#i haven't seen the twitter/x theories so i'm curious to hear about them

[handkinkbis]

My desperate attempt to slow down these gifs enough so we can see what's actually happening in them.

Episode 13-16 speculation after the cut.

Hongjo sees flashbacks of herself as Aengcho trapped in a well with spells securing her prison. It's nighttime and Mujin has come to her aid. Did Na Jungbeom's (Creepy Gardener's) past self trap her in there after attacking her? He practices black magic/the darker side of shamanism, so he would have the skill and probably the motive (to stop his love interest (?) from escaping). Has he cursed Aengcho with something?

Aengcho exits a cabin wearing the same outfit with the same wounds on her face, presumably the next morning. She looks devastated/in pain. Is Mujin in the cabin? Did Aengcho run away from Mujin? Or did they agree to meet later? Is she holding something (other than her injuries)?

Eunwol: "You already know. Before your life ends, nothing ends." Either her own curse or a spell she has cast will not end before she dies.

Mujin follows with a look of resolve and a new wound on his face that wasn't there in the well scene. He looks like he's been crying for some time, or like he's stayed up all night.

Mujin catches up to Aengcho. We know he kills her soon after and "the karma" from this murder will curse his family line.

Things we know about Aengcho:

Aengcho was a reincarnation without a name until Mujin named her after the flower, primrose.

Presumably Aengcho has been reborn at least once before, as has Eunwol.

Aengcho could see the future of others, but not her own.

She was carried to an elderly shaman woman's house as a child, the shaman possibly being present day Eunwol. Perhaps Aengcho's parents were killed by the same illness that made her sick?

Aengcho was a lower level shaman who developed a "new skill" in adulthood. Hong Jo in present day has been using spells from Aengcho's spell book successfully (love spell, fair skin spell, disease curing spell, others?), so she retains her shaman skills.

Things we know about Mujin:

Mujin was their town's governor's son, so from a wealthy upper class family.

He may have taken the state exam to become a (legal?) scholar out of his father's wish/command, although he talked about joining the military and was told (or lied to) by Aengcho that he would "work his way up" there. Mujin took the military service exam and served the king according to Shin Yu. (ep 7).

Was Mujin betrothed to someone else in the past, like present day Shin Yu was?

Mujin was either the person to bury Aengcho's spell books underneath the shrine at Mount Onju, or Aengcho told him where they were buried. After killing Aengcho he requested in a note or a will that his family preserve the shrine for generations (so that Hong Jo could find the spell books in the future).

Mujin asked Aengcho to run away with him at the fireworks bridge, so that they could be together.

One other person was supposed to remember the past along with Eunwol, Shin Yu and Hong Jo. Presumably that's Na Jungbeom, the modern day gardener. Na Jungbeom left a love destruction spell (the doll) by the Mount Onju shrine in present day. He was seeking to destroy his love for Hong Jo (her stolen pyjamas) and to curse Shin Yu for dating her. In an earlier episode he claims to have drunk Hong Jo's love spell water, so he might be under Hong Jo's spell. He cursed Shin Yu again with the help of Nayeon who delivered a plant with a spell into Shin Yu's office. After that Shin Yu could feel Aengcho's hand again and Shin Yu collapsed in the elevator.

Eunwol mentioned in episode 8 that there was an honest and strong man by Hong Jo's side who was a reincarnation of a eunuch. Past life Hong Jo had tried falling in love with the eunuch after she couldn't be together with the king (again, class differences). The eunuch could be a reference to Jaekyung, who doesn't seem to remember his past lifes.

Will the two shamans face off in a future episode? What was Aengcho's new skill? Possession?

What's clear is that everything up until now has been kismet, including Hong Jo's transferral to the park department allowing her to meet Shin Yu, and Shin Yu favoring his left hand due to his curse leading him to drinking Hong Jo's love potion. It's been unavoidable. They cannot go against their destiny together.

#destined with you #not really spoilers but ehhh some heavy speculating that might spoil someone #so spoiler tag just in case :) #dwu spoilers #also feel free to chip in with any theories #i haven't seen the twitter/x theories so i'm curious to hear about them #** #my gifs