“soul”, ”
(chapter 108) “Save”
(chapter 108) Moreover, I would like to outline that the main lead was seen sitting while looking up
(chapter 83) It looks like Yoon Seungho was praying, when Lee Jihwa opened the door. This means that Yoon Seungho has been treating Kim as his idol, his highest priest. Besides, doctor Frost explained why people become victims of brainwashing.
(doctor Frost, chapter 191). This description fits to the shed, the lord was not only cornered mentally, but also physically.
But since the shed plays such an important role in the story, I wondered why the storage room from the mansion was not shown in season 1 [As a reminder, for me, in chapter 1, the painter was brought to father Lee’s propriety] That’s how I recalled this scene, the butler standing in front of the gate of the barn.
(chapter 32) What was he doing there, and why was he looking at the bedchamber? It is because he imagined that after the sex session, Yoon Seungho would send the painter to the shed as a punishment for his desertion. Let’s not forget that during the day, the whole staff had been beaten by their master. Besides, I would like to point out that the staff in season 3 viewed the painter as a spoiled brat, for he was receiving the lord’s favors.
(chapter 98) Consequently, I deduce that when the valet got punished in season 3, he portrayed the painter as a tattler for that reason. He didn’t want to become the scapegoat in the end.
(Chapter 77) At the same time, receiving treatment from the physician, Kim could say that the lord regretted his decision. These new discoveries reinforce my prediction that the painter is doomed to become the next scapegoat!! Yet, chance is on the couple’s side. On the other hand, this signifies that someone will have to become sacrificed!
4. The priest and his disciple’s discussion
Now it is time to focus on the argument between the butler and the surrogate son. While many viewed this discussion as something positive, for the butler cried
(chapter 108) and apologized to the noble
(chapter 108) for his wrong choices, I come to the opposite interpretation. Naturally, if the manhwalovers compare the butler’s apology in the shed to the one in the library,
(chapter 77) it really looks like Kim is sincere. He is no longer standing, he is now weeping. Finally, he is not blaming someone else (the kisaeng), but himself.
(chapter 108) Nevertheless, for me, everything is an illusion, and you can only detect the manipulations, the moment you examine closely Kim’s words.
First, it starts with the butler’s statement.
(chapter 108) Kim feigned ignorance, and the lord confronted him with his lie, he admits that in reality he knew something.
(chapter 108) He had not told him about the shaman’s house on purpose. He had hidden the truth by omission. He justified his decision by using the “townsfolk” and their liking of creating gossips. However his real task was to protect his lord’s interest and inform him about everything. He made a decision without his lord’s permission, and as such he usurped his authority. He acted, as if he knew what was the best for Yoon Seungho. But this doesn’t end. What infuriated me the most are these two declarations:
: While many judged the confession from Kim about his constant betrayal and abandonment as something positive, I paid more attention to the second sentence: “I’ll regret”. He is employing the future and not the present tense. This stands in opposition to Lee Jihwa’s regret:
(chapter 61) The red-haired master utilized the present perfect tense, which is a combination of the past and present!! This time reveals that the young man was about to move on. On the other hand, the butler is either referring to the past and to the future, but not to the now! This means, he has no regret right now. He is projecting himself in the future. He implies “regret”, but he is not truly admitting it. Finally, when the childhood friend came to regret his choice, he voiced it outside the barn!!
(chapter 61) This contrast outlines that the storage room is the place of illusion or false faith.
(chapter 108): Here, my blood was literally boiling, when I read his second “confession”, because here he was now omitting Yoon Seungho. It was, as if the protagonist was not existing. His words were actually reflecting a new betrayal towards the main lead. Here, he was vowing loyalty to Baek Na-Kyum and not to Yoon Seungho!! He insinuated that if he was taking care of the painter, he was protecting Yoon Seungho’s interests. However, the artist and the noble are two different persons. Imagine the following situation: The main lead gets arrested for “murder”, the butler could justify his vanishing, passivity and silence by saying that he needs to take away the painter from the mansion so that the latter avoids getting into trouble as well. As you can see, he would keep his promise, but he would sacrifice Yoon Seungho. With his words, he was insinuating that he only had two choices: the elder master Yoon or the painter. Besides, once the lord were to be removed, Kim could put the whole blame on the painter afterwards. If he had not left the house… That’s the reason why I viewed the last statement as the biggest treason. In reality, he was not vowing loyalty to the main lead. This scene was a reflection from episode 30, where the artist had pledged loyalty to the main lead
(chapter 30) and this in front of people. This explicates why the butler got grabbed in the storage room
(chapter 108) like the painter in the courtyard.
(chapter 30) We could say that it was the butler’s karma for his past manipulation. He had been the one who had encouraged the painter to flee the mansion (chapter 29/30). But this doesn’t end here. When the artist vowed his loyalty to the protagonist in the courtyard, the latter was present, which is not the case here. The artist is left in the dark.
(chapter 108) He has no idea about the valet’s oath. Therefore we should consider it as inexistent. This means, if the painter got arrested, the valet could put the blame on the artist and say that he is trying to protect the lord’s interests, to save his skin. That’s the reason why I consider this confession from the butler as a huge sign of his culpability and dishonesty. Moreover, he is not feeling any remorse.
Besides, note that he never admitted that he truly cared for Baek Na-Kyum, he simply suggests it.
(chapter 108) Where is the personal pronoun “I” here? Nowhere. Only the lord cares for the painter, this was the butler’s declaration in the end. But what about the tears? How could he fake the crying?
First, the author never let us see the valet’s eyes and not even his mouth. The tears were implied with the sound “hic” and the drops of water falling onto the ground:
(chapter 108) My avid readers will certainly recall the following rule which the story is based on. Each scene will be reflected in a previous season.
(chapter 81) When the lord had wounded his lover, when he was in a dissociative state, he had perspired so much that his sweat was falling like tears!! As you can see, fear could be the reason why drops of water were falling. Let’s not forget that the main lead had treated Kim very harshly and even threatened to have him killed, something he had never done before.
(chapter 108) Kim had reasons to get scared and to sweat.
Besides, note how the valet keeps switching Yoon Seungho’s title (either young master
, chapter 108, or my lord
), a sign that he is not truly recognizing him as his real lord. One might refute my interpretation, because Kim voiced regrets in this scene.
(chapter 108) However, the manhwalover should question this. Why did he regret that day? It is because he had revealed his true thoughts about Yoon Seungho to the painter, and he got reprimanded from the artist. Besides, according to me, he had hoped that the artist would leave the mansion due to the altercation. In addition, when he mentioned this scene, he wanted to appear as honest, because he had no idea if the artist had leaked this conversation to Yoon Seungho. Finally, just because he told the truth here, we shouldn’t judge the butler’s confession as verity. To conclude, for me, the valet was not really remorseful, he was more acting.
One might argue that my interpretation about Yoon Seungho was wrong. It was his choice to live in debauchery, as it admitted it in the shed.
(chapter 108) However, this is another illusion which can be easily refuted.
(chapter 108) This memory is the same than the painter’s
(chapter 1). However, this is not possible, for the painter had never gone to the main lead’s mansion before. He had this memory, when he met him at the inn for the first time. This vision was a reference to the gibang. But note that in the lord’s statement, he never mentioned the kisaeng house. He only invited the nobles to his “bedchamber”. The words don’t match the picture. This admission was actually exposing the manipulation, a fake memory… the “traces of brainwashing”. Besides, the manipulator had employed the same MO like mentioned above. Since it happened once (chapter 8), then it was the same in the past. Because we saw guests in the lord’s mansion, we could be tempted to assume that this represents Yoon Seungho’s true past. Concerning the painting, Kim just needed to explain why lord Yoon had barged in his mansion. He had sent the painting to his father to provoke him.
(chapter 108) In other words, the butler had acted on his own, and informed his master afterwards, when this information was necessary in order to protect himself. As you already know, for me, the butler had definitely acted on his own. But why does Kim need to deform reality so much? It is because he was present, when the young boy was abused sexually and he did nothing. He needs to erase the “traces” of the rape so that his culpability will not come to the surface. Just like the painter, Yoon Seungho has totally forgotten the sexual abuse. Besides, he never mentioned the incidents about the shed to the painter, only the bedchamber.
(Chapter 87) Here, he was already hiding his guilt by turning Yoon Chang-HYeon into the main culprit. He is responsible for the lord’s suffering.
But the problem is that Yoon Seungho is escaping more and more from his claws, and his manipulations are now turned more and more against him!! The reason why I was first disappointed is that the young master was not able to detect the contradiction. He had accepted the butler’s version as a truth from his past
(chapter 68), but he had heard a different story from the painter.
(chapter 93) However, now I understand why Yoon Seungho was not able to discern the hypocrisy from the assistant.
(chapter 188) It is related to the long brainwashing he was exposed for so many years and the lord’s low self-esteem. Thus I perceive this argument in the storage room as a new version of episode 40, a confrontation between the painter and the scholar. But who had been defeated in the shed? Yoon Seungho was still the loser, for he kept his distance from his lover afterwards.
(chapter 108) He was making sure that no one would know that the painter was his weakness.
(chapter 108) The new version of episode 50-51!! However, this was totally pointless, for the painter was living his bedchamber. His position was the proof that the painter was still favored, though the artist feared to be abandoned by the painter.
I am now full of optimism. Why? It is because Yoon Seungho’s role is to remove all the painter’s wounds from his heart and mind! Don’t forget that in season 1, the main lead was the painter’s emancipator. And as a reward for his good deed, the lord’s last rule will be removed. How can this happen`?
(doctor Frost, chapter 187) This means that the couple has to communicate and the painter will interrogate his lover.
(chapter 187) But this deprogramming is not pleasant, for the destruction of believes leads the victim to question everything afterwards. What caught my attention is that the painter went to the library, the symbol for “knowledge and education” which stands in opposition to the shed. This is no coincidence. Brainwashing is the antonym for insight.
(chapter 108) In addition, the lord was dressed like in episode 36, he had the green hanbok.
(chapter 36) Back then, the painter didn’t talk to the owner of the mansion. Finally, this episode is connected to the lord’s memories:
(chapter 36) That’s how I had this revelation. The lord’s suffering is also linked to the library. From my perspective, the young master was dragged from the library to the shed at some point.
(chapter 77) I had already pointed out that in episode 77, the main lead had been dragged on multiple occasions, for he was dressed differently, and the servants would be different. Because I had described that the lord’s mind had been manipulated by indoctrination and the butler had confessed, I deduce that the next episode will contain elements from episode 48/49.
(chapter 49) That’s the moment the painter dropped the last principle from the scholar and kisaeng. For me, something similar will take place, but such a deprogramming is painful. From my point of view, Jung In-Hun will be mentioned, as in the same place, the scholar had mentioned the painter’s past and future.
(chapter 40)
(chapter 40) Since the shed embodies the valet’s betrayal, the lord voiced his abandonment issues there. On the other hand, the library symbolizes the teacher’s abandonment. This is not random. Baek Na-Kyum can not read, the symbol of the learned sir’s negligence. Hence I am expecting a new confession from the artist, like this scene:
(Tweet) So far, the artist has never spoken ill of the teacher. To conclude, the library is the place where both protagonists will experience a new liberation! For me, episode 108 and 109 are focused on education, responsibility, memories and truth. That’s the reason why I am suspecting that the painter’s words will trigger the lord’s memories so that the verity about his own past will come to the surface.
Before closing this essay, I would like to point out two other thoughts. The storage room has another symbolism. It is connected to wealth and gathering. This would explain why Kim likes the storage room, indicating his materialistic side, and Yoon Seungho was his bird of fortune, for the former came to enjoy a good life. As you already know, he became the true owner of the mansion, the “ghost lord”. Finally, I would like to outline a detail which caught my attention: the jar in the shed with a new lit.
(chapter 108) What is this jar doing there? It was not present, when the painter was kept captive there. 
(chapter 62) My avid readers will certainly recall my theory that a corpse was hidden in jar!! In other words, I am more than ever convinced that there’s still a corpse hidden in the mansion. This is important, because this represents the condition for the appearance of the scapegoat mechanism. Someone has to take the fall for the schemers and accomplices.
Feel free to comment. If you have any suggestion for topics or manhwas, feel free to ask. If you enjoyed reading it, retweet it or push the button like. My Reddit-Instagram-Tumblr-Twitter account is: @bebebisous33. Thanks for reading and for the support, particularly, I would like to thank all the new followers and people recommending my blog.


(chapter 11) Yes, the protagonist was wearing pajamas with a Teddy bear on it. This signifies that Kim Dan is connected to this toy. But what does it mean exactly?
(chapter 05) It was, as if she was holding Kim Dan as her “Teddy Bear”. Note that thanks to his presence, the elderly woman was not beaten. I had already outlined that the speech bubbles indicate that the woman and the goons from the loan shark would talk to each other, or better said yell at each other. There is no doubt that the woman must have begged them. She had to take care of her grandson. And now, you are probably thinking that I judge the grandmother in a negative way. Well, I have already pointed out her bad decisions, but just because someone makes wrong choices, we could get tempted to condemn this person. Yet, we should never do it. Error is human, and as such no one is perfect. Besides, condemning her implies that the beholder is considering himself superior to the grandmother. In my eyes, the halmoni needed her grandson in order to survive. She had lost everything: her family, her social status, and probably her friends… she was only left with debts and a grandchild.
(chapter 11), the pure boy was waiting for her in bed, and more precisely under the cover. That’s the reason why you can detect the presence of the bed cover.
(chapter 5) Note that the main lead is mentioning his grandmother’s pain. This divulges that back then, he had sensed her agony. Deep down, he knew that she needed his presence, support and affection.
(chapter 11) This explicates his joy, when she returned. From my point of view, these two people must have shared the same bed. Thus they could give each other comfort, protection and a sense of belonging. And I have an evidence for this interpretation. Remember what the drunken physical therapist did in his bedroom. He imagined that his grandmother had returned home
(chapter 10), thus he grabbed the champion’s leg, the moment he sensed that the shadow would leave him alone!
(chapter 10) As you can see, Kim Dan was holding his leg like a Teddy Bear. Besides, the physical therapist had complained about loneliness before. He was missing “his Teddy Bear”, his halmoni.
(chapter 10) Finally, observe that Kim Dan asked Joo Jaekyung to take him. It was, as if he desired to share the bed with the sportsman. Hence you comprehend why the celebrity had to bring the drunken doctor to his penthouse. How could he remain by his side in such a desolate home? He had listened to his plea: he wouldn’t be left alone! When the young man woke up, he was indeed not alone. The champion had even observed his reactions before approaching him.
(chapter 10) It was, as if the champion had acted like a Teddy Bear watching over his “owner”. Under this new perspective, it becomes comprehensible why Kim Dan is so devoted to his grandmother, and even would risk his life for her.
(chapter 16) He knows that he is her source of joy, her “protector” and pillar. He is her guardian of the shadows of the night. However, since he is just a human, he can not stop her death.
(chapter 5) This explicates why he didn’t return to her side after hearing the last diagnosis from the doctor. His role is to console and protect her, hence she is not allowed to be confronted with cruel reality. Kim Dan can not let her know his worries and pain, for the role of the Teddy Bear is to “wipe the tear‘s owner with the soft fur”.
(Chapter 05)
(chapter 04)
(chapter 04) Kim Dan would wrap himself in a cover and even bury his head under the cover. This caught my notice, as sleeping position exposes people‘s personality. The cocoon position displays Kim Dan’s need for protection.
(chapter 10) In other words, Kim Dan didn’t desire to face reality. This explains why he thinks of the past so fondly.
(chapter 10)
(chapter 13) I would like to outline that at no moment, the wounded main lead switched his sleeping position. But what does this observation indicate?
(Chapter 10) Striking is that when he heard the words from the protagonist, the author selected this image: Kim Dan was covering his head!! This is not random, it implies that the young man was not facing „reality“.
(chapter 4) I doubt that he treated the previous uke the same way. The fighter will give the doctor a sense of belonging, protection and compassion, just like the doctor will have the same function for the athlete. The latter will no longer feel alone, because despite his money, Joo Jaekyung has no one by his side in such a huge flat.
(chapter 6)
(chapter 17)
(chapter 1), and can be even dangerous, especially due to his huge paws. His punches are deadly, for the animal can be ruthless.
