A Forbidden Marriage Episode 23 Recap
> A Forbidden Marriage Recap
Lingyin continued to treat Elder Shen, whose condition worried many Yunmen disciples. Some voiced their reluctance to accept assistance from the Shengyue Sect, citing past conflicts and the supposed theft of the Sun Blade by Yang Wangyue. One disciple, Shang Huai, belligerently accused Lingyin of incompetence, claiming she was taking too long. Lingyin sharply retorted, reminding them that she had no obligation to save "that old man" and warning them not to push their luck.
Yang Qing, the other Yunmen elder present, stepped in to apologize for Shang Huai's outburst. Lingyin found Elder Shen's injuries perplexing and serious. She questioned Yang Qing about the difference in martial skill between Elder Shen and Lu Xuanxuan, who had inflicted the wounds. Yang Qing admitted that Elder Shen's power should far surpass Lu Xuanxuan's.
He wondered if Elder Shen's exposure to Ghost Scent, a poison, might have weakened him, but Lingyin dismissed this, stating that Elder Shen's internal strength was profound, and his Ghost Scent poisoning was not severe enough to cause such extensive damage. She revealed that despite the lack of external wounds, Elder Shen's internal organs were severely damaged by Lu Xuanxuan's palm strike, leaving him in critical condition.
Jiang Yan, another Yunmen disciple, confirmed his own experience sparring with Lu Xuanxuan, stating that her skills were insufficient to inflict such a severe injury. Lingyin then confirmed that Elder Shen was injured by the Six Harmonies Divine Art, an ancient and evil technique. She described its effects, stating that practitioners gradually succumb to bloodlust, becoming brutal killers. Murong Xuan of Yanmen, who had been observing the events, elaborated on the Six Harmonies Divine Art.
He explained that it kills invisibly, leaving only a palm print, and internally devastates the victim's meridians, leading to a swift death. Murong Xuan revealed that the technique was originally created by a former Chief of the Shengyue Sect, causing a catastrophe in the martial world before being suppressed by the Yunmen founder. He expressed concern that Biluo Valley had somehow rediscovered the manual and resurrected this dangerous art, linking it to recent cases of missing children.
Yang Qing realized that this information connected many unresolved mysteries. Murong Xuan advised Yang Qing to consult Yunmen's historical records on the previous conflict with the Six Harmonies Divine Art and to immediately inform Sect Leader Feng, who would understand the gravity of the situation. Lingyin, determined, declared that she would study the technique and find a cure, refusing to let Elder Shen die in the Shengyue Sect.
Meanwhile, at Tianyu Palace, Yang Wangyue was preoccupied with news of Yang Qing. Yuan Yingxing chided her for neglecting her duties, reminding her that Yunmen's status in the martial world had plummeted after Biluo Valley's Chief Lu seized the position of alliance leader. He warned Wangyue against getting too close to Yang Qing, given Yunmen's decline and Yang Qing's past betrayal of her by marrying Yao Fu.
Wangyue, however, was unconcerned with status, professing her desire to be with Yang Qing and even suggested he could manage the Shengyue Sect's affairs. Yuan Yingxing adamantly refused to provide any military support, including Lingyin and Mingyang. Wangyue pressed him, reminding him of his promise to support her and Yang Qing, mentioning that Yang Qing had nearly died for her. Yuan Yingxing countered by saying Yang Qing's marriage to Yao Fu was a ploy to obtain the Sun Blade.
Wangyue, undeterred, stated her unwavering trust in Yang Qing. To secure Yuan Yingxing's cooperation, Wangyue revealed that she knew he was secretly hiding Yao Fu. Faced with this, Yuan Yingxing reluctantly agreed to help. Shortly after, Yang Qing arrived at Tianyu Palace. Wangyue happily greeted him.
Yang Qing formally thanked Yuan Yingxing for their temporary refuge and proposed an alliance between Yunmen and the Shengyue Sect to counter Biluo Valley, emphasizing the grave threat posed by Chief Lu's practice of the Six Harmonies Divine Art and the potential for widespread devastation. Yuan Yingxing remained skeptical, again bringing up Yang Qing's marriage to Yao Fu as a sign of his untrustworthiness.
