Surviving as the Terminally Ill Young Lady of the North Sea Ice Palace - Chapter 46

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 46
Of course, lack of preparation didn’t make the question difficult to answer.
“There’s no way that could be true.”
“Speak honestly. I won’t hold it against you. Even if the North Sea Ice Palace had contacted the Demonic Sect, I would keep it secret. I’m asking because I genuinely worry for you.”
Gwak Do-cheon spoke with utmost gravity.
But since I felt no guilt whatsoever, I answered confidently.
“Weren’t all the Demonic Arts texts burned to ash during the Righteous-Demonic War? Besides, before I came to Tian Wu Academy, I spent my entire life in the North Sea.”
There was no way I could have learned Demonic Arts.
Even if someone else had, why this when Peng Zhong-geol clearly brought what he drew from Tian Shan?
But in the very next instant.
There was a blade beneath my chin.
“…?!”
Gwak Do-cheon’s sword.
‘Ah, so that’s why it’s called the Neng Guang Sword.’
That was my thought the moment the absurd truth dawned on me.
It’s truly incredibly fast.
Had he been even slightly slower—just slightly—I could have responded somehow.
But it was so impossibly quick that I could only widen my eyes and stare at Gwak Do-cheon.
“…Why aren’t you alarmed?”
“I am alarmed.”
Rather, Gwak Do-cheon’s pupils trembled.
“Do the Demonic Sect fiends these days train so that they don’t even flinch before death? There’s no Heavenly Demon Divine Art left to repay such loyalty!”
His voice rose slightly.
But honestly, his acting was rather unconvincing, and I felt no real threat.
If he truly meant to kill me with the blade already at my throat, wouldn’t he have just severed my neck then and there?
Instead, he deliberately withdrew the sword outward, then slashed through empty air again—openly inviting a counterattack.
Was this a reflex test?
Did I really have to role-play the Demonic Sect too?
Clang!
Still, I drew my sword this time and caught Gwak Do-cheon’s blade.
‘Ugh.’
What surprised me was how much inner power was packed into Gwak Do-cheon’s sword strike.
I had to pour all my strength into receiving it.
And in the end, a trace of Yin Cold Energy leaked out.
“…So you’ve only learned Ice Arts after all.”
And in that moment, Gwak Do-cheon withdrew his sword.
“A…test?”
That it was a test I could easily discern.
But why Gwak Do-cheon was doing this, I had no idea whatsoever.
Surely he didn’t do this every time a disciple arrived?
“Forgive me for startling you. I had to know for certain whether you’d truly learned no Demonic Arts.”
“Ah…”
His explanation was deeply confusing.
It wasn’t as though I’d explosively released the Yin Cold Energy, so there shouldn’t be serious damage to my lifespan.
But had it been any other martial master and not Gwak Do-cheon who wielded that sword just now, I might have left it at that.
“This is truly, truly a grave matter. If you had learned the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and the sword chose you because of that, the martial world could fall into great chaos once more.”
Yet Gwak Do-cheon was, after all, quite handsome.
And he bore a genuinely apologetic expression.
“I don’t understand what you mean. I have no connection whatsoever to Demonic Arts, and I didn’t even use martial power to draw the sword.”
I earnestly insisted that I’d simply tugged it and it slid out smoothly.
I do know one heterodox technique, but given the sequence of events, I was certain it wasn’t the influence of the Red Zhen Hun Yang Art, so I spoke with confidence.
“What manner of sword is it, then? Is it the Heavenly Demon’s blade or something?”
“…”
Judging by how serious he looked—as though a second Righteous-Demonic War could break out at any moment—this was no jest.
And if he’d just threatened me like that, didn’t I have a right to know?
When I pressed the question gently, Gwak Do-cheon hardened his face and fell into thought.
“I’m not sure whether I should tell you. Even when Gwang-yeom brought that stone, we never imagined ‘it’ could be ‘that.’ Had we known, we would have burned it or buried it…”
Hmm. A familiar pattern.
Baek Ui-jin-in and my father kept the Nine Yin Blocked Meridians hidden from me for years.
Though frustrating, I could understand to some degree why the adults wanted to protect me—I was still young.
Rather than whine and demand answers outright, I decided to fish for information by pretending to know something already.
“Do I possess the aptitude to learn the Against Heaven Line Way arts, sir?”
“……!”
Bingo.
The sword had characters engraved on it saying “Against Heaven Line Way,” so I’d taken a shot in the dark—figured it was probably a constitution issue like the Blocked Meridian Syndrome—and I’d guessed right.
Gwak Do-cheon’s eyes flew wide open in shock.
What? I was right? Could it possibly be connected to the Nine Yin Blocked Meridians?
I’d heard of the Heavenly Demon aspect in Blocked Meridian Syndrome, but not much—and that’s if we’re talking about someone with a Heavenly Star constitution, which I’m not.
“Even if that were the case, sir, I have no need for Demonic Arts. I have already received instruction in the Ice White Divine Art from my father, who has achieved the rank of absolute master, and I humbly seek deeper teachings from you, my teacher.”
Since I genuinely had no intention of studying Demonic Arts, even if it turned out to be true, it didn’t matter to me.
Rather, this was finally my chance to demonstrate a strong, genuine commitment to learning.
