Surviving as the Terminally Ill Young Lady of the North Sea Ice Palace - Chapter 5

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

Chapter 5
“To witness the martial arts of the Northern Sea Ice Palace firsthand—what an honor for a lifetime!”
The middle-aged man who had revealed his alias as Han Yang-hui drew in breath with visible excitement.
“The Ice Palace? Truly? From that insular place… I’ve wandered the Central Plains since my youth, but I’ve never met anyone from the Northern Sea until now!”
The inn keeper who had posed the original question turned ashen and bolted.
The common folk drew near with pleased expressions and began to speak.
“You know of the Ice Palace?”
“Know of it? Isn’t it that mysterious sect built of ice, leagues to the north that takes nearly three years to reach?”
But the answer that came back was beyond all imagination.
Three years? Nearly that—no, not quite so far.
And there’s no ice fortress.
How could such a thing make sense? Even in the Northern Sea, the snow melts in summer.
Frozen Moon Lake doesn’t freeze solid until November.
“And wasn’t it the Polar Star Sovereign who took the head of Xue Yan Mo-di during that outbreak of the Demonic Sect? To think I would meet the Ice Palace Master’s precious child in the flesh…!”
“Mm.”
At least that part was correct.
Though much of what they believed about the Northern Sea Ice Palace was wrong.
There were those who knew my father’s alias, and the sentiment was quite favorable.
Gossip-loving enthusiasts of the Martial World, perhaps.
“That beautiful young lady defeated Han Yang-hui?”
“What happened exactly?”
“Well, when you just touched him like this…”
“They say anything a martial artist of the Ice Palace touches turns to ice, don’t they? Maybe that’s what she used?”
Ha. There are similar techniques, true enough.
But I’m no sorcerer.
“Gasp!”
Even without speaking as constantly as the chattering middle-aged man, many people lingered around the inn, hoping to catch a glimpse of my face.
We were in the northern reaches of the Central Plains, in a town where disciples of the Ice Palace would naturally pass through whenever they traveled abroad.
Yet my father and the other Ice Palace disciples had apparently not revealed their identities.
“M-miss…great one…!”
Meanwhile, the man who had cleaned the floor fidgeted with his hands.
Unable to find anywhere to look, his entire body trembled.
“Hmm.”
I crouched down to check how well he’d done the work, running my finger across the floor.
“Eeeeeek!”
“I had no intention of reproaching you for dust.”
The man shrieked as though the inn itself were collapsing.
“I believe he was startled, thinking you were about to use that martial technique again,” the enthusiast whispered.
Now that he mentioned it, that seemed to be the case.

“That’s enough. Come closer.”
“Uh, h-hah, g-guh…!”
Just as I was about to show mercy, the man lost all capacity for speech.
Yet some survival instinct remained—he crawled toward me almost on all fours.
I told him he could settle his debt and return home, as promised.
“Here, for the table I broke.”
“Oh! Thank you so much!”
I handed the innkeeper the money I’d extracted from the ruffians, and he bent in a perfect right angle.
I paid for the damaged furniture with the money taken from the martial artists, and I gave an entire pouch to cover the meals of all the guests who had watched today’s commotion.
“By the way, you didn’t get a proper meal either, did you?”
The disturbance had been settled, and as I was about to head back upstairs, I noticed a boy whose face had taken quite a beating—he caught my eye.
Jostled aside by those trying to catch a glimpse of me, he still clutched his bundle tightly, hesitating.
“I’ll order a bowl of soft noodles for this boy as well.”
Poor thing, he must have been quite frightened.
I invited the boy to join us at our table as I placed his order.
He had been staring blankly in my direction, but suddenly he came to his senses and followed me.
“Ah! Thank you, truly, truly thank you…!”
I wondered if there were lingering aftereffects from the beating.
The boy bowed his head repeatedly in gratitude, arriving a step late.
“I ran away four days ago and was caught… I thought I’d be beaten to death for sure.”
“They weren’t much to speak of, anyway.”
I shrugged lightly and gestured for him to sit comfortably while he ate.
