Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is a 2022 Korean fantasy drama which is set in the imaginary world of Daeho. The story revolves around young magicians who are to carry the burden of the past. Starring Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min and Hwang Min-hyun, the show premiered on tvN on Jun 18, 2022. The show will have 20 episodes and it takes over tvN’s Saturday-Sunday 9 PM KST timeslot previously occupied by Our Blues. Alchemy of Souls episode 9 has a runtime 75 of minutes.
Netflix describes the series as:
A POWERFUL SORCERESS IN A BLIND WOMAN’S BODY ENCOUNTERS A MAN FROM A PRESTIGIOUS FAMILY, WHO WANTS HER HELP TO CHANGE HIS DESTINY.
-Alchemy of Souls Episode 9 Recap contains spoilers-
Alchemy of Souls episode 9 starts with Jang Uk taking the pledge of Songrim and finally becoming a mage of Songrim. A happy and pride-filled moment is witnessed by his loved ones and a time that calls for a celebration. Jang Uk soon returns home to bow before the picture of his mother and then later adorns the Songrim uniform. Elsewhere, Jin Mu and the queen Seo Ha-sun discuss why Jang Kang sealed his son even though he was aware of his King Star which could’ve helped him gain more power. It is revealed that Jang Kang had sealed the ice stone after the birth of Jang Uk, and they were the ones who found it again.
Jin Mu then discusses how he got Jin Bou-yeon, the eldest daughter of Jin Ho-kyung to find the ice stone with her divine powers but later died after falling in the water. He then tells Seo Ha-sun that while Jin Ho-kyung is unaware of her daughter’s death, he plans to find a fake to replace her daughter to make use of her. On a boat, a woman who claims to be a friend of Mu-deok arrives in the city. She pretends to be blind and steals the belongings of others, however, the blindfold she uses has the Jin family crest.
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At Chwiseonru, everyone is celebrating but Mu-deok finds a tipsy Seo Yul outside the party who seems to get lost whenever he is not clear-headed. He opens up to Mu-deok about his feelings about going astray but soon stops. Mu-deok asks him what her illusion said to him and he replies that she said she loves him, not wanting to reveal that he knew her true identity. Elsewhere, Park Jin, Heo Yeom and housekeeper Kim Do-ju discuss the matter with Do-hwa. Heo Yeom reprimands Park Jin for not being able to confess to Do-hwa even after he had set everything for him. However, he refutes saying that she should have understood his feelings without him having to say anything, adding that he does not need a love that is so fickle.
Infuriated by his words, Kim Do-ju leaves and Park Jin follows him, while Heo Yeam comments that he is going to be rejected once again. Later, she accidentally drops her shoe in a pond and almost trips while trying to fetch it but is timely saved by master Lee who feels his celibacy seeming to be swayed by Kim Do-ju. However, he concludes the reason to be because he hasn’t consumed his chaste tea for long. At Sejukwon, Heo Yoon-ok has arrived and remembers the events in the inn while regretting not asking Jang Uk his name.
Back at Chwiseonru, the group of teachers and students are enjoying drinks together when Park Dang-gu reveals how Jang Uk once joked about wanting to become Naksu’s pupil. This turns the conversation serious as Park Jin tells Jang Uk that using sorcery is a crime, to which he refutes that he is open to using sorcery if it means saving someone. The serious mood is interrupted by the news that the crown prince is on the way to meet Jang Uk. The crown prince arrives with alcohol and congratulates Jang Uk while wishing him to become a great mage of Daeho, similarly, Jang Uk also wishes for him to become a great leader of the country. While everyone applauds, Park Jin thinks of the two as one being the heir to the throne and the other being a child born on the night of the King’s star.
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At Jinyowon, Jin Ho-kyung’s husband arrives with a blindfolded girl hoping that she is their lost daughter. They go to test this at the doors of the secret room which can only be opened by a member of the Jin family, but when it does not open they are left disappointed. The disappointed Jin Ho-kyung later tells her husband that she will be receiving Jin Mu’s help in finding her daughter. At Chwiseonru, the woman from the boat appears and decides to meet Mu-deok with the reason of returning her blindfold with the Jin family crest in order to live off her for a while.
On the other hand, Mu-deok rushes to the leaving crown prince and praises him for the generosity that he has shown towards Jang Uk. The crown prince tells her that she was the reason for his generosity, but if she interferes in another battle between the two then he will kill her. On the way back to Songrim, Mu-deok is not let entry as she is not a part of Songrim. She is told that she was let in earlier when Jang Uk was a guest, but now that he is a part of Songrim the maids there will take care of him. Additionally, Jang Uk is also not allowed to leave until he finished his basic training.
Mu-deok is not ready to leave and waits outside the gates of Songrim in the rain when Seo Yul comes and tells her to leave or else Jang Uk will break the rules on the first day to find her. He also adds that it is better to go back and think of others ways to enter Songrim. Mu-deok agrees with him and goes back with determination to enter Songrim for Jang Uk. The next morning, Jang Uk wakes up in Sejukwon and calls out for Mu-deok only to find Heo Yoon-ok’s maid. She tells him that her master had taken care of him and he remembers the night when he saved her from Kil-joo.
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Elsewhere, Heo Yoon-ok is having a talk with Park Jin, Kim Do-ju and Heo Yeom. After witnessing a batter between Park Jin and Kim Do-ju, Heo Yeom asks his granddaughter how she met Jang Uk. Before she could reply, Jang Uk interrupts the conversation and takes her away which makes Kim Do-ju and Heo Yem curious. Noticing the two exchanging suspicious looks, Park Jin offers to follow them only to be told off the two.