(chapter 15) On the other hand, despite his enormous force, it thrives on fruit and honey. This indicates that this animal likes sweetness. And what does the word “Dan” mean in Korean? “Sweet”!! Exactly like our physical therapist. This explicates why Joo Jaekyung is getting more and more obsessed with the doctor, and the kiss can only reinforce his possessiveness: he has already tasted the sweetness from Kim Dan‘s lips.
(Chapter 15) This panel displays how much the fighter enjoyed their kiss.
(Chapter 17), though his intervention has not solved everything.
(chapter 17)
(chapter 12), but also the kiss:
(chapter 15) He remembered his hyung’s advice:
(chapter 13)
(chapter 17) However, when he carried his sex partner like that, he made sure to protect him from “cruel reality”. He covered his face with the hoody. Consequently, I conclude that Kim Dan has already tamed a huge bear, hence his fists are so powerful. He lives isolated in his penthouse, but deep down he is longing for companionship.
(chapter 106) How could he abandon his lover like that? For some readers, he acted like a fool. Nevertheless, his reaction was normal, because the man with the purple hanbok represents the cause for Yoon Seungho’s martyrdom. This means that the ghost with the purple hanbok symbolizes danger for the protagonist. And if he gets targeted, his lover will suffer too. Striking is that during the same day and night, there is another person wearing a purple hanbok: Yoon Seungho!
(chapter 107) Therefore it is no coincidence that in chapter 107, he was portrayed as a source of danger for the elder master Yoon and the mysterious “lord Song”.
(chapter 107) According to “lord Song”, him and Yoon Chang-Hyeon were forced to renounce their position because of Yoon Seungho. In this image, the villain implies that the main lead is a blackmailer.
(chapter 107) In other words, in episode 107, the manhwalovers are witnessing a fight between 2 men wearing a purple hanbok!! In this story, purple is the symbol for violence and peril. This explicates why Byeonduck employed this color, when Yoon Seungho was portrayed as a ruthless lord:
(chapter 10) Under this new approach, it becomes comprehensible why the artist was wearing a purple hanbok after the bloodbath.
(chapter 102) He was the reason for the “purge”. From my perspective, the artist is cleaning the “place”, hence he is the target of the villains and antagonists. At the same time, this color represents Joseon’s royalty, hence it is no coincidence that the king was mentioned in this very episode.
(chapter 107) Therefore my theory that Baek Na-Kyum is related to the ruler gets reinforced. However, in episode 107, only the main lead and the new villain were seen with the purple hanbok, therefore in this essay, I will examine not only the new character “lord Song”, but also Yoon Seungho!
(chapter 107) They had the impression that he was abandoning the artist one more time. And that’s how the painter felt the situation either! That’s the reason why Baek Na-Kyum was upset.
(chapter 107) It was, as if the main lead was acting like the patriarch Yoon. This perception got reinforced, because the lord had a poker face and didn’t talk to his lover.
(chapter 107) Yoon Seungho didn’t side with the old bearded man in front of the painter. He thanked the man and sent away him with respect.
(chapter 107) He showed no real empathy for Baek Na-Kyum. It was, as if he was showing Schadenfreude. But this doesn’t end here. Kim brought a different doctor. It is not the same physician who assisted Baek Na-Kyum a month ago!!
(chapter 107) First, the clothes diverge. The belt is blue, his sleeves are covered with some white protections.
(chapter 107)
(chapter 103) Finally, the white hanbok is much longer, and his pants are blue, while the other had white trousers. In my essay
(chapter 107) How could he say that his health had deteriorated since a month ago? This is how the artist looked like a month ago:
(chapter 103)
(chapter 103) He was under the influence of the aphrodisiac, and he could have died of an overdose.
(chapter 103) His face and his body were covered with bruises. How could the doctor say that his condition had worsened? This means that he had not seen the patient a month ago. To sum up, the doctor was impersonating his fellow. Note that he claimed to have prescribed the drug himself.
(chapter 106) However, this image displays the betrayal from the physician, for I believe that this represents his view The latter had seen the artist in the restroom, but he had not intervened!! Besides, just because the artist had disgorged once, this doesn’t signify that he had done it all the time for one month. This is how the artist looked like, while he was walking through the street:
(Chapter 107) As you can see, the doctor was exaggerating, as he was generalizing the regurgitation!
(chapter 107) Yoon Seungho was slowly realizing that his butler has not been telling the truth. He was gritting his teeth exposing his discomfort! This gesture indicates that someone has to endure something unpleasant, has to control himself and persevere. However, he was telling the opposite to his master: he had nothing to worry!! He should do nothing and simply lie low. The authorities had no suspicion about him. That’s the reason why the main lead desired to talk to the valet
(chapter 107), and he got angry, for his servant was talking back and not answering him properly.
(chapter 107) We could say that the latter was not obeying his lord. Striking is that the domestic was also lying, for he feigned ignorance first, before giving a more precise answer.
(chapter 107) It looks like valet Kim and the physician got away with their tricks, for neither the doctor nor the the butler got admonished in the bedchamber. But what caught my attention is that after hearing the words from his lover, he replied that way:
(chapter 107) This expression (“I see”) is important, because it could be the indication that the noble could discern the truth with his mind’s eye, like this
(chapter 107) or the opposite, though I am still optimistic. We will see in the next chapter.
(chapter 106), but we shouldn’t overlook that later the painter had yelled in order to voice his opinion which had caught his companion by surprise.
(chapter 57) The father was convinced that his son had been ill for a long time. And from the mysterious “lord Song”, the manhwalovers discovered that the main lead was fed with an aphrodisiac:
(chapter 107)
(chapter 57) Therefore the doctor’s statement in episode 57 appears in a different light: he knew what he was prescribing! He knew what Yoon Chang-Hyeon desired thanks to the idiom “the wayward yang energies”. It was to provoke an erection. I would like to expose that the physician deceived the painter,
(chapter 57) for at the end, the physician admitted that he had given the “solution” to the father. The father had received the medicine!! [For more read the essay “
(chapter 106) He was supposed to get a drink from the physician. So the lord could remember the artist’s words and perceive the doctor as a traitor and liar. He could jump to the conclusion that the man had given his lover a drug. Under this new light, it dawned on me that the artist could have been telling the truth to his lover there:
(chapter 106) That way, the “doctor” would not be suspected of a crime. Besides, according to me, the couple was actually sitting in the courtyard where the medicine store was!!
(chapter 33)
(chapter 65) Furthermore, in season 1, the artist had been forced to drink an aphrodisiac. So far, the main lead has never threatened or suspected a doctor. As you can see, there is a strong connection between the doctor and death! To sum up, we are witnessing the start of the storm… and when the painter was recovering, this represented the calm before the storm!!
(chapter 107) It is related to the rumors he heard in the street.
(chapter 106) The woman announced that the sacred tree had burned to the ground!! That’s the reason why it was gone… However, her words were just lies, for the tree is still standing there.
(chapter 107) But note that she connected the incident to misfortune! In other words, she was denying the intervention of humans!! However, the lord had visited the place of his crime before.
(chapter 104) This is what he had been told: the intervention of ghosts or spirits!! On the other hand, the unknown speaker had never mentioned the tree! Only the house had burned down. Nonetheless, even this statement was a lie, for the house was still standing too.
(chapter 106) Since the schemers are mixing a lie with the truth, the lord heard that lord Shin had been killed during that night! However, when the lord had assassinated Black Heart and his friends, the young noble had never met lord Shin! Hence the gossips in town made the lord recognize that something huge is about to happen: a manhunt, and he could get into trouble. Besides, the grapevines are revealing the existence of witnesses and the main lead is aware that the noona is an important « witness ». But the problem is that by mixing each time a lie with a fact, the schemers are not realizing that the truth is coming to the surface, as minus and minus make plus.
(chapter 50) Here, the butler had tattled on the painter so that the noble would distance himself from his sex partner. And in episode 104, we have a similar situation: through suggestions, the main lead was encouraged to send back the painter to the kisaeng house. Secondly, why would the lord think of the butler, when he saw the sacred tree?
(chapter 88) During that night, he discovered warmth, loyalty and tenderness! In the darkness, the lord could detect the presence of the light: the painter! During that night, they vowed fidelity to each other. And in the garden next to the shrine, Yoon Seungho made the opposite experience: it was dawning on him that people from his own family, Kim and Yoon Chang-Hyeon,
(chapter 88) are lying to him and even betraying him, especially if his life is threatened. Let’s not forget that this time, the lord did commit a crime and he is aware of this. In the bedchamber, the lord had criticized his own father, nonetheless he still thought that his father had just made a bad decision.
(Chapter 82) Preserving the continuity of the lineage and ensuring that the Yoons remain powerful and wealthy. However, in front of the tree, the lord is slowly recognizing that his father is about to ruin him for his own sake.
(chapter 107), and abandon his own son. This
(chapter 107) This image is the negative reflection from the night of the revelation in season 2. Despite the betrayal and agony,
(chapter 62) the main lead chose not to punish his lover
(chapter 63), he even swore that he would never let him go.
(chapter 63) As the manhwalovers can detect, the main lead was always able not to get swallowed by the darkness, thanks to the artist, he could still see the light. However, his father is making the opposite decision, unaware that he is “doomed” to fail! Karma is already waiting for him. And because the patriarch is now living in the darkness, he can not recognize the manipulations, as he is forced to use others to guide him.
(chapter 107) the branch on the ground is the evidence that someone set fire to the shaman’s shrine and the tree! Secondly, the black guard deceived the patriarch:
(chapter 107) Lord Shin was murdered afterwards and not before Black Heart and his friend!! The word “later” is relevant, for it implies that the young yangban was killed close to the place where the nobles Min and his friends were sentenced. But his body is lying elsewhere!
(chapter 103) This signifies that Yoon Chang-Hyeon is innocent! He never murdered Lord Shin in the woods, for he relied on the assistance of the helping hands. He never visited himself the scene of the crime.
(chapter 103) At the same time, we can exclude that the black guard was the one killing the young scholar, for his pants are rather brown than grey.
These two men are different, for their mask is white and not black. Besides, their clothes are black and not brown. Finally, the belt diverges as well: a huge purple strip with a different color in the middle, while the other guard is only wearing a simple ribbon. Thus I am inclined to think that the black guard is not only manipulating Yoon Chang-Hyeon, but he is also in truth working for someone else. Moreover, why would the man cover his face in the room, if he is truly working for the patriarch?
(chapter 86) And this observation leads me to the following question: when was lord Yoon informed about the protagonist’s crime and lord Shin’s death?
(chapter 102) From my point of view, it is related to Lee Jihwa. My theory is that the elder Lee can frame the main lead for assassinating his son, because during that night, Black Heart was dressed like Lee Jihwa. They needed the corpses to be decomposed so that father Lee could claim that Yoon Seungho had killed his son!! And the hanbok would serve to identify the corpse. In addition, he would use the incident with the sword as an evidence for his lunacy.
(Chapter 67) It is important that the red-haired master is not perceived as traitor, rather as a victim. Moreover, since some time passed on, people have already forgotten the friend’s confession in the inn. However, the elder master Lee will never report Yoon Seungho to the authorities, it has to come from the father himself. That way, his involvement will never be detected. From my point of view, the schemers are trying to turn father and son against each other so that the Yoons get destructed. One might reject my theory about the implication of father Lee, but let me ask you this… What are “Lord Song”
(chapter 107) and Lee Jihwa’s colors?
(chapter 12) Purple and yellow, right? Observe that the lord is wearing the same colors during that night: a purple hanbok with a yellow scarf!
(chapter 67) Under this new perspective, it becomes comprehensible why I am suspecting that this guard
(chapter 107) Furthermore, he could be recognized with the purple hanbok.
(chapter 107) However, if you compare the form of the beard and the nose, the manhwaphiles can quickly recognize that Lee Jihwa saw someone else in the past, although the hanbok seems to have the same pattern than in episode 83.
(chapter 83) Besides, another divergence is that the faceless lord Song has a rebellious strand in the neck which is not the same with “lord Song” from episode 107. As you can see, I deduce that we are dealing with two different “lord Song”. But this doesn’t end here. Secondly, according to father Lee, the man lost his home!
(chapter 82) So how can he be wearing a purple hanbok, if he lost his position and home? This color is reserved for important people. In addition, when he entered the kisaeng house, the artist’s noona called him differently:
(chapter 107) She called him “lord Haseon” and not “lord Song”! Interesting is that neither the Korean nor the Spanish version utilizes such a name! I don’t think that the translator took the liberty to create a fictional name. Hence I am deducing that the author is trying to leave different clues in each version!! Naturally, Haseon could be his first name, yet there is no ambiguity that this man has a bad reputation among the kisaeng house. He was called “lecher” and in the Spanish version, he was described as sexual maniac.
(chapter 107) Hence I doubt that the noona would feel so close to such a man and address him with his “first name”. On the other hand, the kisaeng has a drop of sweat on her face, which is a sign for a lie and deception.
(Chapter 107) This signifies that « lord Haseon » is true, while « out of the blue » is the lie.
(chapter 86) We also have three men in this scene… For me, it becomes clear that the man facing Yoon Chang-Hyeon has been impersonating the real “lord Song”, and the stupid patriarch has never recognized the “prank”. Now, I am even questioning if Yoon Chang-Hyeon is even able to identify lord Song correctly!! I mean, due to the name and the color of the hanbok… he could be thinking that he is meeting lord Song again. Imagine that they have not seen each other for 10 years!!
(chapter 107) Besides, Yoon Chang-Hyeon’s vision of the world is based on the words from lord Song and others. Who informed him about the whereabouts of « lord Song » in the gibang? The man had not come to the kisaeng house for a long time. Because of this information, the patriarch is led to think that he is meeting « lord Song ». His perception of the world and his eldest son is embossed by lord Song. Thus he repeats the same expression from his counterpart: “lowly beast”.
(Chapter 107)
(chapter 107) Finally, like outlined above, the main lead imagined that he was meeting the same doctor, while in truth it was not the case. So « old friend » could be deceiving:.
(Chapter 107) He could be one of the three men! The real « lord Song » who brought pain to Yoon Seungho is someone else. Let’s not forget that Kim fears the man,
(chapter 56) and his statement implies that Yoon Seungho is usually not allowed to ignore the man’s request:
(Chapter 56). « At this time » stands in opposition to « always » which means that he can reject the invitation only because he is sick. To conclude, for me, this is not the lord Song Yoon Seungho hates and fears!
(Chapter 107) Moreover, he didn’t visit the kisaeng house for a long time,
(Chapter 107) Hence they judge him as a pervert. And since the head-kisaeng received him at the gate, this signifies that this man has been in contact with the kisaeng house and in particular with the kisaeng leading him to the room.
(chapter 37) The fake servant NEVER mentioned the retirement of lord Song. As you already know, for me, No-Name is the real lord Song who took the blame for everything, for he let people use his “name”. The most terrible thing is that “lord Song” puts the blame on Yoon Chang-Hyeon, when he explains his failure about the sexual education.
(Chapter 33) Secondly, how does the lord know about the master’s illness, when his fever was only discovered after the straw mat beating?
(Chapter 77) Besides, no physician had been fetched back then. Finally, how can lord Song remember the lord’s condition so well after 10 years? It is because he is using the diagnosis on the painter from the previous doctor:
(chapter 103) Here, the man with the purple hanbok was utilizing the painter’s illness to hide his own crime. Under the pretense to help « Yoon Seungho » to become a man, the man abused him not only physically, but also sexually. There is no doubt that this reconversion was fake!
(chapter 107) However, the trick doesn’t work, exactly like No-Name’s prediction:
(chapter 76) But there is another reason why Yoon Chang-Hyeon doesn’t get fooled a second time.
(Chapter 77) Thus I come to the following deduction: Yoon Seungho was sentenced to the straw mat beating, because after 2 nights, he had not been able to « have an erection ». They mixed a truth with a lie:
(chapter 52) And what had Black Heart thought during that night? He had wished to taste the artist, while before he had desired his death. This is not random at all. There is a strong connection between death and sex which is also present in the conversation between lord Song and his « old friend ». The former reproached the elder master Yoon to have protected his son for too long.
(Chapter 78)
(chapter 107) Hence I am now assuming that this night is a reflection from chapter 67 and 69!! Min’s plan!
(chapter 69) He had gone to the kisaeng house with the hope that the artist would return with his noona, and back then he had impersonated Lee Jihwa for the first time.
(chapter 69) As the manhwalovers can detect, the sudden return of lord Haseon is intentional. So who is he targeting here?