Though the Master of Bai Xiong Hall had a rather intimidating appearance, people from the Northern Sea were generally kind to children.
He personally placed a spoon in front of the boy.
“This child is…….”
“Ah, I’m So-un.”
I’d heard bits of it from Han Yang-hui earlier, but the boy now introduced himself formally.
His name was So-un.
His mother had died giving birth to him, and his father had been a servant at Yu Manor.
So-un’s father had cherished his son in his own way and worked with integrity.
But years ago, while running an errand for the Master of Yu Manor, he met with misfortune far from home.
Still, Yu Manor hadn’t cast So-un out, and he’d been living as a servant to the young master.
Then last year, by chance, he’d met a skilled martial artist called Gwak Do-cheon—and that was where his troubles began.
“He said I had talent and gave me a token, but the Master of Yu Manor found out and took it from me.”
“What, a man of his station robbing a child? The poor boy must have suffered greatly.”
Can you believe there are such people in the world?
Following a master who steals from children, yet lecturing about righteousness because the boy tried to take back what was his.
“Maybe I should have beaten him more thoroughly.”
“No, no, it’s fine!”
As I muttered regret at how peacefully it had ended, So-un waved his hands, insisting he was truly grateful.
“Miss, you won’t destroy Yu Manor, will you?”
The Master of Bai Xiong Hall, who had been listening quietly to So-un’s story, took the jest one step further.
“What? We’re not some Demonic Sect.”
Look at the fear on So-un’s face.
Some jokes need to know their limits.
There were already strange rumors about the Northern Sea Ice Palace spreading about; outsiders might not realize he was joking.
“Ha.”
“We need to hurry to Luoyang. When would we have time for that?”
“Since you ride so well, miss, we actually have plenty of time.”
True enough. It wasn’t something that happened in our domain of the Northern Sea, and it was just an incident we stumbled upon on the road. Why make such a fuss?
I assured So-un that the Master of Bai Xiong Hall had only been joking and there was nothing to fear.
“It’s a shame, really. Now that I finally get to accompany you, the opponent was too weak for me to properly witness your true skill.”
The disciples of the Ice Palace, who were far stronger than me, always had a way of flattering me like this.
I scolded him for saying such strange things.
But the Master of Bai Xiong Hall genuinely looked disappointed, pursing his lips.
“I would have liked another round or two…… Well, since it’s come to this, I’ll escort you all the way to Tianwu Academy. I’m Han Yang-hui, Master of Bai Xiong Hall of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
Only now did he stop his nonsense and offer a proper introduction.
“Pardon?”
“Hmm?”
There was something odd about what he’d just said.
“So-un—you’re going to Tianwu Academy too?”
I’d heard the word “academy” mentioned, but across the vast Central Plains, Tianwu Academy wasn’t the only one.
I naturally assumed it would be somewhere else.
“You’re heading to Tianwu Academy as well, miss?”
So you are?
The Master of Bai Xiong Hall widened his eyes, as if to say I’d helped him without even knowing it.
“Didn’t So-un just mention Gwak Do-cheon? He’s one of the Five Sword Masters—Gwak Do-cheon, the Martial Instructor of Tianwu Academy.”
I wouldn’t know that much, surely.
How was I supposed to know the instructor’s name before even entering?
The Master of Bai Xiong Hall pointed a finger at So-un’s bundle.
“The token he received from Gwak Do-cheon—that must be an Admission Token for Tianwu Academy, isn’t it?”
“……Yes.”
So-un hesitated a moment, then nodded.
With the stolen item confirmed to be an Admission Token, everything fell into place.
Tianwu Academy selected multiple applicants each year through recommendations from the Sectarian Masters or Martial Instructors.
In other words, if you held a token and went to the academy, you could skip the grueling examination and gain admission immediately.
I myself was planning to enter that way, which was why I carried the token my father had given me.
Wait, but that aside.
“Isn’t the minimum age for admission to Tianwu Academy fifteen?”
The academy couldn’t raise children from infancy, so they set a baseline age requirement for admission.
That must be why Father waited until this year to bring it up.
But wouldn’t So-un be unable to gain admission right now?