I bowed deeply and cupped my fists in gratitude.
“Yes… that’s right. Just because the sword chose you doesn’t mean you must walk the path of demonism.”
Gwak Do-cheon stared at me with a bewildered expression.
Then he nodded, his face deeply moved.
“Demonism?”
“Your thinking is correct. That sword is, quite literally, one that only someone with the capacity to become the supreme master of ten thousand demons could draw. It’s not the Heavenly Demon’s Sword, but… the Sect Master’s Sword.”
Ah, well—I hadn’t actually thought it through that far.
“Then what shall I do? Am I truly permitted to possess this sword, sir?”
“…….”
Was that… all right?
It was a shame to waste the sword I’d drawn, but if sect masters had been using it for generations, maybe I’d feel at least a little awkward about it.
As I stared at Excalibur without enthusiasm,
“Besides, the Demonic Sect’s bloodline has long since been severed. There’s barely anyone left who even knows about it. The Palace Master doesn’t know, and neither do the other martial teachers.”
Gwak Do-cheon offered a gentle smile and returned the sword to me once more.
For a moment, I wondered how he could know so much about this blade.
But looking at his expression, so steeped in profound sorrow, all my questions simply evaporated.
“Use it freely. It was forged to test the qualifications of a sect master, so it’s not inherently a demonic blade in itself.”
Perhaps he was thinking of a dear friend lost to a demonic disciple during the Righteous-Demonic War.
Since it seemed even stranger for a fifteen-year-old student to ask about his grief and comfort him, I simply accepted the sword without prying.
“It is a blessing that it has found a new master. This time… it shall surely become a sword of the Righteous Path. I will illuminate that way for you from beside you.”
So the blade itself is morally neutral, then.
Fine. Let’s go with that.
With Gwak Do-cheon’s words, I let go of my hesitation.
Besides, the synergy with the Red Zhen Hun Yang Art was already excellent, so I might as well count my blessings.
“Ah, wait a moment…….”
But what exactly did he say at the very end?
I was nodding, then I stopped.
“Do you mean you will teach me the way of the Righteous Path, through sword and martial arts, sir?”
He hadn’t even asked me to introduce myself, nor questioned my motivation for applying.
He hadn’t even watched me demonstrate swordplay.
“There must be a reason why that sword chose you. The Heavenly Mandate would not leave you untouched. Your brilliant talent—where it will shine, I cannot yet say. ……I do not doubt the other martial teachers, but I believe I am best suited to guide you.”
Gwak Do-cheon declared my acceptance after discussing only the sword.
Though he’d added something rather learned, his beautiful face made it entirely engaging rather than tedious.
“I am most grateful! My sword shall point only toward the path of righteousness!”
Whether I’d drawn the sword because of the Blocked Meridian Syndrome and Gwak Do-cheon had misunderstood something,
or whether there was something else to the Against Heaven Line Way that I didn’t know about—
in any case, I had no intention of living by fate or living on borrowed time.
I was going to cure myself completely, seduce the handsome long-haired man, and live a peaceful, happy century together, thank you very much.
“Is there anyone you wish to take revenge on, or anyone you wish to kill?”
“Though it is shameful to admit, I was raised as a precious jewel in the North Sea Ice Palace, and I have no enmity with anyone, sir.”
I answered calmly even to his strange line of questioning.
At my words, Gwak Do-cheon seemed to let out a breath of relief, pressing a hand to his chest.
* * *
It must have been because of the Blocked Meridian Syndrome, right?
As I walked out of Bun-gwang Hall and reflected on what had happened,
I wondered if perhaps something was awry—vital meridian points that shouldn’t be sealed being sealed, or an abnormally amplified Yin Cold Energy playing some role that caused the sword to misunderstand something.
Though I couldn’t begin to guess at the mechanism, I had easily pierced through a ten-to-one disadvantage, so things had worked out well regardless.
Gwak Do-cheon seemed quite grave about something on his own, but from what I could tell, he seemed perfectly fine with it as long as it wasn’t Demonic Arts, so I quickly dismissed that minor misunderstanding from the interview from my mind.
My brain didn’t have the capacity to memorize his face and still prepare and review the lessons.
Especially that last elective lecture on herbalism—surely it would demand a tremendous amount of memorization?
I’d been practicing the close-range footwork all morning, and at the time Peng Zhong-geol had announced the day before, I made my way to the Medicinal Herb Hall.
Since there was only one person registered anyway, they’d naturally accept me without issue.
But both of my assumptions proved wrong.
“I had no idea you were interested in herbalism, Miss Seol.”
“Eun-hyeon?”
Besides me, there was another student standing in front of the Medicinal Herb Hall.
“What? Why did two people sign up for this mind-numbingly dull lecture?”
Yak-seon, whom I’d expected to welcome us, hurled a book across the table with rough frustration.
Surviving as a Doomed Young Lady of the North Sea Ice Palace (Serialized)
Author │ Sah-hyang Noru
Publisher │ Kim Joo-hyung
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyeok
Address │ Room 401, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, Ace Techno Tower 8)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ www.jayplemedia.com
ⓒ Sah-hyang Noru 2026
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder. The content may not be used in any form or by any means without the permission of the company and author.
Violation of this restriction may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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