Hong Gil-dong, born as an illegitimate son of prime minister Hong and his concubine Chunrang, leaves home, unsatisfied with his status that he was not recognized as a proper son to his father nor a brother to his elder brother. After overhearing the conversations of bandits sent by a district magistrate to steal Lee Jangja's daughter, Gil-dong transforms into Lee Jangja's daughter, taken to the bandit leader instead of the real daughter, and got rid of the bandits. Also, he saves Lee Jangja who has been punished in prison by the district magistrate. After that, the magistrate offers a reward for arresting Gil-dong to no avail as Gil-dong can use magic. Gil-dong's brother (Hong Inhyeong) recommends Gil-dong to self-surrender because of his father's illness, and Gil-dong surrenders himself because he understands his brother's suffering. On his transfer to Seoul, Gil-dong hears a news about his mother being prisoned then escapes from the patrol wagon out of anger, sneaks into a prison where his mother is, and dies after taking the poison bestowed to his mother by a king.