Episode 2 of *The Murky Stream* opens with a display of Si-yul's formidable prowess as he effortlessly lays waste to Bang and his band of thugs. Undeterred by the thrashing, Bang taunts Si-yul, insisting they haven't received their pay and daring him to finish the job. Si-yul, however, declines the bloodthirsty invitation but vows to secure their wages by any means necessary. The camera then pans to Mu-deok and his cohorts, who have pocketed the workers' earnings with not a shred of remorse.
Fed up with the injustice, Si-yul storms into Choi Eun's abode, confronting her. She reproaches him for his brutish and violent demeanor, while he, in turn, resorts to sexist remarks. In a climactic moment, he tears his portion of the coveted Choi silk and bestows the remainder upon the other laborers. Inside, Choi Eun is seen amusing herself with the enigmatic stranger Mu-deok inadvertently provoked into a brawl. This stranger, once a general of the Jurchen tribe, has since turned to smuggling. With Choi's aid, he seeks to eradicate the bandits and establish a smuggling route along the Gyeonggang River. Choi, however, is unyielding and orders him to depart. Yet, the smuggler and his men are adamant; returning home means subjecting their families to Mongol oppression.
Meanwhile, Yoon uncovers Mu-deok's deceit and metes out punishment. He asserts that pilfering workers' wages is a line they will not cross. However, Deok-gae intercedes, shielding Mu-deok from Yoon's wrath. It is revealed that Mu-deok and Deok-gae are kindred spirits, having risen from the same humble beginnings. Deok-gae, disillusioned with Mu-deok's banditry, offers to settle his debts so he may return home. But Mu-deok is resolute; he refuses to abandon the city.
Elsewhere, a rift widens between Choi and his son, Dae-il, as they clash over the latter's future. With both Dae-il and Haeng-su advocating for Choi Eun, Choi relents and designates her as his heir—albeit temporarily, as he harbors hopes of persuading Dae-il to lead the guild someday.
Si-yul, now blacklisted at the port, faces an uphill battle in finding employment. Some attempt to swindle him, only to recoil when whispers spread of his lethal swordsmanship and alleged multiple kills. Meanwhile, Mu-deok, ever the snoop, uncovers Si-yul's meager possessions and pilfers a letter, though its contents remain a mystery to his illiterate eyes.
Enter Jung Chun, a newly minted assistant officer in Mapo, renowned for his stellar academic record and combat prowess, despite his modest origins. His sense of justice is piqued when Dol-gae and the captains throw him a lavish party, cautioning him against disrupting the entrenched bribery system.
Meanwhile, Haeng-su takes Eun under his wing, imparting to her every facet of the business, even the murky underworld of bribery. Eun remains resolute and unyielding, despite facing a barrage of disrespect and condescension from the bandits and other leaders, who sneer at her merely for being a woman. Yet, she accepts Deok-gae's offer for a drink. In return for this concession, she boldly attempts to dismantle the bribery system, going so far as to threaten to report him to the police bureau. Deok-gae merely chuckles, arrogantly asserting that his bandits are superior to the officers in every way.
Feeling deeply aggrieved, Eun makes her way back home. On this very same path, she encounters Si-yul, who is patiently waiting for customers, while Mu-deok lurks in the shadows, keeping a watchful eye on him. At that precise moment, Yoon’s bandits come charging in, fueled by vengeance for Bang, and prepare to unleash their fury on Si-yul. The scene is frozen in time as Jung Chun arrives, leading his grand welcome procession.
In a sudden twist, Chun's eyes light up upon spotting Si-yul, and he rushes forward to embrace him, leaving Choi Eun utterly astonished. Meanwhile, Mu-deok's gaze falls upon Si-yul’s letter once more, and this time, she recognizes Chun’s name emblazoned on his flag.