Jang Uk asks Heo Yoon-ok if she told anyone about their encounter and tells her to keep it a secret. She agrees and the two talk about her grandfather and then his mother. He then thanks her for taking care of him while apologising for his behaviour as he mistook her for Mu-deok. Jang Uk then leaves to find Mu-deok but gets to know that she can’t enter as personal servants are not allowed inside Songrim. He then goes to request Park Jin to let her in but is turned down by him, leaving him no option but to back down in order to not let Park Jin get suspicious about Mu-deok.
Alchemy of Souls Episode 9 Ending
Alchemy of Souls episode 9 ends with Mu-deok trying different ways to get inside Songrim, while Jang Uk begins with his first task- memorising the Book of Regulations. However, Kim Do-ju comes by and tries to inquire about his relationship with Heo Yoon-ok. He tries to avert the question and asks her to leave, but then stops her and asks her to take good care of Mu-deok. She tells him that Mu-deok will be fine now that she doesn’t have to take care of him which saddens him.
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Mu-deok leaves Chwiseonru but is stopped by Joo Wul who tells her that Songrim is hiring and she can take part in the competition to be hired. When she returns to the Jang Family residence, she almost misunderstands Kim Do-ju’s words from Jang Uk as her being abandoned by him. However, Kim Do-ju asks her if he knows who the woman he loves is, and repeats his words. Mu-deok realises that she is the woman he was speaking of, while reminiscing her moments with him. The two miss each other and the episode comes to an end.
Alchemy of Souls Episode 9 Review
Alchemy of Souls episode 9 was a treat that revealed so many secrets that are easy to know when you connect the right dots. This weekend is Mu-deok’s weekend, not Naksu not Jang Uk, but the blind girl whose body is taken over. If you haven’t guessed it then here it is, she must be none other than Jin Ho-kyung’s lost daughter who was so powerful that she was even able to locate the ice stone. The way she could detect energy was like no other and she was a true genius. This is why the secret door in Jinyowon opened up to her and why her soul is still alive in the alchemy of soul space.
This show is filled with immeasurable excitement and the viewers have to agree that it is one of the best ongoing shows at the moment. Another thing I loved was the irony behind the scene when the crown prince and Jang Uk toast to each other, such a beautiful situation that is definitely going to change in the near future. And when the crown prince tells Mu-deok that he’ll kill her the next time she interrupts their duel, why do I see this hinting at another important scene in the future?
I have to include the batter between Park Jin and Kim Do-ju, which is cute and frustrating and we know exactly how you feel Heo Yeom. Let’s hope Park Jin doesn’t get rejected for the second time. Adding on, it seems like this friend of Mu-deok’s is soon going to be targeted by Jin Mu because of that blindfold she has been carrying, and while Jin Ho-kyung isn’t one of my favourite characters I do hope she reunites with her daughter soon.
Altogether, the first episode of this week is as exciting as ever, like always I am eagerly looking forward to the next episode because I know I will be getting my mind blown. What do you think of this episode?
Got any theories of your own? Share them in the comments below!
Alchemy Of Souls is streaming on Netflix.
Check out all of the other Alchemy of Souls reviews here.
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Thank you for your review, you proved right everybody’s guess that Mudeok may indeed be the lost daughter of the Jin family. Her power is what has been protecting Uk and Naksu all along—Naksu from getting wild while in her body and Jang Uk from the soul shifting. When the real Mudeok/Buyeon returns I wonder what’s in store for her aside from going back to her family…she may not know Jang Uk anymore…both Yul and Uk love Naksu…will she end up with the prince? You see, he is the only one who seems to be attracted to her without associating her with Naksu…
Thank you for the comment and I have to say that you have made a very important point. Bu-yeon’s powers must be really strong if she is able to save two people and keep herself alive in that space and I can’t wait for what her return will bring to the show. She may end up with the prince, but while the prince does not know about Naksu he is attracted to her personality which is very different from the real Mu-deok. This development may not happen the way we want but lets hope for the best!
Ok thanks for sharing and I’m gathering that the real Naksu and Seo will end up together. They have history. Then Jang Uk and the Jin’s Daughter aka Mudeok will be an item because he was attractive to her look from the beginning, even with the blind fold. Then the crown prince will probably end up with the Dr. Heo’s grand daughter. This is just a guess though. Mudeok is definitely from the Jin family. She opened that door that only a member of that family could do. Then Jang Gang I think sealed Jang Uk’s powers because he felt guilty for having the king soul take his body to impregnate his own wife. He did not want to give any power to a child of the king. Jang Gang was upset with himself, because of the way Jang Uk was conceived. Although physically he performed the act. You’re correct because three of those guys have their eyes and heart set on mudeok. Master Lee with definitely mix stuff up with Park and court lady Kim
Best Regards
Janet you have any
Thanks so much for sharing, but I feel like Naksu will end up with Jang UK, because that’s the man she loves now, though she has history with Seo Yul. And I’m just so curious about what would happen to Mu deoks soul which I believe is still alive somewhere, because Naksus body is already gone. And what would happen when the Jin’s family find out that Mudeok is the body of their lost daughter Bu Yeon but the soul of Naksu. I wonder what their reaction would be. I can’t wait for the next episode
Guys i need to know which Kpop Song is this in episode 9 in 14:30 seconds please tell me???