Set during the period of the 1894 Donghak Peasant Revolution against the Japanese, the drama tells the story of two half-brothers, one illegitimate and low born, and one, part of the pro-Japanese ruling elite, who find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.
Baek I-hyeon returns home from studying abroad. As the townspeople's fury against the government grows, Jeon Bong-jun plans an uprising.
Yi Kang loses a fight with Deok Ki. Ja In goes to Bong Jun to buy some medicine. The new district magistrate of Gobu lifts the banggongnyeong, and Baek Ga gets anxious because he can’t make any money. Therefore, he orders Yi Kang to kill the district magistrate.
When his father is injured, Baek I-gang brings him to safety and finds reluctant help from Song Ja-in. Bong-jun and his followers blow up a dam.
Yoo Wol begs Bong Jun to save Yi Kang’s life. Yi Hyun comes back to Gobu to find Baek Ga. A new district magistrate comes to Gobu. Si Hyung comes to Bong Jun and tells him to give up the revolt. Ja In gets caught by the officials. Meanwhile, Baek Ga comes back to Gobu.
As I-gang struggles to accept a loss, he's handed a new role in his family. A powerful supporter of the Donghak movement is imprisoned.
Yi Kang and Yoo Wol have dinner with Baek’s family. Yi Hyun tells Yi Kang to be different from Baek Ga. Ms. Chae prepares to greet Myung Sim as her daughter-in-law, and Donghak followers burn down the Baek’s rice store.
Yi Kang tells Baek Ga that he doesn’t want to take over Baek Ga’s position. Yi Kang plans to leave Gobu with Yoo Wol. Baek Ga puts the blame on Yoo Wol to make Yi Kang take over his position. Yi Hyun gets to know Baek Ga’s plan, and he runs away with Yoo Wol.
Bong Jun asks Yi Hyun to join the Donghak followers, but Yi Hyun refuses. Ja In discovers unconscious Yi Kang. Yi Hyun goes back to his home and tells his family that he killed Yoo Wol. Yi Kang and Yoo Wol finally meet, and they go to Ja In’s hostel.
I-hyeon's sudden conscription stuns the Baek family. Meanwhile, I-gang shows up at the Donghak camp with a request for Bong-jun.
Bong Jun goes to see Seok Ju, but Seok Ju acts distant and cold to Bong Jun. Baek Ga asks Yi Kang to bring Yi Hyun back and suggests to Yi Kang to live as they used to. However, Yi Kang refuses to go back to the old days. Meanwhile, Bong Jun accepts Yi Kang as a Donghak member.
In Bong-jun's army, I-gang has a long way to go to earn the others' trust. I-hyeon finds out who was responsible for sending him to war.
When the provincial army enters Hwangto-hyun, they are ambushed by the Donghak army. After the ambush, Yi Hyun confronts Hong Ga about the gyosaengan and learns that it was Lord Hwang who had him conscripted. Later in the night, the Donghak army ambushes the provincial army one more time.
When Ja-in is captured by Donghak soldiers, she and I-gang finally meet again. I-hyeon comes back with full intent to marry Hwang Myeong-sim.
Yi Kang leaves the Donghak army after hearing that it was Lord Hwang who had Yi Hyun enlisted and is now missing. And when Ja In gets released, she heads straight for Gobu knowing that Yi Kang would be there. Meanwhile, Yi Hyun prepares for his wedding day and visits Seok Ju.
I-gang refuses to return to his family. I-hyeon steps into his father's place. After a battle, the king sends a message to Bong-jun and his army.
Ja In feels guilty thinking that she takes privilege from the weak people. Baek Ga tells Yi Hyun to run away so that he won’t be conscripted again, but Yi Hyun tells Baek Ga that he will become an official. Seok Ju tells Myung Sim to get over Yi Hyun. Meanwhile, the King sends a message to console Donghak army.
As Donghak forces take over Jeonju, Hwang Seok-ju agrees to lead the conscripted army. With a rifle on his back, I-hyeon goes with him.
For being a marksman with a merciless rifle, Yi Hyun is ordered to kill General Nokdu on sight. And when the battle rages on Mount Wan, he takes aim and fires, severely injuring General Nokdu. Yi Kang takes him out of harm's way, and later gets appointed as the new boss. Meanwhile, a reward notice for the death of Jeon Bong Jun is put up for Donghak members to see.
While hunting for the enemy marksman, I-gang's friend is wounded. The Qing army arrives, and with it another — and wholly unwanted — surprise.
Ja In thinks she has a possible solution, and as she presents it to her father, she asks him to spare Yi Kang's life. Worried of the Qing army's presence, Yi Hyun entreats his commanding officer to read the Treaty of Tianjin. Meanwhile, the Japanese army lands in Jemulpo.
To try and save her loved ones' lives, Ja-in delivers Bong-jun's peace treaty to Kim Hak-jin. I-gang accompanies her, and looks for I-hyeon.
Baek Ga goes to Seok Ju and tells him to wait for Yi Hyun’s return, but Seok Ju refuses. Hak Jin accepts the peace treaty. However, Bong Jun hesitates to sign the treaty because Gae Nam adamantly opposes. After his consideration, Bong Jun decides to sign the treaty. Meanwhile, Gye Hoon tells Yi Hyun to kill Bong Jun.
As Bong-jun and Hak-jin come together at one table to sign the treaty, I-hyeon is given a secret mission. The Donghak followers celebrate their win.
Ja In’s father says that he will go to Hanyang to meet Minister Min Hyun Joon, but Ja In stops him. Yi Kang gets to encounter Yi Hwa and treats her a meal. Yoo Wol packs her stuff to leave for Gobu. Yi Kang confesses his love to Ja In. Yi Hyun comes to Bong Jun and tells him that he wants to help Bong Jun with the reform bill.
