Emperor of the Sea

As a slave boy, Koongbuk, hides on a ship headed to Dang Dynasty. Koongbuk pledges to learn how to use a sword to survive. When he meets Yumjang who has excellent sword skills, he begs him to teach him.

Koongbuk helps his father, Du-man, with work on a ship but later realizes that it is a pirate ship, and that they have been schemed. Du-man loses his life while trying to save his son, and Koongbuk and Jung-ryun get caught by soldiers.

Koongbuk attempts to try out for a sword contest held by Lady Jami, aiming for the first prize, which will guarantee his freedom to break away from his slave status. Koongbuk learns his sword skills from Choi Mu-chang.

Just before Koongbuk is able to participate in the sword contest, he is drafted as a solider. Meanwhile, Yumjang succeeds as a merchant in Dang Dynasty. Jung-ryun becomes Lady Jami's private soldier with the help of Yumjang.

Koongbuk reencounters with Jung-hwa, and the two confirm their love for each other. Yumjang is heartbroken when he sees how deeply Jung-hwa feels for Koongbuk. Lady Jami plans to send Jung-hwa as a concubine of an old nobleman.

Koongbuk tries to persuade Jung-hwa to elope with him, but she refuses in an attempt to revive her fallen family and brother, Chan-kyum. Meanwhile, Yumjang hides in the nobleman's house.

Choi Mu-chang is severely injured, and Koongbuk and Jung-ryun become imprisoned by Lady Jami. Lady Jami sends Koongbuk and Jung-ryun as slaves, when Jung-hwa begs her with tears to save their lives.

Jung-hwa pledges to devote her life to Lady Jami for saving Koongbuk's life. When Lady Jami realizes Jung-hwa's hidden talent as a merchant, she appoints her as a clerk. Meanwhile, tired of their lives as slaves, Koongbuk and Jung-ryun get into a fight, and Koongbuk kills Ryusa, who was known as the best swordsman.

When the Major General finds out that Koongbuk defeated Ryusa, he secretly takes him in to train him as a swordsman. Koongbuk undergoes intensive training.

After intensive sword training, Koongbuk and Jung-ryun excel, and Koongbuk participates in a sword contest. When Koongbuk takes off his mask after the final victory, Lady Jami is shocked to see him still alive.

Koongbuk kills Yupo in the sword contest and wins the final victory. When Koongbuk sees Lady Jami in the audience, he immediately thinks that Jung-hwa would be in Yangju as well.

In an attempt to save the imprisoned Jung-hwa, Koongbuk participates in a sword contest once again, risking his life.

Jung-hwa nurses the unconscious Koongbuk, and Yumjang watches her with an aching heart. Both of them leave just before Koongbuk wakes up from his long unconsciousness.

Jangbogo (Koongbuk) and Jung-ryun are sent to prison after getting involved in a fight with Joong-dal on the street. The worried Chae-ryung does everything in her power to release him.

Upon finding out that Lee Do-hyung was behind the incident with the pirates, Jangbogo (Koongbuk) shivers with anger at how his life has changed upside down and how his father was killed in that incident.

Seolpyung appoints Koongbuk as n high-ranking official, giving him the new name of Jangbogo. Meanwhile, Yumjang gives Jung-hwa rare gems, and pledges to her that he will devote the rest of his life for her.

After Jangbogo leaves Wonhang to bring back the lost dignity of Seolpyung, words soon spread that he has been killed. Jung-hwa, unable to control her grief, jumps into the sea to kill herself, but Yumjang saves her.

After Jung-hwa makes up her mind to marry Yumjang, she is startled to find that Jangbogo has returned home. Meanwhile, Jung-hwa discovers that the person who attempted to kill Jangbogo was in fact Yumjang.

Jangbogo and Yumjang have a final showdown. Jangbogo finds out by Jung-hwa that the person who saved his own life from poison arrow was none other than Yumjang.

Jung-hwa takes off to Mujinjo at Lady Jami's request, completely unaware that Yumjang is hiding in the carriage. Yumjang is heartbroken as he watches in secret Jangbogo and Jung-hwa speaking to each other with so much affection.

While Jangbogo and his troops head for Leesado's camp, Leesado orders his men to capture Jangbogo alive. Yumjang sends Joongdal and his men to kidnap Chaeryung. Meanwhile, when Jangbogo hears that Chaeryung has been kidnapped, he risks his own life by stepping into Leesado's camp.

Jangbogo safely returns to Yangju, but is furious after finding out that Junghwa has made up her mind to marry Yumjang in exchange for his life. Jungryun tries to bring Lady Jami down by exposing that she has aligned with Leesado, but Jangbogo makes a deal with her to bring Junghwa to Yangju.

Jangbogo's troops and Yumjang's troops have their final showdown. Although Jangbogo's troops are greatly outnumbered by Yumjang's soldiers, he manages to defeat Yumjang and safely brings Wangjiheung back.

Yumjang leads his troops to save Junghwa, and Jangbogo leaves immediately after hearing the news that Yumjang is within his territory. Yumjang comes face-to-face with Jangbogo after saving Junghwa.