Episode Summary
Wang Yue solidifies her place in the Cloud Sect by passing an exam despite Lu Xuanxuan's attempt to frame her. While wrestling with her secret mission to find the Sun Blade and her growing feelings for Yang Qing, she is sent on a training mission. The disciples arrive at a cursed and empty village where a mysterious illness reveals Ling Yin's true, notorious identity.
Spoiler Alert
Episode 18 of A Forbidden Marriage begins with Wang Yue determined to leave the Cloud Sect on her own terms. Not wanting to be kicked out for not meeting the standards, she asks Yang Qing to teach her the sect's rules so she can "choose" to leave. Their study sessions are surprisingly sweet and full of flirty moments.
Come exam time, Lu Xuanxuan is watching Wang Yue like a hawk, convinced she'll cheat. The moment the test ends, Lu Xuanxuan pounces, accusing Wang Yue of cheating and producing a pre-written note as "proof." But Wang Yue was ready for this. She calmly reveals she was only looking at a scented pouch during the exam and exposes Lu Xuanxuan's obvious setup. Yang Qing steps in to defend Wang Yue, who shuts down all the drama by scoring second place in the exam, officially earning her spot as a Cloud Sect disciple.
Later, Lu Xuanxuan tries to persuade the Cloud Sect elders to attack Yuan Yingxing, but they don't see him as a threat and refuse. Yang Qing uses this as a chance to politely show her the door. Meanwhile, Wang Yue's friends, Ling Yin and Ming Yang, arrive for a visit, much to the delight of a very flustered Jiang Yan, who clearly has a crush on Ling Yin.
Wang Yue's real mission is to find the Sun Blade, but she can't bring herself to tell Yang Qing the truth, especially after he promises to convince his master to agree to a truce between the sects. Torn between her mission and her feelings for him, she decides to search for the blade herself, knowing it could be seen as a betrayal.
Things get complicated when Wang Yue learns she's being sent down the mountain for training with other disciples, which ruins her plans to find the Sun Blade. She's also sad to leave Yang Qing, who tells her he's heading to Biluo Valley for a while.
Led by Elder Shen, the disciples arrive at a village for their training, only to find it completely deserted. When they finally find some villagers, they are terrified. Ling Yin manages to calm one of them down, but her presence makes Elder Shen suspicious. Just as they start investigating a supposed village curse, a disciple suddenly falls ill. Ling Yin identifies the cause as a Rove Beetle but says she can't create a cure without finding the "Beetle King."This expert knowledge reveals her true identity to Elder Shen, and Jiang Yan is left in disbelief, unable to accept that the woman he's smitten with is the infamous "evil old woman" of Jianghu.