So-un blinked, smiled awkwardly, and spoke.
“I’m… sixteen years old….”
What?
* * *
Where had Gwak Do-cheon glimpsed the aptitude of a martial artist in So-un?
Even accounting for the Northern Sea children’s generally better development, So-un’s height fell short of average, and his build was hardly robust.
On first sight, I’d taken him for thirteen or fourteen at most.
“Oh, ah, no…. I couldn’t possibly speak informally to you….”
“Drop the honorific altogether, then.”
Yet he didn’t strike me as bold or brimming with spirit either.
He’d even declined my permission to speak informally, given that we’d soon be classmates.
“You ride rather well for someone inexperienced.”
“Oh, do I? I mostly just sit still, so I’m not sure how difficult it really is.”
His physical abilities seemed decent enough, at any rate.
For someone riding for the first time, he held his center quite well.
He kept pace admirably even at a brisk gallop, spending ten hours a day in the saddle without complaint.
“Acorn noodles!”
But So-un’s true gift lay elsewhere.
“What is this? Why is it so delicious?”
“This is my first time eating something like this too.”
He’d ground acorns he’d casually gathered from the mountainside into something extraordinary.
“Hehe, there were times at Yu Manor when I couldn’t eat properly, so I’ve grown quite confident in cooking.”
This child went hungry?
Well, he’s older than me, technically.
Could his poor height really stem from inadequate nutrition?
“That….”
Hearing such a sad story, I found myself thinking I should have tracked down Yu Manor and given them a piece of my mind, even if not to the point of annihilation.
“I’m so glad it pleases your palate. I’ll make it for you often when we’re at the Academy.”
The food was truly… truly delicious.
With only slight exaggeration, it was the kind of taste that would make Gwak Do-cheon hire So-un as his personal chef—worth granting him a token for it.
I nodded gratefully.
A few days later.
“That glow must be Luoyang.”
Having crossed the Central Plains in one stretch, the Master of Bai Xiong Hall seemed quietly disappointed.
He appeared to be hoping for the martial artists from Yu Manor to pursue So-un and attack us—but would they be mad enough to chase us down?
From the day we left the village, there wasn’t a trace of them.
In any case, our party made it to Luoyang somehow.
The further south we traveled, the better the roads, and the villages grew closer together.
Yet the journey wasn’t entirely smooth.
I’d boasted about stopping by the Ice Palace during the break, but at this rate, by the time we made the round trip, we’d have exhausted the entire holiday.
I’d heard the Northern Sea was far from the Central Plains, but seeing it firsthand, it was far worse than I’d imagined.
“I am Seol Su-ryeo, recommended by Seol Baek-yeong, Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
Tianwu Academy lay to the south of Luoyang, set somewhat apart from the city center.
The students’ living quarters were screened off by gates and walls in the middle, hidden from view.
Yet the two grand halls visible from outside and the long stretch of Training Grounds alone were impressive enough.
I sought out a guide among the few people moving about the white hall and presented my token.
“The Northern Sea Ice Palace?”
The seated figure flipped through the roster expressionlessly, then gasped upon seeing my face.
He didn’t seem to be a martial instructor—was he a senior student? An assistant instructor?
“You’re the daughter of the Polar Star Emperor?”
“Yes.”
“Good heavens!”
Father must have sent word to the Academy.
The assistant instructor blinked in surprise, as if he’d heard nothing of this.
He rifled through papers at remarkable speed, confirmed the three characters of my name, and clapped his hands.
“Goodness! An Admission Token from the Northern Sea Ice Palace! Welcome, young lady!”
My name was there, but the recommender’s name didn’t appear to be written in the paperwork.
Even though Father had increased exchanges with the Martial Alliance, it still seemed novel to a mere clerk.
His eyes gleamed with considerable curiosity.
“The Admission Ceremony takes place on the first day of the third month—just come by then!”
I answered his questions readily enough.
Then stepped aside to make room for So-un, who was next in line.
“Um, Master Gwak Do-cheon gave me a token. I’m So-un…….”
“Hmm?”
Unlike me, whose name was already written down, So-un apparently hadn’t been mentioned to the instructor at all.
