In The Murky Stream Episode 4-5, it opens with Choi Eun writing a report to the Inspector General. It details the bandits and local corruption. The Mapo General finds it and burns it. He blames Dol-gae for letting Eun make trouble.
He also scolds Jung Chun for hugging Si-yul. Jung worries that something went wrong. He tries to find Si-yul but discovers there are no horses. The captains lent them out. He sets out on foot.
Si-yul is in charge of giving wages to the workers. He gives more than the set amount. He refuses to lower it even when Mu-deok hits him. The bandit leader scolds him for being too soft. Mu-deok reminds them that the merchants treated workers worse before the bandits arrived. With Mu-deok’s help, Deok-gae took over the port.
A flashback shows the merchants were cruel. Deok-gae, a starving worker, demands fair pay and is beaten. Mu-deok accidentally injures a merchant, causing chaos.
Deok-gae uses this to defeat them. Everyone thinks Mu-deok helped, creating a bond between the two. Si-yul overhears the others joking about Mu-deok’s stories.
Half the Choi silk is soaked, and many workers are hurt. Choi tells Eun to take a cheaper route. She hears Jung looking for Si-yul. Jung refuses bribes. Eun admires his honesty.
She explains the corruption and bribes. She also criticizes his closeness with Si-yul. Jung is surprised to learn about the dawn loading scheme.
Si-yul Proves Himself
Dol-gae grows frustrated that the captains cannot control Jung. They suggest removing him. Elsewhere, in Donghonaru, Wang-hae’s men defeat the local bandits. Chadol surrenders.
The news spreads, and other regional leaders call a meeting. Dol-gae presides and talks to Wang-hae. Wang-hae flatters him and promises to remove middlemen. Deok-gae and others are worried.
Dol-gae reports to his patron. They want Wang-hae included in their system, but ordered not to kill the bandits. Mu-deok trusts that Si-yul can handle Wang-hae. The Mapo bandits try to teach Si-yul curses.
He refuses but smiles at the effort. Mal-bok arrives, beaten by a bully. He asks Si-yul to teach him fighting. They bond. Jung continues looking for Si-yul. The bandits panic. Si-yul is with Mal-bok, who finally defeats his bully.
Trouble comes when Bang learns that Si-yul works for Mu-deok. Unable to find him, Bang drags Mu-deok and his men to Yoon. Yoon punishes Mu-deok.
Deok-gae ignores the situation. Si-yul arrives, defeats the attackers, and earns the bandits’ respect. Deok-gae challenges him to a fight to decide the hierarchy.
Episode 5
Episode 5 begins with the fight between Deok-gae and Si-yul. Si-yul loses due to his stab wound. Custom says the loser must be crippled. Deok-gae claims it is nothing personal. Suddenly, Mu-deok stabs him in the leg.
Panicked, Mu-deok runs to his wife for help. Deok-gae is crippled, and everyone thinks Yoon will take control. Mu-deok feels guilty. He questions why he acted.
Si-yul says he promised never to run away. He wants to stay with Mu-deok. Deok-gae makes Mu-deok the new thumb. He says this is fate and advises him to protect Si-yul.
Workers see Si-yul as the real leader but doubt change will happen. That night, Mu-deok’s wife blames Si-yul for the danger he brings. Si-yul promises to protect Mu-deok.
A new day starts with Mu-deok as thumb and Si-yul as forefinger, the new Mapo leader. Si-yul removes the toilet tax and sets rules for workers. The removal of the “toilet tax” isn’t a minor policy change. It’s a powerful symbol of Si-yul’s leadership.
He’s targeting the most humiliating and exploitative practices first, signaling a revolution built on dignity and basic human rights.
This directly contrasts with the high-level corruption of figures like Lord Yu Tae-seok. The bandits think these changes are pointless. Mu-deok tries to argue, but the bandits ignore him.
Choi smuggles maps illegally for the Guardian General. Choi follows orders strictly. In return, the Guardian General warns him that the Police Bureau is blocking the Choi salt business.
Order, Corruption, and Final Threats
Jung Chun appears, asking about missing horses. They were last rented to the Guardian General, who is Lord Yu Tae-seok, Princess So-ho’s uncle. He finds Jung’s honesty amusing. He shows that ledgers were falsified and the captains misled Jung.
That night, the Mapo bandits celebrate. Si-yul joins conversations and promises to teach everyone fighting skills. Mu-deok grovels to Dol-gae. Merchants also bow to Mu-deok. Eun is annoyed at the display. Jung arrives with soldiers and arrests the bandits, including Si-yul. He is shocked to see him.
Flashback reveals that Tae-seok investigates corruption. He suspects a royal figure is involved. He advises Jung that arresting the bandits will disrupt the system. Presently, Dol-gae frees the bandits, expecting a bribe. Jung confronts him.
Dol-gae arrests Jung for corruption, claiming he can forge evidence. This confrontation is a perfect example of the show’s central conflict.
Jung represents a “by-the-book” approach to justice, but Dol-gae represents the system itself—a system so corrupt it can legally fabricate guilt to punish those who challenge it.
It’s not just about good vs. evil; it’s about order vs. a corrupted system that mimics order. Si-yul worries, and Mu-deok warns him that all are at Dol-gae’s mercy. The episode closes with the bandits returning to the docks.
What This Sets Up for Future Episodes
-
The Jung vs. Dol-gae War: Jung’s arrest is a declaration of war. How can an honest man win in a system that controls the law?
-
Mu-deok’s Leadership Crisis: Is Mu-deok a true leader or a puppet for Si-yul? Can he command respect, or will the bandits rebel?
-
The Wang-hae Threat: Dol-gae’s new allies are a wildcard. Their integration will inevitably clash with Si-yul’s reformed Mapo bandits.
-
The Royal Conspiracy: With Lord Yu Tae-seok’s role expanding, the connection between the docks and the royal palace is about to become the main battlefield.
Who do you think will lead the Mapo bandits next?
Thanks for reading 💬
How Does this Article Make You Feel?
Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
We pour our hearts into every K-drama recap. If our work brings you joy, please buy us a coffee. Your support keeps us going ❤️
🛍️ Earn Cash Back
Sign up on Rakuten via my link to get cashback + bonus when shopping online.
Join & Get Cash BackReferral link — you get a bonus too!