Don't Raise a Black-Hearted Lotus (Old Version, Pending Lock)

[Please read this!!! The old version needs revisions before it can be reposted. I've started a new pre-order project next door, Don't Raise a Black-Hearted Lotus (New Version), and will update it there.]

[The "senior sister" in the blurb is a man in women's clothing.]

When the senior disciples from the sect came looking for You Fuqiu, she was confused.

The senior brother was the greatest swordsman in the sect. Even when he said nothing, his spiritual aura was intensely aggressive.

The senior sister, meanwhile, was a renowned medical cultivator and genius. Like other medical cultivators, she always had a gentle, accepting look in her eyes.

And You Fuqiu was merely an unremarkable outer-sect disciple. Every day she repeated the most mechanical, simplest cultivation routine, and because she was a half-demon, the path to cultivation seemed impossibly long.

Until then, she hadn't known them well.

But now, the senior sister gazed at her gently. "Junior Sister Fuqiu, how about we make a deal?"

You Fuqiu looked at her, then at the indifferent man behind her.

It turned out that the two of them had been poisoned by a demon and the sect master had suggested they become Dao companions to dispel the poison.

Though they were close friends, neither felt anything beyond friendship for the other.

There was no love between them, but they needed a "tool" who could help bear the demonic poison at any time and purify their spiritual energy.

A half-demon capable of cultivating both spiritual and demonic energy was the perfect choice.

"I've been watching you for a long time. You always keep quietly to yourself, do well in your studies, and work hard at cultivation. Someone as good as you shouldn't waste your time in the outer sect. Helping us is clearly your best choice, don't you think?" The senior sister gently wiped the dust from her face.

The senior brother suppressed his casual scrutiny, as if certain she would not refuse. "A year wasted in this place won't compare to even one day of progress for you later."

You Fuqiu was disgusted, but unable to refuse, and was forced to follow them to the sect's main peak.

As she had expected, the job was so painful it was almost unbearable.

She saw the identical indifference and cruelty beneath their false facades, and suffered greatly for it.

But it didn't matter.

She had patience.

Patience to find the right accomplice.

And patience to sow discord bit by bit, until the two of them turned against each other and became bitter enemies.

[Reader's Guide]

The blurb contains a lot of misleading details. For example, going to the main peak is actually the female lead's own decision. No other spoilers.

There are multiple male supporting characters, not just the two in the blurb. The story features one-on-one relationships at different stages.

More to be added

Theme: Perseverance brings victory