(chapter 86)
(chapter 86) He was the keeper of his secret!! This explicates why the fake lord Song mentions « lad » and not the main lead. He gaslighted his counterpart, and created a false reality, while for me, it is clear that the real source of threat is Baek Na-Kyum. And who wanted him to be removed from the main lead’s side? Father Lee!
(Chapter 82) In fact, both schemers have one goal in common: the couple is the victim and witness of their « crimes ». 

(chapter 17) In Kim Dan’s house, he always had a poker face, even when he got insulted or threatened. He kept his composure all the time which stands in opposition to his attitude, when he faced Randy Booker.
(chapter 14) Just before his fight, he had a face like thunder. Why did Joo Jaekyung react so vehemently, when he faced the professional fighter, while he looked so detached and distant in episode 17? Moreover, observe that the English translator employed the same comparison than Randy Booker
(chapter 14), when Heo Manwook humiliated the athlete: baby.
(chapter 17) In the Korean version, the idiom is more like “punk” or “nerd jerk”. Nevertheless, why did the fighter remain composed despite being looked down? Besides, it seemed like the athlete was facing the same situation, yet his behavior diverges so much. Why?
(chapter 17) Moreover, it forced Heo Manwook to explain his action:
(chapter 17) This means that the champion’s previous questions (What are you doing?”; “Who the hell are you?”) got answered with his arrogant and selfish attitude. To sum up, he diverted the bullies’ attention from Kim Dan. At the same time, because of his indifference and poker face
(chapter 17) Striking is that even after knowing everything, Joo Jaekyung acted, as if he didn’t care about Kim Dan and his debts.
(chapter 17) This shows that Joo Jaekyung’s actions and words were not random at all. No one should suspect about the existence of their deal, his sex partner for his jinx. In the thugs’ eyes, the athlete was appearing as Kim Dan’s boss. He was selfish and uncaring. Thus certain readers judged the protagonist as a heartless jerk again. However, in order to perceive someone’s personality correctly, it is important to question the intentions and motivations behind people’s actions. Like I have already mentioned in a different essay:
(Doctor Frost, chapter 216) Why?
(chapter 17), and not before. Notice that he discovered the existence of the loan much earlier, yet he chose to ignore this. Why didn’t he pay it before? In my eyes, it is because he had anticipated and even planned the fight! He let his opponent reveal his weaknesses:
(chapter 17) The loan shark would never plan how to fight. He would use the knife and the bottle, when they are under pressure. Striking is that during this revelation, Joo Jaekyung chose to hide his gaze… he had perceived his opponent. They were not trained as fighters. The covered gaze is an indication that he understood that the more he ignored the thugs, the more the usurer would get angry. His pride could only be hurt with such an attitude. Consequently, I come to the conclusion that this fight was no coincidence. The main figure had acted exactly like in the ring: provoke his enemy
(chapter 15) so that the latter would lower his guard and make a mistake. That’s the reason why Joo Jaekyung was so rational and expressionless, while the moneylender would get more and more mad
(chapter 17) Heo Manwook was to blame for this. Thus I believe that when he said this to the villain, he was hiding the manipulation. That’s why he was not smiling like in the ring.
(chapter 15) His poker face served one purpose: to hide the existence of his strategy and his true thoughts. His counterpart should never discover that he had been incited to start the fight. We could say that this was Heo’s karma, for the latter would always use fake excuses to justify his brutality towards Kim Dan.
(chapter 17) He desired to scare the moneylender and his minions so that they would avoid Kim Dan. They should never question his intervention out of fear.
(chapter 17) While waiting for Kim Dan, the champion got angry, thus he yelled at his hyung Park Namwook. He complained to his manager about his tight schedule, for he thought that he could postpone the med check. However, Park Namwook told him that he couldn’t not do, as he pleases. Nevertheless, the moment his hyung described Kim Dan as dedicated and diligent
(chapter 17), for he spent the whole night studying his files, the young fighter was no longer arguing.
(chapter 17) His raised eyebrow indicates his interest and surprise. We could say that his hyung’s words had such an influence on Joo Jaekyung that the latter decided to trust him. Hence he obeyed his coach and went to the main lead’s home. Though he was annoyed and questioned his hyung’s statement, he still wondered about the reason for his absence.
(chapter 1) This shows that the raised eye-brow is exposing the athlete’s thoughts and emotions: he is intrigued and captivated. I would even add that it indicates that the champion is pondering! And now, pay attention to his facial expression, when he faced the broken bottle:
(chapter 17) As the manhwaphiles can detect, the athlete fooled everyone in this chapter. Due to his poker face and his cold shoulder, Heo Namwook and his minions never recognized that they had been provoked. At the same time, the raised eye-brow is betraying the athlete.
(chapter 15) This explicates why the sportsman makes all sort of facial expressions due to the doctor: anger
(chapter 5)
(chapter 5)m then pleasure
pleasure (chapter 12), sulking
(chapter 15) Because of Kim Dan, he can lose or regain his countenance. And what is the opposite of indifference? Compassion, sympathy, interest and respect!! This is no coincidence that the more the athlete interacts with the main lead, the more he exposes his generosity and consideration. That’s the reason why I come to the deduction that the more the athlete shows emotions on his face, the higher the risk is that his opponents will discover the champion’s secret: his attraction and attachment to Kim Dan and as such his weakness.
(chapter 2) the uke from episode 2 who knows about the protagonist’s superstition: He has every reason to resent the couple. Joo Jaekyung not only insulted and injured him, but also he never considered him as a serious partner. On the other hand, the doctor was able to get close to the athlete to the point that the latter would suggest that Kim Dan moves in his place! It is only a matter of time, until it takes place. This means that in the future, the manhwaphiles will witness how Joo Jaekyung loses his countenance because of his attachment to the protagonist. He will become a fury outside the ring 
(Chapter 83) However, since I have been examining Painter Of The Night so closely, I learned to pay attention to details. Consequently, I recognized very quickly that Yoon Seungho was not chasing one ghost, but he was running after 3 different people
(chapter 106) impersonating „lord Song“
(chapter 106) If you look very attentively at the hanboks, you will realize the slight differences. First, the shade of the cloth diverges, then one cloth has a pattern, the other hanbok none. The form of the gat is also a little different, just like the color of the hair diverges. Besides, the readers should keep in their mind that in season 3, we had at least 3 bodies, though I am suspecting 4 corpses:
(chapter 94)
(chapter 97)
(chapter 97) and
(chapter 101) Thus I come to the following conclusion that these 3 persons wearing the purple hanbok are not the “real lord Song”, the one who tormented the protagonist. In my eyes, he was watching the protagonist from the tower!
(chapter 37) The empty street was the indication that the monarch was present in the city. And now pay attention to the situation in episode 105:
(chapter 105) Why is the street empty, when it was not the case during the night in episode 69?
(chapter 69) For me, the pedophile was in the kisaeng house. But let’s return our attention to episode 37.
(chapter 106) To sum up, for me, the 4th “lord Song” was present in this scene, but the protagonist couldn’t detect his presence, for the other “shadows” were there to divert his attention.
(Chapter 106) As you can see, they used a prank to wound the artist. Their goal was to incite the painter to return to the kisaeng house. He should cut ties with the main lead, as the latter is a man with a fickle nature. Yes, episode 106 was the negative version of chapter 75.
(chapter 75) That’s the reason why the couple was sent to the same inn. However, I don’t think that they had expected the painter’s fainting.
(chapter 106) For me, this is a blessing in disguise.
(Chapter 106) The latter had to be informed not to send the new clothes to the kisaeng house, but to his own mansion. That’s the reason why Baek Na-Kyum asked this question to the butler.
(chapter 106) That’s how the schemer and his accomplices knew for sure that their original plan had not worked out. And if you read my previous analyses, you are aware that I had discovered the existence of two tailors!!
(chapter 45) and 74
(chapter 74) This tailor is wearing the scarf the same way than the artist‘s. Finally, in episode 64, the manhwalovers could see the face of the second tailor. :
(chapter 64) In the past, I had already outlined the divergences in the body shape and the clothes, but the most visible evidence is the scarf!! Finally, I would like my avid readers to detect that the tailor from chapter 64 has been calling the main lead master Yoon, and not lord Yoon Seungho. This shows that this man is involved not only in the recent prank, but also in the main lead‘s suffering. He is not recognizing Yoon Seungho as a real lord. The usage of different hanboks is the proof that the tailor is an accomplice in the latest trick. But this also explicates why the tricksters had not planned the artist’s fainting. First, he had been able to run after his lover.
(chapter 105) Besides, this is how Baek Na-Kyum acted, when he saw his lord looking at him:
(chapter 106) The fake smile from Baek Na-Kyum was hiding his true condition, he was still suffering from PTSD. Nonetheless, for the tailor and the other witnesses, it looked like the artist was strong. Nonetheless, since the main lead had learned in the past to fake his smile, he could detect that his lover was far from feeling well.
(chapter 106) But there is another reason why they had not predicted such an outcome: the doctor!! They had to ensure that the lord’s path never crosses the physician’s! That’s the reason why the manhwaphiles never saw him in episode 106. He was like a ghost. But there is more to it.
(chapter 57) Yes in the kitchen of the physician! Then in a different image, you can the kitchen with the stool and the circle with the shamanism drawing right behind the lord’s back.
(chapter 106) We assumed that the couple was eating in an inn, but it is true? Finally, in the shelves, the manhwalovers can see small packages hanging around,
(chapter 106), they look exactly like the medicine Kim fetched in episode 55.
(chapter 55) Because of these parallels, I started wondering if the couple and the readers had not been fooled in the end. They were actually sitting in the medicine store, but due to the butler’s words and episode 75, the manhwalovers had the impression that the couple was in an inn. And the Spanish version seems to confirm my suspicion. I had already outlined that the furniture and shelves in the library had been switched. So it could be the same with the doctor’s office. Besides, the form of the building reminded me a lot of the house from the physician’s.
(chapter 106)
(chapter 74) Once you remove the cupboard from the side, you have a patio where you can eat. Under this new light, it explains why Yoon Seungho would say this to the butler:
(chapter 59) To conclude, there was another ghost in episode 106, the invisible doctor. No matter what, the couple was not supposed to see the physician. Why? It is because he would have noticed the existence of two different doctors. That’s the reason why Kim acted as a mediator!
(chapter 106) This was not to help his master and the painter at all. Quite the opposite. He had to cover up his own wrongdoings and help the schemer. Therefore it is not surprising that the valet was confronted with the artist’s fainting!
(chapter 106) The latter had played a mean prank on Baek Na-Kyum!! Yes, you are reading it correctly. Now, you are wondering when the valet fooled the pure painter. Observe that Kim had joined his master
(chapter 106) He had barely moved… maybe run for 4 meters! How could he be out of breath? Besides, why would he scream like that, when the lord was standing next to him?
(chapter 106) It is because he needed Baek Na-Kyum to hear his lover’s departure!! Because we see this panel, we assume that the valet was left in the dark, especially after witnessing such a scene.
(chapter 106) Our brain is trying to fill the blanks. But the moment you realize that Kim didn’t run such a long distance to be out of breath, you will realize that this “abandonment” was staged. This was the reflection of chapter 85, another fake run!
(chapter 85)
(chapter 86) Thus the butler got punished for his acting. He has now to take care of an unconscious painter.
(chapter 106) Besides, I have another evidence that the painter got fooled by the valet. According to my observation, there is always a reflection within the same episode. Since the lord got fooled and was incited to follow the man with the purple hanbok, the artist had to experience the same. However, while the one got scared out of abandonment issues, the other got worried because of “lord Song”‘s obsession! Besides, because neither the butler nor the physician got punished for their crimes (passivity, silence, lies and disobedience), both need to receive their “punishment”. Let’s not forget what Yoon Seungho had said to the artist back then:
(chapter 58) Kim had usurped his authority, he had made a decision without his master’s permission.
(chapter 24) The gate serves as the indication.
(chapter 24) And in that episode, the artist got dragged twice.
(chapter 24) First, it was the scholar, then the butler. However, in that scene, the butler had lied to the artist, for the noble had never requested to meet the artist in the pavilion. From my point of view, he was still hunting in the woods. As you can see, episode 24 contained all the elements of an abduction, though it was not perceptible. That’s the reason why I am suspecting that Yoon Seungho might think that his lover has been kidnapped again, especially after hearing such horrible gossips. Nonetheless, since the painter fainted, the valet will be forced to take care of Baek Na-Kyum. In addition, observe that the butler brought back the unconscious painter to the mansion, though the doctor was right next to them! This shows that Kim and the physician had not the artist‘s best interests in heart. He should have been treated right away.
(Chapter 76) Coincidence versus trick! They wished to scare Yoon Seungho, to let him think that „lord Song“ knew about his crime and was about to denunciate him. Yes, in my eyes, the man with the purple hanbok embodies treason and was the reason why Yoon Seungho got arrested and tortured in the past!! Under this new light, it becomes comprehensible why the lord would get so mad at his childhood friend.
(Chapter 59) But the moment Yoon Seungho’s mother killed herself, it became clear that her son had been unfairly arrested and tormented. So someone had to take the fall for the injustice, the real lord Song.
(chapter 102), Lee Jihwa was behind the scheme… and what had Lee Jihwa done in the past? He had sent a letter in his name.
(chapter 59) Back then, Yoon Seungho assumed that his childhood friend knew nothing… but now, he is seeing the ghost lord Song circulating in town. So he could jump to the conclusion that the Lees have been helping lord Song. Finally, the manhwaworms will certainly recall the red-haired master’s confession, he knew everything!!.
(chapter 57)
(chapter 106) And this scene is a reflection of episode 64, where the two women were ignorant about the incident of the previous night.
(chapter 64) Once again, this proves that the tailor is involved in the scheme.
(chapter 106) The Spring Poem is actually reflected in this scenery:
(chapter 92) Yet this doesn’t end here. Episode 92
(chapter 92) is the positive reflection of episode 106:
(chapter 106), she contradicted her statement right after.
(chapter 105) That way, the artist would feel that his master needs his help and talent. Moreover, I have the feeling that the main lead will go to the authorities and ask for their assistance.
(chapter 103) As you can see, the schemers are no longer able to control Yoon Seungho and his lover, for both are supported by the gods. Chance stands on their side!
(chapter 100)
(chapter 104) Though there is a manhunt, where is he?
(chapter 106)
(chapter 98) To conclude, while the schemers thought that due to his crime, Yoon Seungho would lie low and cut ties with his lover, due to their meddling, they achieved the opposite. The lord will request an investigation… something he has never done before. He could even denunciate Lee Jihwa
(chapter 67), that way he can escape punishment. This means that Black Heart’s last confession (and lie) could help the lord to protect himself and his lover. Finally, if Yoon Seungho were to mention the purple hanbok to his lover, the latter’s memory could get triggered and he could remember this night: 

(chapter 16) that he received new ones.
(Chapter 16) The worst is that this would have never happened, if his path had not crossed Heo Manwook’s. Yes, the loan shark has finally a name!!
(chapter 16) Moreover, in that moment the loan shark had to hear that Kim Dan was moving out!!
(Chapter 16) Two bad lucks in one go! It was, as if Kim Dan’s life was jinxed! Because the young man is so pure, the manhwaphiles’ heart could only be broken, when they witnessed the abuse from Heo Manwook and his minions.
(chapter 16) and Painter Of The Night
(chapter 101) Both ukes and semes are put in a similar situation. That’s the reason why many are hoping that Joo Jaekyung punches the villains and makes them suffer so much that they decide to keep their distance from Kim Dan. But by making a connection to Painter Of The Night, the manhwalovers didn’t realize that they had found the reason why Mingwa is making her protagonist suffer. 😲 Nevertheless, I wouldn’t like to be misunderstood. I am not saying that the author copied Painter Of The Night. Far from it… It’s just that both works are inspired by the same philosophies, Buddhism and Taoism, which are deeply rooted in Korean society. In Painter Of The Night, Baek Na-Kyum had to suffer for two reasons. Through pain, he was forced to drop all the doctrines he had internalized. This means, he learned to become more honest, to face truth… At the same time, by making him suffer like Yoon Seungho, Byeonduck wanted the lord to be confronted with his repressed traumas! As you can see, pain and suffering are not gratuitous. They have a function.
(Chapter 16) Sure, his anus had been wounded, but notice that the cream was given for the bruises on his face.