Yang Qing explained that his marriage to Junior Yao was a misunderstanding and suggested Yuan Yingxing could ask Yao Fu directly for clarification, but stressed the urgency of forming an alliance to prevent Biluo Valley from controlling other sects. Wangyue passionately advocated for the alliance, believing it would restore peace to the martial world and clear the Shengyue Sect's name.
Yuan Yingxing, still distrustful, demanded Yang Qing kowtow three times at Tianyu Palace, the sacred heritage site of the Shengyue Sect, as proof of his sincerity. Lingyin, with Jiang Yan's reluctant assistance, ventured out to examine the bodies of those killed by Chief Lu, hoping to find clues for a cure. Jiang Yan was visibly uncomfortable with the task.
Mingyang, a Shengyue Sect disciple, explained to Jiang Yan that despite Lingyin's reputation for "evil deeds," her unconventional methods, like dealing with the deceased, were always aimed at saving more lives. Jiang Yan, realizing his past misjudgment, apologized to Mingyang for his misunderstandings and earlier rude behavior. Back at the Shengyue Sect, Elder Shen regained consciousness.
He and Yang Qing discussed the troubling lack of response from Sect Leader Feng, leading them to suspect that something might have happened at Yunmen. Elder Shen proposed returning with all Yunmen disciples, but Yang Qing decided to go alone, citing Elder Shen's incomplete recovery. Wangyue vehemently opposed his departure, fearing for his safety and the possibility of becoming a widow. She reminded him of their wedding ceremony at the Shengyue Sect and his duty to her.
Yang Qing gently explained his responsibilities to Yunmen and the martial world, assuring her he would protect himself and return. To appease her, they played a game of cards, with the stakes being the Sun Blade or their wedding night. Wangyue playfully accused Yang Qing of cheating. She threatened to lock him in the Saintess Hall, like Yuan Yingxing did with Yao Fu, to keep him with her.
Yang Qing reaffirmed his love and desire to be with her forever, but insisted on fulfilling his duties. Wangyue eventually relented, agreeing to stay but vowing to send people to follow him and to lead an assault on Biluo Valley if he faced any harm. She offered him the Sun Blade for protection, but Yang Qing entrusted it to her, emphasizing that her safety and her support at the Shengyue Sect were crucial for his return.
Later, Elder Shen, though recovering, showed signs of his wounds reopening due to movement. Lingyin warned him to rest and delegate tasks to others. Elder Shen, touched by her care, sincerely thanked and apologized to Lingyin for his initial misjudgment of her. Outside, Jiang Yan approached Lingyin again, apologizing for his previous misunderstandings and confessing his feelings for her. Lingyin, however, gently rejected him, implying her heart belonged to someone else.
Jiang Yan, embarrassed, quickly tried to cover up his confession as a joke before excusing himself to help his teacher. Meanwhile, Yao Fu fell into a coma again, refusing to eat or drink. Yuan Yingxing, gravely concerned, summoned Lingyin to examine her. Lingyin found no external abnormalities but noted that Yao Fu's life force was slowly draining away, confirming she was dying, despite the inexplicable pulse.
Yuan Yingxing demanded answers from Yao Fu, threatening her with a "Compliance Pill" to reveal the truth. Yao Fu finally confessed that she was dying from the Fusheng Spell, a secret technique taught by her father that had backfired, a karmic retribution for her attempt to overthrow the Shengyue Sect. She also revealed that her father had died from the same spell and that only the Sun Blade and Moon Blade could save her.
Yuan Yingxing realized that the Moon Blade was actually the Shengyue Token and that Yao Fu had approached him solely to obtain it. Heartbroken, he asked her one last time if she had ever truly loved him. Yang Qing returned to Yunmen and met his master, Sect Leader Feng. He immediately questioned Feng's dismissive attitude towards Biluo Valley's aggression and the reappearance of the Six Harmonies Divine Art, urging an alliance with the Shengyue Sect.
Sect Leader Feng, however, became enraged, accusing Yang Qing of being bewitched by Wangyue, the "little demoness" from the Shengyue Sect. Without further ado, he ordered Yang Qing to be imprisoned in Seclusion Valley.
