In the eighth episode of "The Murky Stream," we find Si-yul honing his skills for the impending confrontation with Wang Hae, while Mu-deok embarks on a mission to retrieve Chun's letter, a leverage tool that he's been wielding over Si-yul's head. Dol-gae orchestrates Wang Hae's humiliation in exchange for his freedom, but as soon as Dol-gae is gone, Wang Hae's smile fades. With the excuse of self-defense, Wang Hae is released from his constraints. However, when Chun erupts in anger, Dol-gae reminds him of their embrace with Si-yul, threatening to bring charges of corruption against the brothers.
The Mapo bandits continue to wallow in the loss of Mal-bok and yearn for revenge, but a frightened Mu-deok urges them to stay clear of Wang Hae's wrath. Si-yul remains isolated, training and brooding in silence. Tae-seok introduces Choi and Chun to the table, where they discuss the imminent completion of the country's map. This map, they believe, holds the key to eradicating corruption and enhancing the nation's trade and economy. Unfortunately, Dol-gae's spy overhears their conversation and reports it to him, leading Dol-gae to inform Lord Oh, who orders him to seize the map and eliminate Tae-seok on charges of treason.
Fearful for Si-yul's fate, Mu-deok approaches Chun, both of them trying to dissuade Si-yul from carrying out his plan to kill Wang Hae. But Si-yul is determined, unfazed by Mu-deok's attempts to return Chun's letter or his warnings about the bandits' potential consequences. He merely insists on doing what he believes is necessary.
As the map nears completion, Lord Oh elevates Dol-gae to the rank of general, granting him the authority to arrest Tae-seok. That night, Dol-gae dispatches Wang Hae and the Jurchens to Tae-seok's residence, their path marked by a trail of blood as they slay anyone who stands in their way. Tae-seok is alerted and quickly hands over the map to Choi, imploring him to deliver it to Lord Jo Yu-su, the Ganghwa Magistrate. Despite his best efforts, Tae-seok is no match for the five Jurchens who soon overwhelm him in a losing battle that buys Choi enough time to escape.
Chun follows closely behind Dol-gae as she makes her way to Tae-seok's abode. He watches in horror as Dol-gae puts an end to Tae-seok's life, despite the latter's refusal to divulge the map's whereabouts. However, it was all in vain, as Dol-gae's spy reveals that Choi had been there earlier but had since vanished into thin air. Worried and concerned, Chun gives chase to the Jurchens who are scurrying towards Choi's household.
Choi has managed to reach his home, where he bestows all his wealth and assets upon Eun and Chief Kang. Kang dashes off first to secure a boat, barely escaping the clutches of the Jurchens. Eun, however, is not as fortunate, as she is surrounded by the Jurchens. Chun arrives on the scene and holds them off, urging Eun to flee to Si-yul's safety. In the heat of the moment, he dispatches one of the Jurchens, only for Wang Hae to personally take up the fight against him with a fury. While they are all distracted, Choi locks himself in a storage room and sets fire to the map.
Chun takes Acham's sister, the Jurchen bodyguard, with him as Wang Hae dispatches him. There is no time for mourning as the Jurchens spot the flames in the storage room. Choi is reduced to ashes. Acham barely manages to save the map. Wang Hae opens it to find it empty; Choi never had the map with him. It appears that he either cunningly gave it to Kang or Eun.