(Chapter 16) That’s the reason why he thought of the cream after seeing the fading of his black eye. However, the champion had never punched him!! This was the work of the loan shark and his minions. As you can see, chapter 16 was built exactly like episode 11. Kim Dan was hopeful again, and was viewing his relationship with the champion as the worst thing in his life. Compare this scene
(Chapter 11) with this statement:
(Chapter 16). He still portrays the athlete’s actions as terrible. Striking is that he saw the kiss as something negative, while the fighter had actually listened to his plea:
(Chapter 14) If the physician had to reproach something to the boxer, it should be the rough sex before and not the kiss. The boxer had done it, because he had realized how fragile Kim Dan was. This was for Kim Dan’s sake. Yet, thanks to the kiss, Joo Jaekyung discovered that he could get pleasure and provoke pleasure much quicker. But according to Kim Dan’s words, it looked as though the kiss was the worse, hence Mingwa chose to confront him with reality:
(chapter 16) At the same time, these words are strangely similar to the ones in the athlete’s bedroom.
(Chapter 13) This is not random. Back then, he was denying his own pleasure. In episode 16, Kim Dan is now facing cruel reality. Moreover, the readers could detect the doctor’s pleasure, when he got eaten up by Joo Jaekyung.
(Chapter 15) To sum up, Kim Dan is not only dishonest to himself, but also rather ungrateful towards Joo Jaekyung. The latter is definitely no angel, but he is changing for the doctor’s sake. The latter doesn’t recognize the sportsman as his savior yet. Let’s not forget that without his money, he couldn’t finance the halmoni’s treatment at all. Naturally, he is not totally oblivious to the fighter’s generosity.
(Chapter 16) However, exactly like in episode 11, he was forgetting that the real source of his misery is Heo Manwook with his minions. Their encounter was a reminder, and Kim Dan has now the chance to see Joo Jaekyung as his “knight in armor”.
(chapter 16) This was the first time he showed curiosity about the champion and his motivations. The problem is that he stopped pondering on this question. Hence “karma” retaliated. As you can see, the doctor has to learn to pay attention to the athlete’s personality (question the motivation behind his actions) so that he can discover his mental issues. Like in real life, no human is perfect, Kim Dan has his faults. The problem is that because he is a victim of violence, his mistakes are less noticeable.
(Chapter 16) This corresponds to their first sex session. Why didn’t he think of the latest intimacy? It is because he is slowly accepting his relationship with the champion. However, this night represents the loss of his virginity, which was accompanied with pain and anxieties. For me, this night symbolizes the “prostitution” as its best, because if he had not done it, he would have never been paid. But now, he has signed a contract with Black Teams, which doesn’t include the sex services. Everything is off the record and Kim Dan offers other services (massages, physical consultation etc). This explicates why the word prostitution triggered this image. This also exposes that Kim Dan is gradually accepting it as one part of his job, the champion’s physical therapist. This explicates why he had this sudden thought:
(chapter 16) This truly exposes that he had the upper hand in their relationship. That’s the reason why Kim Dan gets confronted by his own fears and reality:
(chapter 16) Is his relationship with Joo Jaekyung really prostitution or more a boss-employee relationship?
(chapter 10) Hence he never explained his situation to Joo Jaekyung which created a misunderstanding. On the other hand, I would like the manhwaphiles to keep in their mind that Kim Dan never had a real friend, which is different from Joo Jaekyung. While many view the boxer as a terrible man, they are forgetting that despite his roughness, he is able to maintain a good relationship with Park Namwook, coach Jeong Yosep.
(Chapter 16) and the gay doctor. One might say that it is related to his money. Episode 16 confirmed my previous suspicion that Joo Jaekyung owns Black Teams.
(Chapter 16) How could Joo Jaekyung decide the amount of the salary and even send the salary in advance without consulting his manager? Since Team Black Inc. transferred the money, it implies that the fighter has a saying in the expenses, transactions and the income. He is not an employee of the club. However, imagine that Joo Jaekyung let his coach admonish him
(Chapter 7) Hence his true position among Black Teams is not obvious. He doesn’t act like the club owner. But I have another evidence for this interpretation. Heo Manwook represents his negative version. Thus the author created similar images:
(Chapter 16) Though the man is famous and powerful, he is not using his position to delegate tasks to others. I would even say, in Black Teams, there exists no hierarchy. Hence Park Namwook appears as “the head” of Black Teams, yet he was not involved in the discussion about the expenses (salary, advance). He takes care of the paper work (contracts, uniforms). This displays that in reality, the celebrity is not “arrogant” per se. He shows humbleness in different situations. He cooked for the doctor, and brought him to his penthouse. Since Kim Dan had no person close to him except his grandmother, it is not surprising that the young doctor is not confiding to the athlete. From my point of view, Joo Jaekyung is Kim Dan’s jinx and lucky charm. As long as he doesn’t trust the sportsman, he will suffer.
(chapter 10) Nevertheless, observe what the loan shark did to Kim Dan. He stepped on the doctor’s hand with his foot.
(chapter 16) Thus I deduce that when the champion notices that his physician has been wounded, he could cause trouble to the loan shark. But Heo Manwook will refuse to admit this, and could put the blame on his minions. There’s no ambiguity that he will never take responsibility for his actions, the opposite to Joo Jaekyung who didn’t deny his wrongdoing.
(chapter 13) That’s the reason why Heo Manwook uses minions in the end. They are his helping hands so that he doesn’t need to do much. Finally, Heo Manwook is the one suggesting the rape.
(chapter 16) What caught my attention is that the money was transferred to his private account:
(chapter 16) Thus his karma should be that money becomes his jinx! He gets into trouble because of money! 😂 I have to admit that I was even thinking about a complaint against Heo for hurting his own physical therapist (compensation for the damages). Anyway, going after the company Heo means ruining Heo’s life!! On the other hand, I believe that first the athlete wishes to keep a low profile. One of my followers @jaeekyung_ had even the impression that this panel was announcing the arrival of the champion. If so, this means that he heard them calling his company a whorehouse.
(Chapter 16) As the owner, he can only feel insulted. But we don’t know if he heard this comment. We will see.
(chapter 16) This is more than just theft or burglary. Remember what Joo Jaekyung had said during their first encounter:
(chapter 4) Now, he is discovering the ugly side of sex and even “prostitution”: the sexual abuse. The protagonist can’t misjudge the situation, for the doctor is bleeding and bruised.
(Chapter 16) His body is even restrained. As a boxer, the champion is used to judge quickly the seriousness of the situation. In his mind, “prostitution” was not connected to violence and exploitation, he always saw it as a win-win situation. Thus this encounter lets him see reality. Yes, Joo Jaekyung is also put in a similar situation than the doctor, following the Taoism’ principle, the harmony between yin and yang. His believes and prejudices are slowly removed as well. In his mind, poor people are responsible for their own misery, for they lack strength, knowledge and good judgement. When he first met the doctor, he called him a ”wimp”, for he was trembling and in tears in front of him. But now he can grasp why Kim Dan would have such a reaction. He was beaten by three people. This scene can only prove the champion’s bias all wrong! Here, Kim Dan is suffering because of others!! He is not keeping his promise,
(chapter 16) not because he is not reliable, but because he is sequestrated. Though the fighter was upset and complained,
(chapter 16) he still chose to fetch the young man! Any other employer would have fired Kim Dan for such an incident, but the main lead chose to discover the reason for his absence. We don’t know how much the champion listened to their conversation, but one thing is sure. He intervened, the moment Heo Manwook and his minions were about to commit a crime. They can not say that Kim Dan is a prostitute, or the latter has to pay his debts as excuse, for this doesn’t justify their action. That’s the reason why he asked them this:
(chapter 13)
(chapter 10) this new situation can only make him realize how wrong he was. He will believe that he couldn’t move out due to the loan shark.
(Chapter 9) and Potato.
(Chapter 9) Thus I am expecting the visit of the loan shark with his minions to the club Black Team!! One of the minions had threatened to break Kim Dan’s knees, thus his karma 😈
(Chapter 16) should be … As you can see, we just need to wait for „divine retribution“. You caught me in act… I am already imagining all sorts of punishments for these 3 guys: beating, trouble with justice, loss of money, abandonment and betrayal of the minions or 😈 Joo Jaekyung sets a trap. They “become members” of Black Team! While these three men imagine, they are going to a whorehouse, the moment they realize that due to their membership, they can get punched by the members of Black Teams, they come to regret to have signed the papers!! Similar to the loan! 
(chapter 15) will probably judge the champion as arrogant and self-centered. He speaks, as if he was omniscient. However, this perception doesn‘t do the character any justice, for it is based more on impressions. First, Mingwa let us see that Joo Jaekyung is quite observant. After the match, he knew that the doctor wanted to discuss something with him.
(chapter 15) This explicates why he sent his manager on an errant.
(chapter 15) That way, they could get some privacy. This scene outlines that the champion is not just a common brute. Within a short time, he noticed the physician’s desire and develop a strategy to be alone with his sex partner. But how could he know that Kim Dan wished to talk to him? The reason is simple. It is because the physician never approached him willingly. The opposite to this scene…
(chapter 7) It was either he had a request or the fighter had called him. At no moment, he had taken the initiative. Under this new light, the manhwaphiles can grasp why the champion got so jealous that he wished to have sex under the shower. We could say that it was to draw his attention. But there exists another reason why the athlete made such a statement
(chapter 15)
(chapter 15) This means that he had not truly abandoned the main lead. Within 1 minute, he had developed a stratagem to make the doctor watch the fight. Such a gesture could only move the doctor, hence he blushed.
(chapter 15) He accepted the invitation. I have to admit that I had overlooked this detail (yes, I am not all-knowing 😉), for I was so focused on the boxer’s thoughts during the sex session.
(chapter 15) This explicates why the man asked him if he was part of the staff. His visit had not been planned. Besides, he was relatively new in the team, hence his face is unknown to the people working there. Moreover, all the members of Black Team are wearing black clothes with a logo on it. The doctor might have an uniform with the logo on it
(chapter 15), but I doubt that a security agent would have accepted it. It could be viewed as fake, a fan trying to approach the famous boxer. However, the jacket is different, for the owner is Joo Jaekyung!!
(chapter 15) He must have noticed his presence. One might argue about this, for the doctor was standing too far away. Nonetheless, it becomes visible that the young protagonist gradually approached the ring. First, he stood by the side of the security agent.
(chapter 15) However, after the main lead’s victory, he was standing much closer to the ring. The first proof for this interpretation is the net, for the pattern is much more visible.
(chapter 15) Moreover, the height of the champion had changed. Therefore it is no coincidence that after the fight, the sportsman made such a remark. He had achieved his goal. This is important, for until now, none of the athlete’s previous partners were invited to watch a match. He had always separated his sex life from his work life, though in reality both are strongly intertwined.
(chapter 15) One more time, the physical therapist was making a request… it looked like nothing had changed. Kim Dan would only interact with him, if it was necessary.
(chapter 15) Under this perspective, the champion’s lie becomes more obvious. He might have planned everything… but he never expected that Kim Dan would voice this:
(chapter 15) What caught my attention is that the main lead avoided the boxer’s gaze. That way, he was trying to keep his distance from Joo Jaekyung so that the latter would not notice his attraction. The doctor is making sure that their relationship remains professional. On the other hand, like mentioned in the previous essay, after hearing the compliment, the athlete looked at the doctor’s facial expressions for one reason.
(chapter 15) He desired to notice if the doctor’s praise was sincere. This could only make the fighter happy. Thus he made such a remark. He had the impression that the doctor was no longer pushing him away. He had finally been able to catch his attention and admiration.
(chapter 14) Middle weight versus light heavyweight. This means that Randy Booker was trying to move up. However, the problem is that the person at the lowest acceptable weight of a division is in disadvantage to someone at the highest accepted limit. Weight is an indicator for power. This explicates why Randy Booker provoked the protagonist. He needed to destabilize his opponent mentally. Because of his rage, the athlete couldn’t control his thoughts. And the blond-haired boxer would have succeeded, if the doctor had not arrived!
(chapter 15) However by letting the boxer attack him, our beloved fighter could observe how the rival would punch him. This signifies that the champion was giving a false impression to Randy Booker. He was rather passive, as if he was scared, while he was waiting for the right moment to attack him. He made sure to make Randy Booker feel overconfident, hence he allowed him to punch him in the stomach.
(chapter 15) Joo Jaekyung had anticipated such a punch. This truly exposes that a fighter has to perceive the opponent’s mentality accurately in order to defeat him. This proves one more time that Joo Jaekyung is not a brainless and insensitive boxer. Therefore Randy Booker’s ego got boosted after the punch on the side. Thus he made the second mistake to lower his guards, which the reporter noticed.
(chapter 15) And note that Joo Jaekyung employed the same strategy than his rival. The former provoked Randy Booker with his hands.
(chapter 15) which the champion had observed before. However, this means that Randy booker was exposing himself, for he was no longer protecting his body. Therefore it is not surprising that he let escape a F…, he was already witnessing how Joo Jaekyung was on his way to punch him.
(chapter 15) He had another disadvantage to the main character. The blond-haired fighter is shorter than the protagonist, hence he needs to be closer to his opponent. Joo Jaekyung’s arm is much longer. To conclude, the passivity, the “injury” and provocation had been anticipated by the cold-hearted champion.
(chapter 15) On the other hand, when he spits to Randy booker, it was clear that he was clear-minded.
(chapter 15) He had not forgotten the insult.
(chapter 15) and to find a way to express them differently. The manhwaphiles could observe how the champion’s rage and anger vanished completely, the moment the sportsman kissed his partner. He was literally under the doctor’s charm, when he saw his aroused facial expression:
(chapter 15) I assume that it was returned. This shows that Kim Dan is keeping his distance from the champion. On the other side, since the champion discovered that he could face Kim Dan while having sex, it is only a matter of time, until he discovers the absence of Kim Dan’s erection.
(chapter 15) This is important, because the athlete will have to change his tactic to “woo” his partner. Keep in mind that Joo Jaekyung has to learn the difference between admiration and attraction/love. He can no longer act like a fighter in bed! 😂 This is what Kim Dan will teach him, though I doubt that roughness will completely vanish. Old habits are hard to die. Anyway, the doctor’s sexuality can only become a topic between the couple. 
(chapter 105) „Thank god, he didn’t see nor hear a thing about that awful matter“. This is what Heena said in the original version. [Here I would like to thank my follower @katamins again for her help]
(chapter 105) He desired to spare his heart. To conclude, “that awful matter” is referring to the whole prank and its consequences.
(Chapter 97) At the same time, the idiom includes the staff‘s tricks as well: the corpse in front of the gate and the maids‘ badmouthing
(Chapter 104) However, he had been silenced by his lover, when the latter suggested to him to view everything as a nightmare. The lord made the mistake not to listen to the victim and witness.
(chapter 105) With such a contrast, the manhwalovers can detect the link between ignorance and absence of memories. To conclude, in both versions, the main lead is “lying” out of ignorance. This is the positive version of “ignorance is a blessing”. Hence the noona thinks herself safe.
(Chapter 99) It was clear that her brother would meet the noble, as their meeting didn’t surprise her. She was more upset that Baek Na-Kyum was unconscious.
(chapter 99) However, her question „What’s wrong with Na-Kyum?“ divulges her hypocrisy and acting. How could she not realize that her sibling had been beaten?
(chapter 105) Thus I deduce that Heena thinks, the painter could not witness her acting in front of the scholar’s house, for his head was turned around and he was not moving. She feels secure concerning that night, while I am expecting the opposite. Nonetheless, her past behavior in the kisaeng house represents a source of danger for her. That’s the reason why she has to hide the “attempted murder” from her brother. The moment Heena mentions that she has been hurt, the painter won’t believe her. Why? It is because in the kisaeng house, he has not forgotten her words:
(chapter 97) Even if she was “fooled”, the artist can only reproach her stupidity. Remember her harsh words, she had called him stupid:
(chapter 97) She had helped Min, and she can not claim ignorance. As you can see, Yoon Seungho was encouraged to hide the “attempted murder” from Baek Na-Kyum for selfish reasons. Therefore it is no coincidence that when the lord visited Heena, he made sure that his lover wouldn‘t see Heena in bed.
(chapter 105) She has now the perfect excuse to avoid nobles. She has been hurt, hence she can not work. The lord never questioned her attitude, for he wished himself that the painter would take a rest and remain in bed.
(Chapter 104) This explicates why later the lord was hugging his lover under the cover.
