Talisman Butterfly

[One woman, two love interests; open ending; blurb needs revision]

Selfish, scheming girl x saintly man with a secret obsession x childhood friend with a tragic, love-hate bond

Being recognized and brought back to the Immortal Sect should have been a glorious occasion for Fu Die. She had once been delighted at the thought of finally living a good life, but she was treated worse at home than a dog.

Even after she reached the fairest place in the world, the Immortal Alliance, she was still relentlessly bullied.

In the depths of winter, Fu Die clutched a dead tree branch and climbed shivering out of the lake.

A young man named Xie Jiu pulled her onto the shore, then let go with a look of disgust.

He said, "Little Butterfly, how pitiful. You're a complete mess."

He pitied her for what she'd been through and saw all her suffering, but he always just stood by and laughed at her.

Fu Die was furious.

She hated everyone in the world, but she was so weak in a fight that she couldn't turn her grand ambitions into reality.

Later, she met Jiang Xueshi.

Jiang Xueshi was born with a sword bone, pure and immaculate as frost and snow, a peerless genius praised by everyone who saw him.

Everyone in the sect liked him, and they all hated her.

So Fu Die insisted on staying by Jiang Xueshi's side, right beside the beloved Brother Jiang, just to get in everyone's way and infuriate them.

That winter, she set a trap to get close to Jiang Xueshi because she didn't want to go home.

The next winter, Jiang Xueshi favored her.

He was the first person in the world to treat her well, and Fu Die didn't want him to die.

But there were far too many people who wanted him dead. For their own ends, they led Brother Jiang step by step into a deadly trap.

Fu Die fought desperately to save everything, but it was already too late.

Amid the falling snow, the person who said he loved her most in the world died in her arms.

As she wept, Fu Die dug Jiang Xueshi's sword bone out and took it for herself.

Even in her grief, she made sure nothing went to waste.

She swore she would keep him as the only moonlight in her heart and avenge him.

-

After obtaining the sword bone, Fu Die became a swordsmanship prodigy overnight.

The first thing she did after returning home was kill everyone there, then make a grand entrance into the demonic path and begin pursuing her grand ambitions.

Before long, she killed the first person responsible for Jiang Xueshi's death: her childhood friend, Xie Jiu.

The young man didn't struggle. He let her long sword pierce his heart.

He asked her why she hated him so much. Was it only because he had caused Jiang Xueshi's death?

Fu Die couldn't answer. All she could say was, "Yes."

Xie Jiu suddenly smiled. Then, like a madman, he grabbed the blade and pushed it deeper. His bloodied lips brushed the fingers gripping the sword, his gaze fervent and devout.

He said, "But I love you."

Theme: I have struggled with myself for so long