Duelist

The film opens with a fish tale narrated by a low-class metalsmith in a tavern. The tale sets a mythic mood for the events to come and grounds the story in Joseon-era life. It hints at a hidden romance between masked swordfighter and a police detective.

A street circus showcases an elegant masked swordmaster who captivates the crowd. His performance hints at danger and skill beyond ordinary feats. The audience reacts with awe as a sense of power surrounds him.

Undercover detective Ahn and his protégé Namsoon begin tracking a suspected money counterfeiter gang. They gather intelligence while keeping their eyes on the elusive duelist with Sad Eyes. Tension builds as the counterfeit crisis threatens the currency.

The masked swordmaster ends the circus show by killing a government official who carries the kingdom currency metal cast. The violent act demonstrates the power of the counterfeiter operation. The crowd erupts in panic and distraction aids the escape.

The swordmaster escapes when a cart crashes and spills a mountain of counterfeit coins. The public commotion serves as a distraction that hides the mastermind behind the scheme. Namsoon pursues the killer and shows her prowess in a duel.

Namsoon corners the duelist but the battle becomes charged with a strange affection. He wins trivially by weakening her resolve and vanishes after making a small cut that reveals her cleavage. The encounter leaves Namsoon unsettled and curious about his identity.

Namsoon convinces her team to infiltrate minister Song's palace to gather evidence. She disguises herself as a lady of pleasure and enters a private session with the duelist. The plan brings her dangerously close to the suspect and to the truth behind the conspiracy.

Song and the duelist reveal a scheme to overthrow the young king and install a favored heir. Song acts like a fatherly confidant and expresses love for the duelist while exposing the political maneuver. The duelist has been part of the plan since childhood.

After a public assault on Sad Eyes, Namsoon is dismissed from the case but secretly tasked to obtain the final evidence. Ahn and the police press on, while Namsoon plans to gather the proof that links Song to the plot.

The duelist provides the needed evidence in a secret meeting with Namsoon, effectively sacrificing his chance at a normal future. Namsoon learns her feelings for him and wrestles with the tension between duty and love. Ahn counsels her to separate emotion from crime.

Scores of armed police surround Song’s manor and clash with the duelist, Song, and other corrupt officials. The minister is killed by detective Ahn as part of the final takedown. The battle closes the conspiracy and confronts Namsoon with the truth of the duelist relationships.

Namsoon searches for the duelist and learns that he is dead according to Ahn. She returns to the lanes haunted by their memory. The final twist comes when the duelist appears again, and they share a moonlit dance that feels like combat made love.

The lovers meet again at a distance in the marketplace, ending the tale with a quiet glimmer of hope. The metalsmith in the opening tavern later narrates their reunion as a last image. The balance between love and swords remains unresolved.