(Chapter 104) Hence I conclude that Heena must have thought the same way about Yoon Seungho. „Thank god, he didn’t see or hear a thing about that awful matter“. He has no idea about her altercations with her brother in the kisaeng house. It is important, because our beloved seme has the impression that the noona has her brother’s best interests at heart, but actually he is wrong. In my opinion, the relationship between Heena and his lover serves as a mirror to his relationship with Yoon Seungwon. So far, the young noble doesn’t suspect his brother to have betrayed him. Note that he blames his father more than his younger sibling.
(chapter 105) Yet, this incident was presented as Yoon Seungho’s memory. This panel could be used as an evidence that my theory, Heena was present next to the shaman’s shrine during the bloodbath, was wrong. Nonetheless, this image didn’t make me change my mind. Why? I paid attention to details and judged this rescue as “fake” again. The servants had a drop of sweat on their face, the symbol for deception. Secondly, the kisaeng was wet, while the staff’s clothes weren’t damp. How did they save her then? Besides, where are the foot prints? Moreover, where was the head cover?
(chapter 99) Finally, her hands and feet were not tied. So where did the items go? Since we saw her “execution”, we are the witnesses, and as such we know the truth about that “awful matter”, but it is not the case for the lord. This image contains so many errors, hence it can not reflect reality.
(chapter 103) Hence he could have never been outside the mansion. That’s how I realized that the author was presenting us a false memory. This means that the manhwalovers are facing an implanted memory. But how could this happen? First, false memory is quite normal and is often of no consequence. But a false memory relayed during criminal testimony might lead to the conviction of an innocent person. As the manhwalovers can detect, it represents a serious problem.
(chapter 58), it makes him particularly vulnerable to false memories.
(chapter 104), the lord and even the readers imagined to see medicine in the white bowl!
(chapter 105) Besides, the author had always connected the drug with the tray.
(chapter 23) As you can see, the readers interpreted this scene due to associations. Nonetheless, like mentioned in the previous analysis, the different color and the traces on the edge were the evidences that it was ink.
(chapter 36) Besides, Heena was in bed indicating that she was still weak. The circumstances led people to have a different perception of “verity”!! Only through the mind’s eye, the manhwalovers can detect that this scene was staged.
(chapter 103) The protagonist projected his own thoughts and emotions onto one servant: shock!
(chapter 61) This was interference by excellence. Besides, emotions can affect your memories. Since the lord was so under shock after witnessing the painter’s unconsciousness, it is not surprising that he imagined to have witnessed this scene. At the same time, when he left the shrine in trance, he could have overlooked the presence of a third person… similar to Lee Jihwa next to the shed. That’s how he doesn’t recall anything from that night except his crime. He didn’t see and hear the person by his side. Where is the sword? Where did he get the hanbok from?
(chapter 102) Therefore it is not astonishing that he imagined a similar scenery.
(chapter 1) This shows that the artist had only heard his name without seeing his face before. This explicates why the main lead’s gaze and facial expressions were similar
(chapter 1)
(chapter 1)
(chapter 103)
(chapter 104) My avid readers can certainly recall the rule I had detected: each chapter will be reflected in the next!
(chapter 94) Furthermore, the painter is associating the learned sir to the moon and as such the night.
(chapter 94) Thus I am now suspecting that this image
is a false memory. But I have another reason to think that the painter’s idolization was more the result of “brainwashing” and as such “false memories”.
(chapter 105) How can she date this incident so precisely? The moment I read her testimony, I discovered that in episode 94 the author had never shown us the painter crying!
(chapter 94)
(chapter 94)
(chapter 94) It was, as if the noonas had never been informed about the painter’s suffering and tears. This shows that Heena has been hiding many things from her colleagues. But there is more to it! The manhwaphiles saw the artist’s tears in his childhood.
(chapter 68) But here he was much older!! Under this new perspective, I realized that the following image could have been a false memory:
(chapter 68) Heena was misremembering that night, and she was misattributing the painter’s tears. In other words, she was confusing two incidents.
(chapter 105) It is the same facial expression, though the redness around the eyes is more pronounced. This observation confirms that the noona’s memories in the kisaeng
(chapter 105) He had run after his lover in socks. While in “Baek Na-Kyum’s foot”, I thought that this memory was true, I come now to a different signification. It was a false memory in order to hide a crime related to Heena. I would like to outline that in the kisaeng’s comment, we have the notion of “shame” and as such “guilt”. First, I thought of rape, but then it could be much simpler. The painter could have witnessed his noona having sex with the learned sir. But because he was too young, he misjudged the situation… as a virgin, she had to bleed. Because he saw blood, he imagined that the learned sir had hurt Heena. This would explain why the artist was afterwards anxious around the teacher. One might think that this is not terrible. But let’s not forget that as a kisaeng, she can not have sex like that.
(chapter 105)
(chapter 96) A similar situation had happened in the past.But because of her brother’s reaction, his huge tears, she got scared.
(chapter 68) Through suggestions, she had been able to convince her brother that the learned sir was a nice person. This explicates why the caresses and hugs were used to silence the artist. By repeating to her brother, he liked Jung In-Hun, he came to develop such feelings. The kisaeng’s statement implies that the admiration for the teacher was not constant.
(chapter 46) A change of heart versus “eternity”. This shows that the painter’s decision to go to the learned sir’s house was never his choice. He had simply followed Heena’s suggestion. She was definitely distorting his past. Furthermore I detected a strong connection between love and memory.
(chapter 94) If it is a loved one, then it can only be a good memory. Therefore it is not surprising that by saying constantly saying that the painter likes the scholar, he is repressing the bad memories with the scholar (the beating in episode 34, the betrayal in chapter 29, his words in the library and his reproach about his job). So far, he only mentioned one negative incident.
(chapter 105) In the original version, this is what the artist thought:
(chapter 76) So while the painter was following his lover, the latter turned around and hugged him. Afterwards, he asked him to go to his noonas, for he needed to talk to Heena. Moreover, contrary to Yoon Seungho, Baek Na-Kyum paid attention to time. He was not lost in thoughts or had lost the sense of time
(chapter 105) But the latter acted, as if his hand was not wounded.
(chapter 105) He ignored his physical pain and heartache.
(chapter 105) This is important, because the stumbling symbolizes the intervention of the gods… We have the perfect example at the end of season 3. The lord fell on his knees in front of the scholar’s house, hence there is a hand print on the snow.
(chapter 100) That’s how he refused to view Lee Jihwa as the murderer of his lover, Baek Na-Kyum”. YES, the falling is the real manifestation of CHANCE! How so? I would like the manhwaphiles to keep in mind that chance is the antonym of trick and scheme! The latter are connected to plan and organization. Thus I come to the conclusion that the noble will decide to go to the doctor’s office in order to treat his lover’s hand.
(chapter 57) he was feverish so that he couldn’t pay attention to the physician. Besides, the man never remained by his side. Finally, in episode 74, the man never left the office!!
(chapter 74) I conclude that Yoon Seungho never saw the physician for commoners! Besides, I doubt that he remembers him from his childhood. But this is not the same, when Baek Na-Kyum was ill. He met the other doctor twice.
(chapter 33)
(chapter 103) On the other hand, the artist assumes that the man in the office is Yoon Seungho’s doctor!! He heard his confession:
(chapter 103) The staff… I would like to outline that in this panel, Kim was no longer seen next to the couple.
(chapter 105) So where did he vanish? Probably to the mansion, for he had to warn the domestics that the artist would be returning! But if he left the couple behind, this means that he can’t witness what Yoon Seungho and Baek Na-Kyum will do next. And if they don’t go to the doctor, there is no ambiguity that the main lead will send for the doctor again. But according to me, the man disappeared.
(chapter 105) Imagine that despite his rush, he was clear-minded enough to take the yellow scarf, a present that the noble had just bought him before. 😢 The item had more value than the mituri (shoes). Thus he was running in socks. His gesture displayed how much the lord means to the painter. He cherishes everything the lord does for him. At the same time, it indicates his heartache. He was so desperate and scared, for he felt that he was about to get abandoned one more time.
(chapter 105) According to my follower @katamins, in the Korean version, this is what Baek Na-Kyum yells:
(chapter 105) it works like a spell or a prayer. The artist is clinching onto this phrase hoping that the noble is remembering his promise. The irony is that the low-born was smiling like a fool,
(chapter 83)
(chapter 85) This means that Baek Na-Kyum was put in the same situation than his lover who wished to keep the artist by his side, but feared to open up to him out of self-hatred and guilt. The painter could get burdened or horrified by his revelations. Hence the painter’s reaction at the end mirrors the yangban’s in the study. Both were or are pleading the partner to stay by their side,.
(chapter 85)
(chapter 105) Nevertheless, their behavior diverges so much. The aristocrat couldn’t raise his voice or become violent by using his hand, because he could scare the artist and as such break his previous promise. Finally, by destroying the music box, he had already witnessed that he had pushed his lover further away.
(chapter 85) At the same time, since he had been taught that no noble should lower himself in front of commoners, it is normal that he couldn’t beg Baek Na-Kyum on his knees. To sum up, the noble had to restrain himself extremely, his face and words were the only way to show his emotions and despair. And the artist sensed it, though the lord was not weeping. The proof is that when the father appeared, the artist changed his mind. He was no longer willing to leave, in fact he chose to look for his lover.
(chapter 87) This shows that through communication, the lord had been able to affect the painter‘s mind and heart. On the other hand, we shouldn’t underestimate the lord’s flashback and Na-Kyum’s conversation with the butler which played a huge part in the artist‘s decision to vow loyalty to Yoon Seungho despite the secret.
(chapter 105) Then I noticed that contrary to his lover, the artist asked the reasons for his decision.
(chapter 105) Why did he change his mind? Is he responsible for this? As you can see, the painter came to voice his guilt and the remains of his deeply rooted self-hatred.
(chapter 105) He must have committed a wrongdoing, he is responsible for the situation. He feels like a burden, for the lord had to take care of him each night.
(chapter 104) He wished to help, that way he wouldn’t be seen as a spoiled child. He has to justify his presence in the mansion. Who is he exactly that he is sleeping in the lord’s bed? I am suspecting that there is a rumor circulating within the propriety, a new version of this scene:
(chapter 38) which I will explain more in details below. Thus the artist is making sure to cause no trouble to Yoon Seungho and the staff, especially the maids. Hence he folds the cover and clean the bedroom.
(chapter 104) Then he washes clothes. He makes sure that he is no burden to anyone. Yet, my impression is that the staff is taking advantage of the artist’s goodness. That’s how they fuel his guilt and shame.
(chapter 104) He was told not to question what he had heard… he should simply consider everything like a nightmare. However, this method is actually wrong.
(chapter 07)
(chapter 104) Not only he knows about the lord’s traumatic past, but it is the same for the painter. In addition, we have another explanation for Yoon Seungho’s insomnia and dissociative state.
(chapter 57) Not only the latter was turned into the scapegoat for the downfall of the Yoons, but also he was not allowed to reveal the incident, the so-called treason. Why? It is because if he had spoken, the truth would have come to the surface. He was simply a victim. And now, the schemers and accomplices are repeating the same MO. Who suggested to Yoon Seungho to say this to his lover?
(chapter 104) Naturally, Kim, because he is now the only one in the mansion who knows his past. Besides, why do you think that the lord’s past is coming to the surface as a nightmare? It is because he was incited to repress everything. But since the painter is going through the same experiences, this is not surprising that the noble’s memory is triggered and the past emerges again.
(chapter 27) Put yourself in the young man’s shoes. You suddenly witness how the whole family is moving houses and leaving you behind! This must have been terrible for Yoon Seungho. One might argue that Kim stayed by his side, so he was not alone. But it is false for 2 reasons. The white bearded servant had been working in the mansion
(chapter 27), when the other domestics left the propriety. This was his memory. Besides, like the servant confessed to Jung In-Hun, a huge part of the staff got replaced. This means that the lord was suddenly surrounded by people he didn’t know. Because my theory is that the young man was treated as a male kisaeng, this signifies that the new staff could never view the main lead as a noble. Besides, despite the betrayal, the elder master and Yoon Seungwon were his real family. Finally, Yoon Seungho had no saying in this, and I can imagine that the reason for this decision was not explained immediately. This must have been a huge blow for him as well. He must have felt lost and homeless. The result was that from that moment on, he became more dependent on the butler. And we have to question ourselves what the butler did with this huge responsibility, when the elder master moved to the second house.
Since this phrase appears in connection with the staff (maids and servants) in the courtyard, I come to the conclusion that the authors of this gossip are in the domain. “Fellows” indicate that they are speaking among themselves. But I have two more clues proving that the traitors are the domestics. First, observe how they call the protagonist: Young Master Yoon.
So far, people in town only calls the protagonist lord Yoon
(chapter 45)
(chapter 45) or lord Yoon Seungho
(chapter 39) or my lord.
(chapter 76) Only the staff addresses him as “young master”.
(chapter 103), and this since season 3. This coincides with the meddling of the Yoons. The servants treat him, as if he was not an adult, no real lord. But they are wrong, because he is wearing the topknot with the gat. Hence he is a lord. Finally, only people close to the couple could know about the painter’s tragedy.
, because in the village and town, there exists another gossip: 
He is responsible for the lord’s lunacy. Under this new perspective, it explains why the painter is leaving the bed and working. He wishes to prove the words wrong. On the other hand, I think that Yoon Seungho also heard a grapevine in the domain, but a different one:
(trailer). “He has many enemies”. How did I come to this idea? It is because he is addressed as Yoon Seungho! By underlining the painter as his weakness, the author of this rumor wishes to separate the couple. If he were to place the painter elsewhere, not only the latter would no longer be targeted, but also the lord would have no longer any weakness. Since there is always a reflection within the same chapter, I conclude that a second grapevine was spread in episode 104. This happened, while the lord was away. Thus the painter smiled like a “fool”, when he saw the lord:
(chapter 104) As you can imagine, for me the maids were the perpetrators, a new version of episode 79
(here, the woman implied that the artist was responsible for Yoon Seungho’s insomnia, thus the painter has a drop of sweat on his face, a sign for shame) and chapter 98
(chapter 103) Finally, the staff has every reason to get rid of the artist, for he is the witness of their wrongdoings. They definitely played a major role in the “prank”. They didn’t learn their lesson.
(chapter 29) This time, the one smiling like a fool
(chapter 29) was Jung In-Hun who acted, as if he knew nothing and had seen nothing.
(chapter 29) However, I have already pointed out that he was present, when the rape took place, for he knew where Yoon Seungho would meet the artist: the pavilion. And what have all these episodes in common? The first thought would be to say: abandonment and betrayal. The painter in front of the gibang felt “betrayed” and abandoned, but what shocked the lord so much was when the artist started blaming himself:
(chapter 105) “I had known, I would have never confessed” Nonetheless, he never finished his phrase, for in reality, he had no regret!! He was sure that he had made the right decision. It is because he had pondered a long time about this. He had observed his lover. That’s the reason why he mentioned their mutual love confession and as such their promise to stay together. And this brings me to the next observation. All these scenes have another common denominator: BAD DECISIONS!! The lord had made the wrong decision to entrust the painter to the kisaengs. Thus he came to regret this. He had made his lover cry, and even wounded him, though he desired to do the opposite. Therefore it is not surprising that he apologized to his lover.
(chapter 105) This shows that the painter is showing him what true love and loyalty are. Moreover, he is teaching to make good decisions.
(chapter 246), I realized why Yoon Seungho suffered so much. Self-made decision implies a conscious choice. It is made deliberately and thoughtfully, considers and includes all relevant factors, is consistent with the individual’s philosophy and values. As you can see, it implies knowledge. This definition exposes that making a choice for the sake of another person without his consent or knowledge can never be a good decision. One might argue about this, because children are too young to make decisions. In Doctor Frost, this man
(Doctor Frost 246) decided to support a terror attack, and justified this by saying that this was for his daughter’s sake. But like the counterpart pointed out, he questioned his decision. Was it truly his choice, or was he simply following the leader’s suggestion? As you can see, the daughter was used as an excuse, it was never for her sake. This shows that children are the exception, besides they are often raised by two parents. Thus they are making deliberations together. But like the author revealed in Twitter, Yoon Seungho’s mother hated her husband so much that she neglected her eldest son. The patriarch made decisions on his own, but observe that it was always for the Yoons’ sake. This means that the father never took his son’s well-being into consideration, he never asked him about his opinion. He imposed his will, but he listened to others, like we could see in different occasions.
