A Forbidden Marriage Episode 18 Recap
> A Forbidden Marriage Recap
Wangyue, desiring to learn the sect rules, sought guidance from Yang Qing. Although she had to leave Yunmen, she wished it to appear as her own choice rather than an expulsion due to unworthiness. As Yang Qing taught her, they shared intimate and flirtatious moments. Yang Qing highlighted key points in the thick rulebook for Wangyue, suggesting she write them down to aid memory. Wangyue complained about the arduous task, but Yang Qing insisted.
She was distracted by Yang Qing's presence, telling him the "boring rules are nowhere near as pleasant to look at as you are." Before the examination, Yang Qing gave her a good luck charm. Elder Shen, overseeing the exam, warned all disciples against cheating, stating that any discovered instances would result in immediate expulsion. After the exam, Lu Xuanxuan accused Wangyue of cheating, claiming she had been looking down with a suspicious smile.
Wangyue vehemently denied it, asserting she had spent several nights memorizing the rules. When Lu Xuanxuan demanded she show what she had, Wangyue presented her pouch, asserting she had been looking at it, but Lu Xuanxuan dismissed it and continued searching. Wangyue refused to comply with further demands, arguing that the accuser should provide proof, especially in a Yunmen examination, not Biluo Valley's. Elder Shen, however, requested Wangyue to show the item to clear her name.
Wangyue again refused, questioning why she should prove her innocence when accused. A fellow disciple supported Wangyue's stance, emphasizing that the accuser bears the burden of proof. Lu Xuanxuan, dismissing Wangyue's credibility, then "discovered" a pre-planted cheat sheet and presented it as evidence. Wangyue, unfazed, exposed Lu Xuanxuan's ploy, revealing that she never uses Wujiang ink because it causes rashes, and instead uses ink infused with Five-Soul Grass.
She asked Elder Shen to smell the paper and showed fresh rashes on her hand, proving the cheat sheet had only just been placed on her. Yang Qing then appeared, corroborating Wangyue's innocence, stating he had monitored her and she had not cheated. Lu Xuanxuan attempted to backtrack, claiming she merely had suspicions, but the evidence spoke for itself. The exam results were announced, with Wangyue securing second place and officially becoming a Yunmen disciple.
Later, Lu Xuanxuan gathered the Yunmen elders to discuss eliminating Yuan Yingxing, citing Yunmen's position as the leader of the martial world. She expressed her father's regret for not killing Yuan Yingxing earlier and apologized for the demon's continued threat. An elder countered that the Shengyue Sect was currently weakened and posed no immediate threat, suggesting that further conflict was unnecessary. Lu Xuanxuan, however, insisted on Yuan Yingxing's ruthlessness and the sect's historical power, arguing for its elimination.
When asked why Chief Lu did not attend, she explained Biluo Valley was recuperating from previous battles with Yuan Yingxing. The elders pointed out that other sects were also recovering and could not afford more losses. Yang Qing interjected, advising Lu Xuanxuan to focus on her own sect's affairs and return to Biluo Valley, asserting that she had overstayed her welcome and was interfering in Yunmen's internal matters.
He specifically mentioned her attempt to frame Wangyue during the exam, stating he had conclusive evidence of her orchestration. Despite Lu Xuanxuan's protests of being ganged up on, Yang Qing affirmed Yunmen's authority. He then politely dismissed her, asking her to inform Chief Lu that discussions about Yuan Yingxing's elimination would be postponed. Ling Yin and Mingyang arrived at Yunmen, with Ling Yin encountering Wangyue and Jiang Yan there.
Ling Yin complained to Wangyue about Yuan Yingxing being bewitched by Yao Fu. Jiang Yan was overjoyed to see Ling Yin, recalling her previous help. He eagerly asked if she had received his letters. Ling Yin playfully dismissed their mundane content, teasing Jiang Yan about his letter-writing style for girls. However, she then feigned great interest, claiming his letters intrigued her so much that she came to see the described sights herself, asking him to take her.
Jiang Yan eagerly agreed. Wangyue interrupted, reminding Jiang Yan that Yang Qing was looking for her. When Wangyue met Yang Qing, she noticed his troubled demeanor, which he attributed to lack of sleep. She then thought about stealing the Sun Blade but couldn't tell him, a thought Yang Qing subtly acknowledged.
Wangyue inquired about the reconciliation efforts, and Yang Qing assured her that he had repeatedly spoken to Sect Leader Feng Xingyun, who was close to agreeing, and asked for more time. Wangyue expressed her impatience, mentioning Yuan Yingxing's growing restlessness, but Yang Qing stressed the need for Feng Xingyun to consider the entire martial world. Wangyue eventually agreed to wait.
