Episode 8 of "Dear Hongrang" kicks off with Jae-yi determinedly making her way to confront Hong-rang, yet her thoughts drift back to a poignant conversation they shared on his birthday. In that heartfelt exchange, Hong-rang's melancholy over his lifelong solitude lingered heavily, leaving Jae-yi curious about his true identity. Instead of confronting him directly, she turns to Yeol-guk, pleading with earnest eyes for permission to embark on a new life with Mu-jin, far from the intricacies of their current world. Yeol-guk, granting her wish with a nod, sets the stage for an enraged Hong-rang to confront Mu-jin, accusing him of stealing Jae-yi away.
Mu-jin, with a hint of malice, invokes Hong-rang's slave name, Rodent Scrap, as a threat, yet promises to keep it buried as long as Jae-yi is allowed to leave with him. His loyal aide, baffled by this decision, wonders why Mu-jin refrains from exposing Hong-rang and reclaiming their guild. Mu-jin, softening his stance, explains that Jae-yi was his beacon of hope during darkest times, a bond he cannot sever. Furthermore, he is deeply indebted to Hong-rang for saving his life.
Elsewhere, Jae-yi opens up to one of the guild's astute investigators about Hong-rang, confessing her relief at discovering they share no blood ties, albeit this revelation means the genuine Hong-rang remains missing. Overwhelmed with guilt, she concludes that leaving is her only redemption.
Shifting gears to the guild's political arena, merchants whisper among themselves about Yeol-guk's dwindling influence, as Yeon-ui elevated Hong-rang to the prestigious position of guildmaster. Just as tensions flair, the Grand Prince makes a dramatic entrance, admiring Hong-rang's impeccable appearance with a hint of desire. His intentions towards Hong-rang become evident, prompting Yeol-guk to issue a stern warning. Adding to the intrigue, Yeol-guk alerts the Grand Prince of an impending royal investigation into the missing children and the Snow Man, orchestrated by the Songs. The Grand Prince, undeterred yet thoughtful, decides to channel his energies into painting, aiming to restore the harmony of yin and yang, enlisting Yeol-guk's expertise in the endeavor. His mind wanders back to a bygone era when he created a masterpiece embodying the balance of yin and yang, now lost to time.
The scene shifts dramatically to Hong-rang receiving a duplicate of the test results pertaining to Song Su-nam. His flesh bears the scars of burning, marked with remnants of limestone, alum, and arsenic. The assassins' quest to uncover the origin of these poisonous powders guides them into the caves where the Painter once confined his children. Memories flood back, depicting a youthful In-hoe and Hong-rang immersed in toxic concoctions, their skin bleaching to an eerie pallor, before being inscribed with tattoos within the cavern's depths by the Painter's hands.
Elsewhere, Mu-jin bestows upon Jae-yi a pair of Java sparrows, symbols of eternal bonding, hoping they might serve as each other's anchors of life, much like he wishes for them. Jae-yi accepts the gesture, while Hong-rang watches on, a poignant sadness etched across his features.
In an unexpected twist, Bang-suk weaves a tale to Yeol-guk, asserting that Hong-rang is an impostor. Among his fabrications lurk kernels of truth, such as Hong-rang collaborating with assassins to seize control of the guild. Bang-suk further alleges that Hong-rang intends to frame Yeol-guk for the Snow Man's deeds and Su-nam's abduction. To substantiate his claims, Bang-suk leads Yeol-guk to an abandoned Min kiln, where the scent of charred flesh still lingers—a grim discovery he traced through clues on Su-nam's garments.
Realizing Bang-suk's proximity to the truth, Yeol-guk, in league with the Evil Painter and the Snow Man, orders the latter to silence him. It transpires that Yeol-guk is a covert ally of these nefarious figures. He hastens to their concealed lair, where Du-ryeong, wielding a brush with his left hand, engages in painting. Yeol-guk chastises him for his negligence concerning the kiln, but Du-ryeong mocks him, asserting his own irreplaceable worth.
Meanwhile, Hong-rang tracks down one of the Painter's men and subjects him to a brutal interrogation, ultimately leading him to their hidden lair. There, Hong-rang ends the man's life. A fierce battle then erupts between Hong-rang's assassins and the Painter's henchmen. By the time Hong-rang engages in combat with the Snow Man, Yeol-guk has already vanished. Far from being a ghostly apparition, the Snow Man is revealed as an exceptionally tall and ghostly pale individual, his body adorned with intricate tattoos, marking him as one of the Painter's living canvases. Hong-rang's attire is shredded in the fray, and Yeol-guk's aide catches a glimpse of tattoos inked on his back.
As more assassins descend upon the scene, the Snow Man flees the battleground. Hong-rang discovers Du-ryeong, lying lifeless - a victim of Yeol-guk's wrath. A flashback haunts him, showing Hong-rang plunging a blade into the Evil Painter's chest, to the left. Yet, Du-ryeong's body bears no such scar. He is merely a subordinate, overseeing the children, not the mastermind himself. A defeated Hong-rang returns home, where the cook begs him to reconcile with Jae-yi before she departs on her journey. The following morning, he unburdens himself to Jae-yi, revealing his enslaved past and the torments he endured. In response, she confesses her undying love for him. He implores her not to embark with Mu-jin.
Elsewhere, Yeol-guk's aide reveals to him that Hong-rang is an impostor. The genuine Hong-rang would never have allowed himself to be tattooed by the Painter, according to Yeol-guk. Yet, both Hong-rang and Jae-yi have vanished without a trace. Mu-jin notices the birds have been liberated, a note left in their wake, and his anger is palpable. As Episode 8 of "Dear Hongrang" concludes, Jae-yi and Hong-rang bolt away on horseback, their futures intertwined in an uncertain race against time.