(chapter 82) Here, the red-haired bearded man was encouraging the elder master Yoon to return to the mansion and claim his rights. Finally, the young master admitted this to the messenger:
(chapter 80) If someone stroke his ego, he would follow their advice and never doubt their words.
(chapter 104) But he simply employed reverse psychology.
(Chapter 85) Yoon Seungho was coerced to open up. If he did not, he wouldn’t be forgiven. Naturally, the painter meant it well, yet the main lead was pressured to reveal his „bad action“. The main lead feared his negative judgement and rejection. We could say that the artist had made this request for the lord’s sake, however this was not a conscious and long deliberated decision. And now, you comprehend why the main leads suffered both so much!! Yoon Seungho’s mother neglected her eldest son, but she kept her distance from her husband. They never talked to each other, and as such never made decisions together. And it was the same for the painter. The kisaeng Heena was the one who made the decision without the noonas’ consent and her brother‘s opinion.
(chapter46) Even in season 4, she has not changed her mind-set entirely.
(chapter 105) She is still viewing the painter’s decision as a bad choice. But she is simply wrong, for the painter listened to her advice and after deliberations, he chose to open his heart. His confession was not made in the heat of the moment.
(chapter 62) The lord’s vision
(chapter 62) became a reality
(chapter 105) This signifies that the noble will decide not to follow the noona’s advice:
(chapter 105) But by learning about the learned sir’s past, the protagonist will realize that he only knew a side about Jung In-Hun.
(chapter 105) with the noona’s statement, the painter looks happy with Yoon Seungho despite the tears, it looks like the noona is slowly coming to terms with her brother’s relationship. But I have to admit that I believe that her “decision” is just short-lived. First, in season 2, the noona had accepted to let her brother stay at the Yoons’
(chapter 69) But then she had changed her mind after hearing the menace from the servant. However, I have three other reasons to expect a change of heart from the head-kisaeng. First, Heena is the younger reflection of the butler. The manhwaphiles shouldn’t forget that the valet had almost come to terms with the painter’s presence
(chapter 65), but the ruckus caused by the kisaeng had provoked a change of heart in the valet. Then, the lord had made the following condition to the kisaeng:
(chapter 105) The lord is keeping his lover by his side, as long as nothing happens to him. So if he gets into trouble… she could achieve her goal, the painter is returned to her. But the most important clue is for me the bowl!
(chapter 36)
(chapter 77) Besides, it never leaves traces on the edge.
(chapter 36) The painter used white bowls while painting. On the other hand, the lord wrote a letter during that time. As you can see, in episode 36, we have the combination of painting, seduction (touching) and medicine… exactly like in episode 105. The artist tried to paint a lucky charm, a tiger, but he didn’t finish it. He got interrupted… which is very similar than in chapter 36. So the letter should represent another common denominator. 

(chapter 105) onto Yoon Seungho. Will she come to regret her action or not? One thing is sure, the painter accepted the sincere apology from his lover. How could he not forgive him after calling „Nakyumah“ and embracing him!
(chapter 14) Thus one might wonder if something in episode 14 caught me by surprise. But yes, despite everything, I made a shocking discovery. But I was not the only one. Both main leads made shocking discoveries. Since I couldn’t finish the essay before the publication of episode 15, I am now including episode 15 as well. But let’s start with the doctor.
(chapter 14) Coach Jeong Yosep even looked worried while talking to the athlete. Imagine that the night before, the doctor had met the champion, and he had showed no sign of pain or distress. So this scene must have shaken him deeply to the point that he felt guilty..
(chapter 14) Yes, guilty, because he has a drop of sweat on his face. He is feeling uncomfortable, for he didn’t take the situation seriously. Why? It is because in his eyes, Joo Jaekyung has been acting like a spoiled and immature child until now. Only in that moment, he started worrying very much about the athlete. Park Namwook’s words must have come back to his mind:
(chapter 14) Joo JAekyung grabbed him with the arm whose shoulder was supposed to be the issue! This means with his action, he exposed the lie. 😂 He could move his shoulder perfectly. That’s the reason why the author added an interrogation point with a exclamation point as Kim Dan‘s reaction which is not visible here. The irony is that no one noticed it and could detect his lie. Imagine that only after the match the athlete confessed the truth to his manager and huyng Park Namwook. (chapter 15) Thus Park Namwook must view the athlete as a spoiled child again. How could he do this? But let’s return our attention to Kim Dan’s first shocking discovery: the deception from the fighter.
(chapter 14) Notice that he employed the expression “I heard” indicating that he was starting doubting the manager’s words. Maybe there had been a misunderstanding or an exaggeration from Park Namwook. But instead of answering his questions, the fighter replied this: STRIP!! (chapter 14) Once again, this must have deeply surprised Kim Dan. I would even say that such a request must have horrified Kim Dan.
(chapter 14) The manhwalovers can notice that the protagonist’s face became blue with shock! 🥶 This order came like a bolt from the blue! Who on earth would make a doctor travel for 4 hours for just having sex? In his eyes, the champion must have appeared like a crazy, sex obsessed and immature child!! So in this scene, the young doctor’s negative perception about Joo Jaekyung must have reached a new peak. He was acting like an irresponsible and unreasonable person. Therefore the doctor still tried to divert the champion’s attention on something else.
(chapter 14), he thought, Joo Jaekyung would warn him again, like in this scene.
(chapter 12) Because of his unpredictable behavior, the champion must appear in the physical therapist’s eyes as a powerful but uncontrollable teenager. Nevertheless, in episode 15, Kim Dan made another huge discovery:
(chapter 15) By watching the champion’s victory live, he was forced to admit that the man is more than just a spoiled and immature child. HE is above all a celebrity, someone people admire. He is a serious athlete. (chapter 15) In this scene, he is reminding of reality. While many readers thought that Kim Dan was falling in love with Joo Jaekyung due to the heartbeat and his facial expression,
(chapter 15) I come to a different interpretation. Kim Dan is simply realizing that he is standing in front of his idol. There’s no doubt that he has always admired the man, since he watched his fight on his cellphone. Then he idolized his body and his attitude during the training. For me, Kim Dan was reacting like a stan in front of his idol!! That’s the reason why Mingwa drew such a panel.
(chapter 15) This implies that Kim Dan is now taking his job seriously and as such the athlete’s jinx. We could say that as his “stan”, he desires to work properly, as his doctor and sex partner. Under this new approach, it becomes comprehensible, while at the end, the doctor made the following request to Joo Jaekyung:
(chapter 14) As you can see, only the doctor could bring him back to reality. Hence we could say that the physical therapist had become a surrogate of Randy Booker. That’s the reason why Joo Jaekyung never hugs and embraces his “lovers”. He is fighting in bed, they replace the “fighters. But why was he so upset in the end? For me, it is related to the rival’s words.
(chapter 9)
(chapter 10) He acts, as if he was the mature one next to the doctor. He gives him advices
(chapter 13) and makes some reproach.
(chapter 11) In episode 15, he even seems to be all-knowing.
(chapter 13) and met “lovers” in club, which is something secretive and private. Therefore the manhwaphiles can comprehend why the athlete is hiding his homosexuality in the end. He fears rejection, a sign of abandonment issues, hence it explicates the origins of his rage and violence. He doesn’t desire to be reminded of his own past. Therefore it is not surprising that he couldn’t forget Randy Booker’s insults (the spit in chapter 14) and retaliated the same way after his victory.
(chapter 14) by the tears and the shaking voice from the physical therapist.
(chapter 5) He learned what love is and how to display affection. He might have not kissed a woman before, but he knows sensuality
(chapter 15) He still viewed this sex session like a battle, that’s the reason why he observed the partner’s facial reaction.
(chapter 15) He truly enjoyed seeing Kim Dan’s blushing and ecstasy 


(chapter 98), although he was wearing clothes similar to the learned sir’s. What caught my attention is the expression Yoon Seungho employed: “pretending”. With such an idiom, he was implying that the servant had not only violated social norms, but also he had been acting. As you can sense, these two situations have one common denominator: playing a role and the clothes served as a disguise. It was, as if both victims of a murder had been playing in a theater play. This explicates why in the fanart, the author is portraying Baek Na-Kyum and Yoon Seungho as actors who are working in a sageuk.
And this made me think of the famous poem from Shakespeare who describes life as a stage, where a person plays different roles all along his life: an infant, a school boy, a lover, a soldier, etc., until he dies, which is symbolized by an eternal sleep.
(chapter 98) Why? From my point of view, they were trying to scare the main lead, to remind him that he could never replace Jung In-Hun in the painter’s heart, to shake his belief. But the problem is that the schemers had missed the right timing, for the artist had already confessed his love for Yoon Seungho and this twice. Therefore the latter couldn’t doubt his lover’s words, and mistake it for an illusion. As a conclusion, the clothes were used tools to trick the couple, they had become costumes!! However, because the author is using karma as poetic justice, this signifies that the hanboks and shirts can serve as a clue to perceive the truth too. The ones who tried to deceive the protagonists with clothes and words, should be fooled by their own manipulations.
were different from the head-maid and her colleague?
(chapter 98) What was the painter wearing on his way to the bedchamber? White pants with his Mountbatten pink jacket. But how did he show up at the learned sir’s home?
(chapter 98) He was dressed differently. 😮 He had changed his pants, put on his scarf and hat. But when he went to the lord’s study, he was not carrying them!! How do we explain the difference? The answer is quite simple. He had returned to his room in order to fetch his clothes. And since Baek Na-Kyum took the lord’s clothes, this signifies that he had the intention to return to the domain. The readers will certainly recall the artist’s behavior, when he had threatened the main lead to leave Yoon Seungho. He had switched his clothes, and put on his old clothes.
(chapter 98) Thus if the lord had gone to the study, he would had realized that the painter had not deserted the propriety, for he had not taken his belongings with him. The hat and scarf were signalizing that Baek Na-Kyum considered himself as a member of the Yoons‘ household.
(rule 3) If only Yoon Seungho had left a word… The servants served as his messenger. Hence I am convinced that Baek Na-Kyum must have talked to the maids and told them where he was going!! He copied his lover, yet contrary to him, he must have given a precise information. (Rule 5) This means that he had informed the staff about his departure!! Moreover, in chapter 98, the maids acted, as if they had not detected the painter’s presence while badmouthing Yoon Seungho.
(chapter 98) Hence they were portrayed without eyes and with a drop of sweat on their face, a sign for deception. So the negative reflection would be that Baek Na-Kyum had informed the maids, and he had gone to the kitchen for that reason. From my point of view, when he met them, he was already wearing his hat and scarf. To sum up, the artist had never left the maids in the dark. And the clothes are the evidence of the staff’s lie.
(chapter 100) And now observe that after Lee Jihwa’s departure, the artist’s clothes except the white shirt vanished too.
(chapter 102) Where did they go? The readers saw Black Heart leaving the building, but we should question this: WHY? He never went there to fetch lord Shin, since he abandoned him outside. We all imagined that he left the room empty-handed. But it is true? Now, I don‘t think so. He had to get rid of the clothes in order to mislead the main lead!! A new version of chapter 61
and
(chapter 101) Because the readers could detect the presence of a shadow in episode 102
, I am now envisioning that Min was not alone outside during that night. In fact, someone had misled Black Heart telling him that lord Jihwa had ran away. However, the unconscious lord Shin should have made him think that Lee Jihwa had fought back… Hence he had not fled, rather betrayed them. Moreover, he was not looking at the direction of the entrance and gate. In fact, he was turning his gaze in the direction to the shrine.
(chapter 102) Since he had informed Yoon Seungho through the maids about his whereabouts, Baek Na-Kyum was expecting that he would come to his side. I would like the manhwalovers to keep in their mind that the artist was not conscious, when he moved to the shaman’s house. So in his mind, he was not far away from the learned sir’s house. Finally, since he had informed the maids, he could anticipate that the lord wouldn’t get mad at him, and wouldn‘t imagine that he had abandoned him
(chapter 101) He trusted his lover’s heart in the end. That’s the reason why Black Heart’s superficial promise had no effect on Baek Na-Kyum. The latter truly believed that Yoon Seungho had been informed. But how could they play such a trick on the couple?
This is an indication of their involvement, though we need to discern the head-maid from the women in chapter 98. That’s the reason why the moment the maid appears, observe her clothes and try to discern her identity. Is this the head-maid or one maid from season 3? The preview displayed the arrival of the doctor. 
(chapter 103)
The form of the beard is also similar. But now, I have another evidence that this doctor from season 4 is not the physician from season 2!!!
(chapter 63) The shoes are also different! That’s the reason why in the trailer, the beholders are seeing the physician’s shoes!!
He doesn’t possess mituri like the other. Moreover, he is wearing a hanbok under his apron
, while the other is dressed more like a commoner, a shirt with pants. And note that in chapter 33, we had the following combination: Min’s party, the visit of the doctor, Baek Na-Kyum’s illness, the maids and Yoon Seungho who “ran away” after his mistake. (rule 1 and 4)
(chapter 33) And what had Kim done during his examination? He had not only threatened the physician
(chapter 33) However, here the butler had simply lied to hide his own wrongdoings: his passivity and silence. And note the doctor’s words addressed to the “beholder”:
(chapter 57) The latter was introduced to Yoon Chang-Hyeon through the butler. The protagonist must have had a doctor in the past. Can you imagine a life without a doctor for 13 years? And this assumption was proven correct after the release. But let’s return our attention to the physician from season 4.
(chapter 33) (rule 1-2-3) But why would he do such a thing? Simply, because he had been helping Min. He needed the protection of a powerful lord, since Kim had abused his position by threatening him. After seeing the new pictures from chapter 103, I had this sudden revelation. What did Min do after getting beaten by Yoon Seungho?
(chapter 54) He certainly didn’t let his wounds untreated. Thus the next morning his face
(chapter 56) looked much better. He had no swelling and the redness was already vanishing. From my point of view, he asked for the doctor’s assistance and that’s how the both came to an understanding. But since Min is now dead, the physician could get into trouble, for he helped the lord and now he is dead. But why am I so sure that the physician is about to run away? Look at all these images:
(chapter 44)
(chapter 44)
(chapter 45)
(chapter 100)
They are all carrying the white bag on their back… and they are about to depart! Kim wished to leave the propriety with his master under the pretense that he was bringing misfortune to the painter. All this proves that the doctor is far from being innocent. Hence he wishes to run away. However, if he does this, this means that he exits the “play”. So he could die. Moreover, how did he know that the lord would return to the mansion with the wounded painter? I can not answer to this question with certainty. However, I would like to point out that since Min talked to someone in the shadow, it is very likely that this person had long planned Black Heart and his friend’s demise. Nonetheless, the schemers had not foreseen two three elements:
(chapter 61) [For more read the essay “No matter what… Baek Na-Kyum must vanish”]
(chapter 59) Lord Jang had disguised himself as Black Heart’s friend, the hanboks looked very similar.
(chapter 99)
(chapter 59) The schemers mistook him for the noble with the mole.
(chapter 61), for the colors grey-white off are only seen at the Lee’s.
(chapter 9)
(chapter 18, Lee Jihwa’s spy)
(chapter 41)
(chapter 50)
(chapter 100) And now compare these servants to the staff from chapter 97:
(chapter 33) Yet, the painter survived, hence the doctor has every reason to run away. His complicity could come to light… on the other hand, the moment he leaves Yoon Seungho’s side, he is no longer protected. The reason is simple. He owns a part of the truth, and what the schemers are attempting to do is the exact opposite: burying the truth so that their act is not discovered. And now who participated in this huge “drama”? The list of the suspects is quite long… Father Lee
(chapter 82), lord Yoon Chang-Hyeon
(chapter 86), the other physician
(chapter 74), “lord Song”
(chapter 37) There is no doubt that a tailor was involved, for he had to create similar clothes, the costumes …
(chapter 13) How is it possible? Did he get hurt by his competitor Randy Booker?
, a city located in the southeast of the country. It is 4 or 5 hours away from Seoul! This means that the team has to travel to go there. If the match had already started, it would be impossible for the doctor to assist the young athlete. Thus I conclude that on their way there or once there, Joo Jaekyung performed poorly while warming up or showed signs of anxieties. To conclude, the fighter’s bad shape is not physical, but mental. The other boxer even noticed the protagonist’s nervousness before his departure.
(chapter 13) But why is Joo Jaekyung so vulnerable right now? In order to answer this question, it is necessary to go back to Kim Dan’s bad shape.
(chapter 12), the moment he removed the doctor’s clothes. He could see with his own eyes that he had been beaten.