There was no prior record of him.
“Mm…… yes, ah! You’ll need to wait at the Black Tile Pavilion.”
The instructor studied the roster for a moment, frowning in thought, then pointed to a black-tiled pavilion, saying verification procedures would be necessary.
Was the Master of Yu Manor coming down in person to confirm it?
If the eldest son of Yu Manor had shown up with the token himself, it would have caused quite the spectacle.
“How long will it take?”
“Hard to say. We’ll need to look into it, and I’m not certain if he’s in Luoyang at the moment.”
What? If he wasn’t in Luoyang now, did that mean we’d have to keep waiting until he showed up?
He’d certainly appear before the Admission Ceremony, but judging from the instructor’s tone, it didn’t seem like it would be resolved in just a couple of hours.
“So-un, you have enough money, yes?”
“Yes, yes. Of course.”
“If it takes too long, we’ll see you at the Admission Ceremony. We’ll be staying at the Hwang-yeong Inn—if you need anything, come find us.”
So-un looked somewhat flustered, but he bowed deeply without complaint.
“Yes, thank you! Thank you so much for bringing me……!”
Since I couldn’t wait with him indefinitely, I let him know where we’d be and left the Academy with the Master of Bai Xiong Hall.
“It looks like they’re administering the entrance exam right now?”
On the way out, the Master of Bai Xiong Hall gestured toward the Training Grounds.
Because we’d arrived in Luoyang early with time to spare, the entrance examination was apparently still in full swing.
‘The recommendation token does have its advantages.’
The place was crowded with people—would I have passed if I’d taken the test formally?
The Master of Bai Xiong Hall had said most of those taking the test were mediocre at best, but they were still young people who’d gathered from across the Central Plains.
I wondered if the successors of the Namgung Clan and Wild Beast Palace that Father mentioned were also getting in through recommendation, just like me.
With such vast collateral branches, the competition within their own clans must have been fierce.
I suddenly felt anxious about how much I could keep up with them.
‘Well, I’ll just have to do my best.’
I took a mental snapshot of those I’d be competing with over Spirit Medicine, then left the Academy.
I’d heard that after admission, I wouldn’t have much freedom to go out, so I needed to eat plenty of good food while I could.
We deposited our luggage at the Hwang-yeong Inn, where we’d be staying until just before the Admission Ceremony.
Then we sat down in a quiet corner of the first floor and ordered fish dishes.
“It will take a little while—is that all right?”
“That’s fine.”
I nodded readily to the server and looked around.
Because the Martial Alliance’s branch office and Tianwu Academy were both located here, Luoyang had far more martial artists than any other town I’d visited so far.
Yet there were no fights breaking out at all—it really did feel like order was firmly maintained.
“Young lady, my stirrup’s broken. I’ll go to the blacksmith’s for a moment.”
They said the Master of Tianwu Academy absolutely hated it when martial artists caused trouble and brought harm to ordinary citizens.
Even though the Master of Bai Xiong Hall had assured me it wasn’t dangerous, he’d never left my side on the journey here; but once we arrived in Luoyang, he seemed to relax.
I sat at the inn, studying the faces of the other guests, gauging their martial prowess, and waited for our food to arrive.
“Um, Miss.”
“Yes?”
But less than an hour had passed.
The server came back to me again, trembling and empty-handed.
“What do you mean there’s no ingredient? Then I can order something else.”
“No, it’s…… someone is asking to see you, young lady…….”
Who in Luoyang would be looking for me?
Wondering if there’d been some misunderstanding, I stood up.
A giant of a man, easily six feet tall and wrapped in a tiger skin, was striding straight toward me.
Northern Sea Ice Palace Survival Chronicles for a Limited Lifespan (Serialized)
Author │ Sahyang Noru
Publisher │ Kim Ju-hyeong
Publishing House │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
Marketing │ Han Jae-hyeok
Address │ 401, Ace Techno Tower 8th, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ www.jayplemedia.com
© Saho-ngnoru 2026
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder. The contents may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and author.
Violation of this may result in criminal and civil legal liability.

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