Alone, Wangyue contemplated taking matters into her own hands to retrieve the Sun Blade, torn between betraying Yang Qing's trust and her duty as the Saintess to protect her people from Yao Fu's influence. Her resolve solidified, concluding that Yang Qing would understand her actions. She then tried to enter the Langhuan Pavilion by charming the guard, Su Ming, but Yang Qing's unexpected appearance thwarted her attempt, leading her to quickly leave.
Yang Qing sought out other elders to persuade Feng Xingyun regarding reconciliation with the Shengyue Sect. He argued that Feng Xingyun was not inherently bloodthirsty and that peace would benefit everyone, as both sides were weakened. An elder, Senior Wang, agreed that Feng Xingyun was open to the idea but felt constrained. Another elder, Junior Wang, supported reconciliation, recalling Yuan Yingxing's father as a visionary, though acknowledging Yuan Yingxing's extreme nature.
However, other elders, including Feng Xingyun, strongly opposed Yunmen initiating peace talks, arguing that Yunmen, as the martial world leader, could not set such a precedent. They also cited the missing Moon Blade as a major grievance. Yang Qing countered that finding the Moon Blade would be easier through reconciliation, which would also unite the Sun and Moon Blades to complete the Alliance Leader's Token, preventing future crises.
Despite his arguments, Feng Xingyun maintained that the matter was too significant for a hasty decision and required further deliberation. Yang Qing conceded. Feng Xingyun then announced that the new disciples would embark on mountain training, led by Elder Shen, to investigate a "haunting" in Yunyin Village. Wangyue was dismayed to learn about the upcoming mountain training in three days, as it would pull her away from Yunmen, potentially jeopardizing her mission to acquire the Sun Blade.
She also expressed her reluctance to leave Yang Qing, wishing he could accompany them. Yang Qing, aware of her true intentions, subtly questioned if she was genuinely reluctant to leave him or if she was still preoccupied with "certain things" in Yunmen. He then revealed his own mission to Biluo Valley, which would keep him away for a while, and instructed her to behave during the training.
Yang Qing privately worried that if Wangyue remained in Yunmen, she might attempt to steal the Sun Blade, leading to unforeseen consequences. Led by Elder Shen, the disciples arrived at Yunyin Village, finding it eerily deserted with all doors and windows tightly shut. Wangyue, finding this suspicious, pushed open a door and found a fearful village woman inside. The woman, distrustful, urged them to leave, claiming no knowledge of Yunmen or any request for help.
As the disciples expressed confusion, Ling Yin suddenly appeared. She calmed the woman, assuring her that the Yunmen disciples were her friends and the village's curse would not harm them, persuading the woman to let them stay. Elder Shen, however, grew suspicious of Ling Yin's identity, but Jiang Yan vouched for her, recalling her past assistance in Qinglai City when she cured them of the Shengyue Sect's Ghost Scent poison.
He highlighted her kind heart, and another disciple suggested Ling Yin's connection to the village could aid their training. Elder Shen, recognizing her contributions, apologized for his initial suspicion. Ling Yin informed the disciples that the village was indeed under a curse. She recounted the story: half a month prior, the village chief's son, Qiang, had provoked a "mountain ghost" while hunting. The villagers, disbelieving, sent their youth to investigate, resulting in many dying or going mad.
They sought help from Yunmen but received none for half a month, fueling their resentment. Ling Yin added that even those who hadn't gone to the mountain, including the elderly and infirm, had fallen ill after hearing strange flute music. Wangyue wondered if it was Yuan Yingxing's flute music, which could injure internal organs. Ling Yin also revealed that the villagers believed anyone entering their cursed village would die, citing a "mountain ghost's dream prophecy."
Elder Shen furiously dismissed the "curse" as a fabricated hoax designed to slander Yunmen and undermine its authority, vowing to uncover the truth. Suddenly, disciple Jiang Yu rushed in, reporting that Senior Qin, who had been fetching water, was now foaming at the mouth and unconscious. Jiang Yan immediately urged Ling Yin to examine him. Ling Yin identified the cause as rove beetles, a tiny, poisonous insect from the southwest.
She explained that she could not cure the illness directly and that an antidote could only be made after finding the queen beetle, which was impossible without knowing where the insects were contracted. She implied this was a ruthless method used by someone against Yunmen. As Ling Yin prepared to leave, seemingly unwilling to help further, Jiang Yan pleaded with her.
Elder Shen abruptly sealed Ling Yin's acupoints, identifying her as "Lingyin, the Demonic Healer," and accusing the Shengyue Sect of using their Mount Yin rove beetles to harm Yunmen disciples and ruin their reputation. He saw the peace talks as a mere facade and demanded to know their true sinister plot.
Jiang Yan, bewildered, protested that the Demonic Healer was rumored to be an old woman who devoured children, and that Ling Yin was young and beautiful, believing there must be a misunderstanding. Ling Yin affirmed it was a misunderstanding, but Wangyue shouted for Elder Shen to release Ling Yin.