(chapter 13) Notice that when the doctor examined the protagonist, he was already naked. So imagine how Joo Jaekyung must have felt, when he realized that his physician had been a victim of violence. Shock and disbelief, for he had not noticed it before. He had simply trusted the doctor’s words, a fall due to his drunkenness. “Why did he lie about this? How could this happen and why?” This is what the champion must have thought immediately. From my point of view, Joo Jaekyung tried to find a reason for this incident while waiting for his friend who is a doctor. And since Kim Dan had voiced the urge for an advance due to his move
(chapter 11), the young man must have jumped to the wrong conclusion that the doctor had been a victim of a robbery. Let’s not forget that Joo Jaekyung had already visited the poor neighborhood, so in his mind, the perpetrators must have assaulted the doctor in his home and forced him to give them his whole salary. Anyone could enter his shady home, like during the night he had brought the doctor to his apartment.
(chapter 10) He had simply opened the door without utilizing a passcode or key. Because the neighborhood is deserted, Kim Dan couldn’t ask for help… and he could have been attacked in his sleep either. Joo Jaekyung could finally envision how the young man would be left with no money in such a short time after getting assaulted.
(chapter 13) After their argument, he had no longer brought up Kim Dan’s stay. Finally, he is connecting the money to the move, revealing that he had not forgotten the reason for the doctor’s request. In my eyes, he thinks that the moment Kim Dan leaves the deserted district, the problem will be solved. Moreover, such a conclusion can help him to grasp why Kim Dan lied about the origins of his wounds. He felt ashamed, for he had not been able to defend himself. Let’s not forget that the champion has the habit to project his own mind-set onto Kim Dan. And that’s how Joo Jaekyung would feel, if he had been defeated. Shame, for he is a proud fighter! Besides, they had argued about his home and its bad shape. Revealing the truth would have confirmed that the fighter’s reproach from chapter 10 was true.
(chapter 12) Hence I deduce that the champion learned the following lesson from that night. He could no longer trust his own body and judgement. He had sensed that the young man had felt pleasure,
(chapter 12), but with this discovery and the doctor’s statement, Joo Jaekyung came to believe that he had been wrong all along. He had been able to outlive a dream, but now he was paying the price for this short intense sex session. Exactly like I had predicted… Karma.
(chapter 13) He was voicing a certain envy. This remark had a positive effect on Joo Jaekyung as well. For the first time, he started paying more attention to his visage.
(chapter 13) The doctor’s question could only make the boxer more possessive. Thus after his friend’s departure, he kept looking at the sleeping man.
(chapter 13) And now, you have the explanation why Joo Jaekyung is not able to move on and find a replacement. He is slowly realizing that he is not just interested in his body… he is also falling for his face. Thus he called him later “Sleeping beauty”.
(chapter 13)
(chapter 13) This truly exposes that the champion is more and more changing. He is learning to become more considerate towards others, especially towards his sex partner. When he noticed the physician’s hesitation, he asked if he wanted to eat something else.
(chapter 13) This attitude represented the epitome of the fighter’s selflessness in that scene. Even the doctor noticed the care from the champion. He had cooked a meal for him. What the fighter didn’t realize is that he was fulfilling Kim Dan’s dream,
(chapter 13), a home-cooked meal. This is important, because this exposes the boxer’s good will and selflessness. Since he is so rich, he could have ordered a meal from a restaurant… but he chose not to. Why? It is because of the doctor’s comment.
(chapter 13) Since the boxer had seen Kim Dan at the restaurant with the others, he must have jumped to the conclusion that his malnutrition was the result of eating at restaurants. 😂 I doubt that he knows ramyeon, for he comes from a different world. Moreover, don’t forget that Joo Jaekyung usually doesn’t go to the gatherings,
(chapter 9), so he has no idea what people are eating there. This reaction was exposing his innocence.
(chapter 13) To conclude, the fighter cooked for him, for he had the impression that the meals from the restaurant are not good enough. They can lead to malnutrition which is not wrong either. His behavior displays the champion’s determination to give him a balanced meal. As the manhwalovers can detect, Joo Jaekyung followed the chingu’s recommendations to the letter. He let the doctor rest to his heart’s content, and after his awakening, he offered a balanced hot home-made meal. This exposes that the athlete is not simply a spoiled and stubborn brat, he listens well to his “hyungs”. Furthermore, the chingu could admonish the young athlete,
(chapter 13) without getting punched right away or threatened. The latter only got upset, when he actually received a well-meant advice: the kiss and embraces.
(chapter 13) Their interaction exposed a certain closeness and respect between them.
(chapter 13) Yet, it is important to keep in mind that the champion’s offer was coupled to his jinx.
(chapter 2) And now compare both statements. You will detect the divergence. Joo Jaekyung’s jinx is not just connected to intercourse, but also he needs to feel pleasure and even procure pleasure!
(chapter 13) That’s why only one condom from two had been used. The champion had restrained himself. Secondly, he had been careful and less rough, for he “feared” a negative reaction from Kim Dan. The latter had less backache at the end. That’s the reason why I deduce that they didn’t talk during this sex session either. As the manhwaphiles can sense, this sex session contrasts so much to the last one with the toy!
(chapter 13), for he feared for the physician’s conditions. Yet, he wished to keep him by his side. At the same time, we shouldn’t overlook Kim Dan’s inexperience which led to his passivity.
… hence he couldn’t feel pleasure. Thus he sensed that his jinx would come true. That’s the reason for his bad shape. As you can see, I believe that during the last session, Joo Jaekyung was plagued by many thoughts and worries.
(chapter 13) His face and eyes would have betrayed him. He had not been able to have a satisfying sex. But he couldn’t expose his true thoughts and emotions. Therefore the champion’s real bad shape is not physical, rather mental. This exposes that Joo Jaekyung’s true weakness is not his body, but his mind contrary to Kim Dan. As a sportsman, Joo Jaekyung needs to possess a strong mental health, but since he is hiding his “jinx” from his coach, this signifies that he is hiding his true mental state from his manager. In other words, what Joo Jaekyung requires now is not a physical therapist, but a doctor for his mental health.
(chapter 13) His jinx is exposing his true mind-set, he is not confident enough. His success is based on fears and superstitions. A true champion would never doubt his talent and confidence. The goal of mental conditioning is to improve performance in sport by improving mental skills such as focusing, confidence and intensity. From my point of view, Joo Jaekyung is not possessing mental toughness.
(chapter 13) Besides, remember my previous observation: the protagonist was presented as the “reward and trophy” for the champion in this image:
(chapter 1) Finally, do you think that it is a coincidence that the rival Booker stuck out his tongue while mocking the Korean athlete?
(chapter 07) He got jealous! As you can see, the doctor’s presence next to the ring can have a huge impact on the fighter. It motivates him, for he is able to feel many emotions: jealousy, anger, frustration…
(chapter 05) That’s how he turns into a killing machine. But for that, Kim Dan needs to take the champion’s jinx seriously
(chapter 7) Secondly, he has to recognize his own true value. He has already become precious to Joo Jaekyung. But maybe he will remember his home-cooked meal… From my point of view, Kim Dan has to take the initiative to motivate his lover so that the latter can regain his confidence and face the challenge from Ranger Booker. Therefore I conclude that from that moment on, the coach and the fighter himself will come to the conclusion that Kim Dan’s presence is a necessity for the athlete’s performance. Hence Kim Dan will appear on TV at some point. 
(chapter 12) He even felt pleasure, thus he didn’t pay attention to the bruise on the doctor’s back. (chapter 12) Due to his lack of sensibility, roughness and selfishness, people are already on the verge of dropping this story. Even the young doctor thought, that guy was crazy.
(chapter 12) No average person would behave that way. Thus he was already stigmatized as lunatic and as such as psychopath. Hence in the first part, I will answer to this question.
(Doctor Frost, chapter 175) And this stands in opposition to the code of conduct of a psychologist. The word psychopath causes so many negative emotions like fears, rejection and hatred. On the other hand, the psychologist’s role is not only to detect the source of the problem, but also to offer a solution. This means that he is not allowed to let emotions cloud his judgement.
(chapter 216) Moreover, the doctor has to show a certain understanding and empathy to the patient in front of him. And now, you are wondering why I am mentioning Doctor Frost again. It is because the protagonist was himself diagnosed as suffering from ASPD!! This diagnosis scared his parents so much that at the end, they started avoiding their own son. He was sent to a psychiatry. However, his doctor still believed that he had a chance to change. Thus he proposed a way to the young boy how to overcome his handicap!! He should study psychology so that he would come to “understand” the human mind. Because he was not capable to feel “emotions” like the others, he should utilize his mind to grasp them. Hence the more he studied the human mind, the more he was able to “understand” their problems. At the same time, the more he interacted with humans, the more he came to learn how to behave like a normal person. As you can see, “psychopath” is not even a death sentence. There’s still hope.
(chapter 12) and keeps an eye on the doctor constantly. His plan to “have” Kim Dan was poorly planned, for he kept waiting for a sign from him. At no moment, he even thought that the doctor could block him or keep his distance from him.
(chapter 5) He doesn’t ooze charisma or superficial charm, for he never hides his strength and power.
(chapter 1) He even shows disdain, or strong emotions like rage and annoyance.
(chapter 11) This means that the athlete had never been able to use it before with his other sex partners.
(chapter 12), which the main lead had detected either! (chapter 12) This exposes that during that night, the champion was paying more attention to his partner’s reactions contrary to the first night. He even asked him about his feelings
(chapter 12), but the doctor refused to admit it. I consider it as an improvement to the first encounter! Besides, he even let the doctor rest after the first round, which he had not done during the first night.
(chapter 12) How do we explain the discrepancy? It is because deep down, the seme always had the impression that they were more interested in his wealth and fame than in himself. He never trusted them, he believed them to be hypocrites who would offer him presents in exchange for a favor. And now, you have another explanation why Joo Jaekyung is already obsessed with Kim Dan. Their relationship is based on “honesty”. The champion knows that the young physician is only sleeping with him due to his money. But if the doctor came to admit his pleasure right away, the athlete would have the impression that his skills in bed are quite impressive. That’s the reason why when the uke confessed that he hated it
(chapter 12) In his mind, he needs to do more so that the young man admits pleasure. However, this relationship is actually based on a lie. Kim Dan deceived his partner by telling him that he was experienced!! This is important, because each objection from the doctor is perceived as a personal rejection. (chapter 12) He wants money and offers his body for sex… yet each time Joo Jaekyung wants to do something, he refuses or makes a remark. That’s the reason why the athlete has to bring up the added condition. Besides, the athlete believes that the young man has always “had sex” for money, therefore he needs to distinguish himself from others. Technically, the doctor could go elsewhere… That’s how Joo Jaekyung thinks! To conclude, I believe that the champion sees the young doctor as a challenge. And as long as the physician doesn’t rectify this lie, the champion will keep misunderstanding the situation. This exposes Joo Jaekyung’s innocence and simplemindedness. He is not able to detect lies or manipulations from Kim Dan validating my diagnosis that he is not suffering from ASPD. For him, the bruises are from a fall, because he trusts his words. That’s the end of the explanation.
he (chapter 12) Striking is that here he was actually projecting his own thoughts onto the athlete. This displays his incapability to perceive people correctly. He is lacking social skills. Some manhwaphiles criticized the author for such a drawing! The phallus was much too big, this could not be not normal at all. But you have to think that Mingwa drew it from Kim Dan’s perspective. That’s the reason why the poor doctor associated it to a weapon. (chapter 12) That’s how he felt: it was so huge… This childish behavior also explains why he didn’t see the danger of such a sex session with a sick person. And according to my research about Traumatic Brain Injury, it is not abnormal that a patient suffering from TBI starts acting like a teenager or a child. 
(doctor frost, chapter 8) There is no trace of his family. Why? This is a sign that he is not close to them. Secondly, I couldn’t help myself thinking of the importance of the parents. The latter serve as a mirror to the child,
(doctor Frost, chapter 8)
(Doctor frost, chapter 8) This would explain on the one hand Joo Jaekyung’s self-centerness and his desire to obtain fame and recognition. He is compensating the lack of love and sympathy from his relatives. And just because he is “swimming” in money, we shouldn’t judge to the conclusion that he had a happy childhood either. The only adults and role models he has so far are his manager and coach Jeong Yosep.
(chapter 5) And note that he listens to them, indicating that he is trusting them a lot. That’s the reason why I am even now envisioning that the main lead could have been neglected by his wealthy family.
(chapter 1) The champion confides to him certain secrets and lets him clean up the mess. However, since the coach likes Kim Dan very much, Joo Jaekyung will receive a huge scolding from his surrogate father. And before closing this analysis, I would like to add two important aspects: Kim Dan’s role is to teach Joo Jaekyung to become responsible and as such to act as a real adult. Thus he received this task from his manager:
(chapter 9) He needs to recognize that masculinity and manhood shouldn’t be reduced to sex, but to maturity. Secondly, since he associates strength with health, I believe that the halmoni’s sickness will open his eyes. She might be ill and weak, she can still speak up and tell her mind without fear! Finally, since the champion is bothered by the doctor’s lack of stamina, I have the impression that he could decide to train Kim Dan! He shouldn’t just stand there, but also develop his muscles. Like I have already mentioned before, sports will be the reason why the two protagonists will get closer! As a conclusion, the protagonist is not evil in my eyes, he is just an uneducated child who definitely needs some good scolding. 
(Chapter 11) The position of his head and body was mirroring his emotional and mental state. And this contrasts so much to the end of the chapter. Not only he was on his knees, but also he was looking down.
(Chapter 11) Remember that he had done it twice and this in a such a short time.
(chapter 1) This signifies that with such a salary, he could put an end to this vicious circle, the snowballing interest. That’s the reason why he had become so hopeful. It was, as if he could finally breathe, and a huge burden had been taken from his shoulder. This shows that so far, he had lived from day to day. He had been on survival modus. All his thoughts were focused on earning money. However, his “dream” to end this terrible servitude to the loan sharks was linked to his contract with the famous sportsman.
(chapter 11) which was also a form of servitude. Consequently, it is not surprising that he viewed his relationship with Joo Jaekyung not in a good light.
(Chapter 11) Secondly, this exposes that he had never paid attention to his house. There was mold, for he hadn’t ventilated and heat the room enough.
(Chapter 10) He had not the time, the money and the energy to do so. As you can see, he never realized that he had other problems than money.
(Chapter 11) On the one hand, this promise exposes the sentimental value of his home, on the other hand this statement shows that he had lied to his grandmother. The redevelopment had been planned for quite some time, but Kim Dan must have never mentioned it to her. Why? It is because he didn’t want to make his relative worry. At the hospital, the manhwalovers could detect all his lies. He never mentioned his firing from the hospital to his grandmother. Secondly, he embellished his new job. Finally, when he exposed his discomfort,
(chapter 7) he gave just a false excuse. As you can see, Kim Dan had long started hiding everything from his grandmother: his job situation, his physical conditions and the redevelopment. Moreover, if he had revealed his forced relocation, he would have felt terrible. He was breaking his promise to his grandmother. To conclude, he had made a promise to his halmoni which he could never keep. It was simply impossible, but he preferred occulting it, for her health was more important than anything else. This displays that he had been caught in an illusion. The irony is that despite the harshness of his life, he was still living in a “dream”. How could he expect his old relative to live in such conditions after suffering so much from cancer? For me, there is no ambiguity that the protagonist has long connected the loss of his home to the vanishing of his halmoni. He seems to be living in the past, remembering the good aspects of his childhood.
(Chapter 12) And this leads me to the following observation: the causes of his syncope. Exhaustion, the constant stress, dehydration and low blood sugar. Note that before the last sex session, he only drank wine.
(chapter 12) The manhwalovers never saw him eating. But this doesn’t end here. Since he was plagued with financial problems, he had to live frugally. Thus he came to neglect his own health. This is no coincidence that the readers saw him drinking an energy drink
(chapter 1) and eat ramyeon
(chapter 1). He would even skip his meals.
(chapter 5) For me, he internalized from his grandmother how to save money. There is no doubt that in his childhood, she could never eat to her heart’s content, which he noticed and now he is copying her. Thus he learned to live gradually with an empty stomach. Besides, I believe that his nutrition was never balanced. Since the sweet bread was perceived as a luxury
(chapter 11), I deduce that his guardian couldn’t afford meat either. This explains why Kim Dan didn’t grab the food immediately.
(chapter 11) He didn’t feel hungry despite working hard. In other words, he has a small stomach. And now, you have the explanation why Kim Dan is so weak.