Bong-jun sends I-gang to Hanyang. I-hyeon grows suspicious when unexpected visitors come to Bong-jun with a strange proposal.
Ja In decides to go to Hanyang to find Yi Kang, so she goes to her father to get his consent. Yi Hyun tells the aristocrats to eliminate their slave documents. Bong Jun comes to see Seok Ju, but Seok Ju refuses to see him. Myung Sim tells Yi Hyun that she will wait for him. Meanwhile, Yi Kang finally meets Park Dong Jin.
While Japan seeks to meddle with Korea, the king is urged to listen to Bong-jun's plea for nationwide reforms. Ja-in meets Takeda Yosuke.
Monk Hae tells Beo Dul to tell Yi Kang that she has feelings for him, but Beo Dul refuses. Ja In meets Takeda and she is suspicious of him. Yi Kang gets to meet Ja In in Hanyang. Meanwhile, Japan prepares to start a war in Joseon, and Lord Daewon tells Yi Kang to bring Bong Jun to Hanyang.
Enraged by Myeong-sim's forced marriage, I-hyeon snaps. When the Japanese army invades the palace, Ja-in is tasked by the queen to act as a spy.
Bong Jun gets to know that the Japanese army invaded the palace. Ja In is called before the queen. The queen wants Ja In to be the business partner with Takeda to spy on Japan’s movement. Ja In visits Takeda and tells him that she wants to accept the deal that he suggested before.
I-gang doesn't give up on rescuing a fellow Donghak follower who's been taken by the Japanese. Yosuke wants I-hyeon to join hands with him.
Yi Hyun decides to join hands with Takeda. Kim Ga tells Bong Jun that the ogre is Yi Hyun. Baek family starts to make straw shoes for a living. Yi Kang comes back to Jeonju with Secretary Lee. Secretary Lee delivers the King’s message to Bong Jun. Meanwhile, Bong Jun asks Yi Kang about the ogre.
I-gang stands trial for hiding his brother's identity as the feared marksman. Meanwhile, I-hyeon starts anew as the leader of the Tenyukyo.
Bong Jun actually is planning to raise an army. Doo Hwang visits Takeda to bribe him, and he is surprised to see Yi Hyun there. Yoo Wol gets attacked by a masked gang, and Yi Kang saves her. Yi Kang warns Seok Ju to get along with the Jipgangso. Meanwhile, Ja In visits Bong Jun to offer him help.
At the king's orders, Bong-jun begins to raise an army to fight the Japanese. A dead body placed in front of the palace causes a stir.
Yoo Wol tells Yi Kang to go back to Bong Jun and serve him. Yi Hyun gets to encounter Hong Ga and tells him to be his subordinate. Meanwhile, Yi Kang tells Bong Jun that he wants to work for Bong Jun again. And Bong Jun tells Yi Kang to help Ja In to prepare for war.
In Jeonju, I-gang and I-hyeon meet again. I-hyeon looks into what Bong-jun is hiding, and I-gang is reinstated as a Donghak army leader.
Yi Hyun comes to the Jeonju Hostel to hide, and Deok Ki locks him in the barn. Yi Hyun gets to discover a pile of straw shoes in the barn and notices that Ja In is on Bong Jun’s side. Yi Kang gets reinstated as the boss of the detached force. Meanwhile, Seok Ju decides to raise an army to fight against the Japanese.
The king is forced to issue a statement that reflects not his wishes, but Japan's. Ja-in's plans to get to Samnye place her in danger.
Bong Gil tells Deok Ki that he should stop his plan if he wants to save Ja In’s life. Seok Ju tells Bong Jun that he wants to participate in the loyal army to help them defeat the Japanese army. Bong Jun waits for Ja In, but she doesn’t show up. Meanwhile, Deok Ki comes to Bong Jun and tells what happened to Ja In.
The Donghak army and its allies engage in a mismatched battle against the Japanese. Bong-jun grapples with whether to keep going or to disband.
The loyal army suffers a crushing defeat in the battle, and they consider whether to disperse or not. Bong Jun asks Yi Kang what to do, and Yi Kang suggests him that he should listen to the loyal soldiers’ opinions. Meanwhile, Ja In looks for Yi Kang everywhere at the battlefield, and she encounters Deok Ki.
The Japanese legation orders all Donghak followers to be killed. While I-hyeon returns to his family in Gobu, I-gang searches for fellow survivors.
Kim Ga offers shelter to Bong Jun and Kyeong Sun. The government announces to the public that there will be a reward for someone who reports Bong Jun’s whereabouts, and Kim Ga happens to hear that. Meanwhile, Yi Kang comes to Ja In to ask for money, and Ja In lets Yi Kang meet Yoo Wol.
I-gang and his fellow soldiers intend to keep on fighting. Before his trial, Bong-jun speaks to I-hyeon. A traitor is given his dues.
Kim Ga asks for forgiveness, but Beo Dul punishes him. Yi Hyun is appointed as a new district magistrate of Gobu. Yi Hyun gets to know that Takeda is planning to take over Joseon as Japanese territory. Meanwhile, Baek Ga goes to Myung Sim and tells her to leave Gobu.
Soon after I-hyeon is appointed as Gobu's new magistrate, I-gang's presence in town gets found out. The brothers bid each other farewell.
Baek Ga tells Yi Kang to take his own life for Yi Hyun’s sake. Yi Hyun wants Myung Sim to understand his difficulties, but Myung Sim tells him that the Yi Hyun that she loved doesn’t exist any longer. The day before Yi Kang's execution, Yi Hyun comes to Yi Kang to say goodbye.