(chapter 5) thus she treats Kim Dan as a child. This explicates why she kept the yoghurts for him. Yet, what the young man needs right now, is no sweet, rather a good healthy meal. This scene exposes that she is also feeling sentimental about their common past… and now, you comprehend why the physician chose to hide the redevelopment from his grandmother. But the more a person buries the struggles and worries, the more dangerous it is, when the truth is exposed. It can literally explode and wound the person who was supposed to be protected. Don’t get me wrong. I am not blaming the grandmother for her behavior, her attitude is quite normal. She has long internalized to protect her grandchild, that she can’t change her behavior. Besides, that’s her way to cope with her illness. Since she can die due to cancer, she fears the future. Hence her only way to keep living is to focus on the past and her good memories with Kim Dan. These precious memories serve as a source of strength for her not to give up. And now, the manhwaphiles can grasp why the main lead was dwelling so much on the past as well.
(chapter 1) This shows his naivety. In reality, the loan sharks are parasites. Their intention is not to help a borrower, but to turn them into slaves. Yes, this is a modern form of slavery. The moment a debtor takes a loan, he can never fulfil the contract so that he becomes a slave. Hence the interests keep increasing, like the doctor noticed it: a snow ball system. Though the borrower had paid the money right on time, the loan sharks were still waiting in front of his house for one reason. To ensure that he wouldn’t be able to escape from their claws.
(chapter 1) Their violence was never justified in the end. Nevertheless, since the physician forgot this incident, he somehow dreamed that when he paid a huge amount so suddenly, the loan sharks would leave him alone.
(chapter 10) Nonetheless, the opposite happened, for the doctor had not grasped their mentality. To sum up, Kim Dan had made a huge mistake. He never thought that these three men would consider him as their slave. Thanks to money they can live a carefree life. The “snowballing interests” is their revenue. To conclude, the scene in the bus exposed the doctor’s innocence and illusion. In fact, the home is the reason why he could get beaten. The loan sharks knew where to find him. However, since the young doctor had paid on time, they needed to find a new justification for their brutality.
(chapter 11) Kim Dan must have done something illegal. That way, they appear as “righteous citizens”, while in reality the thug was actually pissed off for a different reason: “I … hate it” (that) you could pay a huge amount of the interests”. His success symbolized the opposite for them, a reduction of income. Moreover, the man feared that the young man could actually pay back the loan with the interests. This is perceptible, when he argues with the main lead.
(chapter 11) If this happened, they could no longer earn money without working properly. And now, you can grasp why these three cowards attacked the pure physician so cruelly and brutally. Not only they vented their anger on Kim Dan, but also they desired to demonstrate their power and superiority. This bloodshed was purely gratuitous and even entertaining for them.
(chapter 11) As the manhwaphiles can understand, the loan sharks embody the opposite values of Joo Jaekyung. The latter is earning his money through fair fighting, but it is not at the expense of people. Even his counterpart is earning a living. Finally, these fights are following rules, while the loan sharks are changing the rules constantly.
(chapter 11) In addition, the readers can detect the loan sharks’ hypocrisy when one of these men said this: “Danny boy! You had it in you all along! Shoulda tried a little harder a little sooner!” These thugs need to know where he lives so that they can barge in his life, and even ruin his career. Their goal is to maintain him enchained to them. And they could even deceive the grandmother, for she was left in the dark about the redevelopment. 😨 Thus she could jump to the false conclusions that Kim Dan is paying her treatment with the money from the loan sharks.
(chapter 7) To sum up, the main lead made a huge mistake with his well-intended deceptions, though he was trying to protect his loved one. For me, the main lead should have never lied to his halmoni. The latter will blame herself for her grandchild’s situation. The debts are the result from a bad decision, when the young main figure was a child, and now she is sick. So she could think like this: “I … hate it, my grandchild has to suffer because of me”.
(chapter 12) This exposes Kim Dan’s true thoughts. He doesn’t truly hate sex with him, he rather fears his punch and fist. But why? It is because he has always watched his matches
(chapter 1) and he saw his training too
(chapter 7) He knows his strength and power. It displays that Kim Dan has long admired the celebrity for his force. On the other hand, he witnessed twice how the young man wounded people, creating the image that Joo Jaekyung was a common brute. However, it simply exposed that Joo Jaekyung had not learned to restrain or control his force. He has long internalized how to employ his strength to the maximum. Secondly, despite the roughness, Kim never viewed the fighter as a sadist. However, Kim Dan is still refusing to admit pleasure with Joo Jaekyung.
(chapter 12) This is important, because it shows that Kim Dan has never learned how to stop worrying and even enjoy life. Due to sex, he is putting everything behind: the loss of his home, the beating from the loan sharks, the halmoni’s illness. All his life, he was struggling, hence he had not the time to fall in love or to develop an interest in sex. He never had the time and occasion to ponder about his own sexual orientation either, yet there is no doubt that he felt attracted to the fighter. This could be perceived during the first massage. That’s the reason why I believe that when he confessed this to Joo Jaekyung:
(chapter 12) Why? It is because the champion is keeping his words. Besides, the young man is not expecting anything from him except money.
(chapter 12) That’s how he has lived so far. He doesn’t like to be pitied. Moreover, he let him sleep in a bed. Finally, he woke him up, when he desired to leave for work.
(chapter 12) His hope got shattered too. 😉 Thus he was so bothered the next morning that he couldn’t hide his disappointment.
(chapter 12) And that’s how his malnutrition, his bruises, his exhaustion and dehydration could come to the surface. Because the main lead made the mistake to give alcohol to the physician, he will regret his decision. Thus he can only come to the conclusion that in the future, he should never offer him any drink. He could even request from him abstinence, and this would even help the champion to hide his own weakness. He doesn’t drink either. Moreover, the champion could force his partner to drink
(chapter 4) and eat on a regular basis healthy meals, and train his body. I am more than ever convinced that Joo Jaekyung’s role is to take care of the young physician who has always sacrificed himself for his grandmother. The latter can not fulfil this function. As a conclusion, Joo Jaekyung has already experienced that money can not solve everything. If he wishes to keep his jinx away thanks to the doctor, he has to pay attention to his physical condition. This is all the more relevant if he wishes to have many rounds during the night. 😉These are the lessons he is about to learn. 
He is on the ground, his face bruised and bloody, while he is asking an anonymous man for help. He is mentioning the shrine. As he is wearing the same hanbok, we can definitely assume that this scene takes place during the same night. The irony is that each time Byeonduck offers a new piece of a puzzle, she also creates a new riddle or mystery. How did the young master get wounded in the first place? And who is the person facing lord Shin?
(Chapter 59)
(chapter 66) The size and length of the protections and the cords around the pants were different. Besides, the masks were also different due to the form of the mouth..
(Chapter 61)
(chapter 61) Finally, I had also detected his presence next to the barn because of a time jump. First, the manhwaphiles saw Lee Jihwa sitting on the floor,
(Chapter 60), then shortly after he was standing at the entrance of the storage room holding a fireplace poker!
(chapter 60) His position indicated that the young master had shortly left the building. However, the readers had not witnessed his move, for the author had diverted their attention by exposing the character‘s inner thoughts. He was recollecting the past, while talking to himself.
(chapter 60) However, how did the fire poker end up in his own hand? The last time this tool was seen, it was in the kitchen.
(chapter 60) As you can see, each image has its importance! However, I doubt that the upset aristocrat had this sudden idea and returned to the kitchen and take the fire iron. His mind and heart were definitely elsewhere, while such an action exposes the intention of hurting someone. Jihwa was acting, as if he was in trance, the moment he saw the hickey and heard the painter’s scream. His long lasting stupor was visible in this image.
(chapter 60) That’s the reason why I had developed the theory that someone was hiding in the shadow, next to the barn and observing the evolution of the event. [For more read the essay “
(chapter 57) It is because they serve as a clue for unveiling the truth.
(chapter 62) It is the same furnace! 😨We all assume that the lord prepared the fireplace, because he put his clothes on his lover. But is it true? We were all jumping to this conclusion, but actually we never saw it. Our brain was led to fill the blanks.
(chapter 61) Finally, the readers were all assuming that the butler had never entered the storage room due to this image and his action before.
(chapter 61) But is it true? He could have opened the door before, and go to the lord in order to explain his intervention. Faking his concerns for the painter. Why would he place the fireplace there? He wished that the warmth from the fire would wake up the painter. Hence he remained close to the gate of the storage room. That way, he had a reason to visit his master. Moreover, the author exposed that the valet had been keeping an eye on his master for a while too.
(chapter 62) Because the valet went to his master, we got the impression that the valet had followed his master’s instructions.
(chapter 61) In fact, this request could be perceived differently. The lord had seen the butler’s intervention, hence he expressed this wish. From my point of view, the butler must have brought the fireplace to the barn, and he left the poker there on purpose. I am quite certain that some people will think that I am again exaggerating. But why did the butler put a fireplace with a fire iron in the lord’s room, when the coal was not properly lit?
(chapter 86) Compare the fire to this one:
(chapter 88) Consequently, I am suspecting that Kim had expected an outburst from Yoon Seungho. The latter could hurt his father with the fire iron. But none of this happened, for the lord preferred playing a comedy.
(chapter 65) He had expected that the lord would hurt the main lead. But how was he supposed to harm Baek Na-Kyum in the end? With the fire iron… This signifies that he had been present in the barn during the abduction, and even knew the place of the sequestration. Thus he took the furnace and the fire iron to the shed.
Compare his face to the painter’s who got wounded by wooden sticks.
(chapter 99) Besides, this theory also explains why the shrine is set on fire.
(chapter 103) The fire iron is connected to a stove. Finally, I would like to outline the absence of the furnace in the shrine, though it was very cold outside.
(chapter 99) So when the lord said this to his lover
(chapter 88), we could interpret it the following way. It was once again a vision from the future, he was seeing from lord Shin’s perspective the betrayal.
(chapter 60)
(chapter 60) At no moment, he was told that his childhood friend had been brought to the physician’s. He just heard him leaving. Moreover, the joker never mentioned the place where the couple was fooling around.
(chapter 60) He didn’t even admit that he had seen them himself. These were memories from someone else! One might assume that these could represent the criminal’s recollection, but I don’t think so. He arrived much later to the physician’s house. If he had been present right from the start, he could have kidnapped Baek Na-Kyum on his way to the restroom.
(chapter 43) Here, he had visited the place, hence he could imagine what had happened, though he never saw their encounter according to me. [For more read the essay “
(chapter 58) He had left the bucket of water in the patio! But note that when the painter left the room, the item had simply vanished.
(chapter 59) The painter was not supposed to detect his presence.
(chapter 100) The manhwaworms can grasp the similarities. Back then, the lord had refused to help Baek Na-Kyum, thus he was even encouraging Lee Jihwa to return to the shrine. Hence he had acted as a willing accomplice and perpetrator. Thus his karma is to be denied any assistance, he is punished the same way than his friends, Min and the other nobles. Finally, observe that the red-haired master
(chapter 66)
(chapter 60) hence in episode 102 they had to mask his escape, for this would have exposed the involvement of other people, like Lee Jihwa, the doctor with the drugs and Heena. And now, you have the explanation why the shadow hidden behind the tree had put mattresses on the soil. The desertion and survival from lord Shin should not be detected. But who is this person facing the weak lord?
(chapter 7),
(chapter 65) or boots
(chapter 13)
(chapter 77) As you can see, the wooden stocks were present during the first straw mat beating.
(chapter 83) As you can detect, I see a strong connection between the new panel and the hunt from chapter 83. And here we have 3 people again.
(chapter 66) Finally, when her brother was on the verge of getting abducted, she saw him lying unconscious with a bloody face. However, she never considered it as an abduction, for his hands and feet were not tied up.
(chapter 99) and bothered her, could only be perceived as real at the end. But this means that while Yoon Seungho had murdered the nobles, there was someone hiding in the shadow
(chapter 66) However, his new attempt to have the painter vanished failed again.
(chapter 97) It could be the same, though I have my doubts. Secondly, I suddenly got aware that the painter had 3 different grey pants at least.
(chapter 4) This one had a cut just below the knees, though the color is much brighter.
(chapter 84) This is the third one I detected, as the shape of the pants diverge once again. This explicates why Baek Na-Kyum chose to change his clothes before leaving the mansion.
(chapter 97)
(chapter 83) What did the lord see back then? Three shadows, two men wearing a gat and one caught in the middle with a topknot. Since I consider Yoon Seungho as a shaman, I believe that this vision was not only referring to the past and the incident in the shrine. It exposes the immutable truth, the involvement of three people, either. This is no coincidence. Thus imagine one moment that this illusion was referring to lord Shin’s murder. He is about to get murdered because of a new conspiracy. From my point of view, the man is disguising himself. However, I doubt that he is wearing the lord’s boots. The latter could be “couple boots”, just like the lord and the painter had couple hats.
(chapter 91) And note during that day, Baek Na-Kyum was called sir due to his hat and clothes.
(chapter 91) However, if the woman had paid attention to his shoes (mituri), she would have realized that our beloved painter is just a low-born. One might think that I view Kim as the one facing lord Shin.
(chapter 54) But the readers should question themselves this: why did Kim dress like this in the first place? From my point of view, the schemers have already planned to frame Baek Na-Kyum for the murder of the nobles and even of Jung In-Hun. Kim is trying to separate the couple so that the artist can be arrested easily and sentenced immediately. By burning the place, the evidence that Baek Na-Kyum was a victim vanished. That’s how they can manage to turn a victim into a perpetrator. They wanted to erase every trace of the crimes, but then the return of the painter will force them to change their plan. The fire can help them to turn Baek Na-Kyum into a scapegoat. That’s the reason why the anonymous shadow is wearing clothes similar to the painter’s. No one should recognize him. Later, Baek Na-Kyum can be “identified” as the culprit. And any blood trace on his clothes could serve to incriminate the painter. They could use the resemblance of the clothes as a proof for his crime. That’s the reason why lord Shin had to die in the end. And if lord Shin never doubted this person, I am suspecting that the latter is working with the authorities. Kim is not the only suspect, for according to me, there always exist a conspiracy of 3 and even 5 people. This observation leads me to create a list of suspects. First of all, Yoon Seungho’s confession to the learned sir should help us to determine the schemers and culprits.
(chapter 44). A synonym for old bearded men is “elders”. The latter are supposed to serve as role models. That’s the reason why the young man didn’t suspect the man. With his beard, he must have oozed “responsibility” and even “selflessness”. But who are the suspects?
from the bureau investigation is definitely involved. Thus he misled Yoon Seungho. Besides, observe that the officers are connected to fire!
(chapter 94) Secondly, his explanation implied the involvement of a physician.
(chapter 75) Finally, why was the doctor never brought to the mansion again after his last visit in chapter 57? And it looks like he was not there to treat Baek Na-Kyum.
The latter is suffering from PTSD. Thus the painter had a nightmare. Hence I have the impression that the butler’s intervention and suggestion to Yoon Seungho will fail. The lord won’t be able to leave his side. Moreover, I would like the readers to recall that when Baek Na-Kyum got sick, a different physician was fetched.
(chapter 33) Different clothes displays a different identity. From my point of view, the doctor doesn‘t want to be connected to Yoon Seungho. Finally, don‘t you find it weird that he was not by his side in chapter 57? He literally abandoned the young master in the room with the painter
(chapter 57), though the latter was a patient too. He had a wounded wrist. The physician should have controlled Yoon Seungho’s fever, brought him water and even an infusion. His absence and passivity caught my attention. So what was he doing in the kitchen? Finally, the doctor is also connected to the shaman. Not only he mentioned him, but also there is the symbol of shamanism in his kitchen. Why did the gods want our couple to have their first “true” love session at the physician’s office? Somehow, it was to confront him with the truth. Finally, don’t you find it weird how Kim reacted
(chapter 82), when the new version of Deok-Jae made the following suggestion to Kim:
(chapter 82) Hence the doctor is not off the hook, quite the opposite.
(chapter 67), and discovered Lee Jihwa’s sodomy which was supposed to be a secret. The father is well aware that the main lead’s suffering is linked to the young master’s sexual orientation, which the father had always denied. His involvement could be detected, when he allowed one of his servants to be dragged to the gibang.
(chapter 99) Finally, The Joker also heard father Lee’s humiliation and powerlessness.
(chapter 101) Thus the fire could be seen as a desperate measure to cover the Lees’ culpability.