Surviving as the Terminally Ill Young Lady of the North Sea Ice Palace - Chapter 53

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

Episode 53
Ha, so I’ve cleared herbalism too!
In my past life, when I attended university, I always seemed to miss the classes I wanted to take.
But this time, I was fortunate enough to successfully register for all the courses I desired.
“I wonder if it’s all right to take Mechanisms and Formation…?”
So Un and Maeng Ryeong Ji had successfully registered for the specialized courses they wanted—the lessons on their primary martial arts—but.
So Un seemed deeply worried about Mechanisms and Formation, which she’d ended up taking because Je Gal In had practically forced her into it.
“I think it’ll be fine? Je Gal is an excellent teacher, after all. Besides, since you’re taking it as a private student, surely he won’t just throw you into Mechanisms and Formation without warning.”
Actually, it sounds like it’ll be more interesting than herbalism.
“You think so?”
“Hmm, a good teacher?”
But at my attempt to comfort So Un, Maeng Ryeong Ji’s expression turned absolutely skeptical.
What, so she’s saying Martial Arts Fundamentals isn’t interesting?
The next morning, the first class happened to be Martial Arts Fundamentals again.
“Last time we discussed the general characteristics of Zheng Gong, Sha Gong, and Ma Gong, didn’t we? Today we’re going to study the history of the orthodox martial sects that developed from Zheng Gong.”
Oh, the history of the martial world.
How could this possibly be uninteresting?
“Who was the founder of the most fundamental root of Zheng Gong?”
Je Gal In posed the question to the students.
The root of Zheng Gong… who was it? The Yellow Emperor?
In Buk Hae, there was never any reason to study the history of Zhong Yuan.
So I recalled the wuxia novels I’d read in my past life and Chinese mythology.
“Dharma Master…?”
One of the students answered.
Right? Dharma Master? Of course! Didn’t martial arts begin with the Dharma Master of Shaolin?
Now that I heard the answer, it seemed like such a simple question.
What a pity—I could have raised my hand and gotten it right!
“Correct. There’s a saying: ‘All Under Heaven’s Martial Arts Come from Shaolin.’ The Dharma Master provided the foundation for all orthodox martial arts. Thanks to the Yijin Jing and Xisui Jing that the Master created, martial artists could now refine their bodies, wash away turbid qi, and accumulate pure qi.”
Long ago, all the martial arts under heaven came from Shaolin.
And now, the person gathering all the martial arts of the world is also a Shaolin monk—Seon Gak Master.
It struck me afresh just how enormous Shaolin’s influence was in the orthodox martial world.
‘Seon Gak Master will surely be recorded as a tremendously great figure in history too, won’t he?’
Ah, but that’s the same person who enjoyed waving expensive silk and feeding Mountain Empty Poison to students.
There was something unfair about it all.
Then again, in reverse logic, even the great patriarch Dharma Master might have harbored some strange hobbies.
“Before Dharma Master, the martial world was not an era of gathering qi in the dantian and launching sword energy. Before Internal Energy came along, so-called martial arts were nothing but primitive External Force—training muscles to lift heavy weapons and move quickly. Swordplay existed, but not in its present form combined with Internal Energy. The focus was on killing techniques used by the military.”
In any case, I should be grateful to Dharma Master.
If I’d been born in an age of barbarism without even Internal Energy, what a difficult time it would have been.
With my frail limbs, I’d hardly have been able to generate any strength at all, would I?
I listened to the lesson with sparkling eyes, fascinated by the topic.
Yet incomprehensibly, the students had already begun nodding off.
“Of course, even back then there were attempts by recluses and eccentrics in the mountains to manipulate qi through breathing. But they lacked clear Mental Methods. Some people at that time probably did attempt the early form of Zheng Gong, slowly gathering the pure breath of nature, but it was far too slow to be practical, and all manner of Sha Gong circulated as supposedly quick paths to strength.”
In an era when primitive Zheng Gong was hopelessly weak and Sha Gong ran rampant,
Dharma Master’s Yijin Jing and Xisui Jing were the first to present a method of accumulating qi without side effects.
I erased my disrespectful thoughts about Dharma Master from my mind and nodded earnestly.
“Things like absorbing the qi of blood, eating poisonous herbs, or practicing dual cultivation to gain strength—that sort of thing. Back then, even recluses practiced dual cultivation arts.”
Ooh… that’s fascinating?
When Je Gal In spoke of the difference between early dual cultivation arts and the present Se Gong,
the students who’d been dozing started to stir, one by one, rustling awake.
Good grief, they woke up the moment the talk turned to dual cultivation?
I observed with exasperation which boys were now raising their heads.
‘Hm?’
Among the students seated in the Jijeong Hall section, one young man caught my eye.
A young man… no, he was someone I knew by name.
Wasn’t that Wi Jong Haeng, who’d lost to Pung Seung in the auction just two days ago?
‘…!’
Whether he’d taken a beating somewhere or not, dark bruises covered his face.
Wi Jong Haeng was trying to hide them, his lips clenched in an expression of pain.
“…Shaolin’s Xisui Jing washes away the qi of the marrow itself, purging turbid qi completely. So it was the very first qigong method created that, by accumulating only Pure Qi in the dantian, absolutely prevents the Zhu Hua Ru Ma demonic affliction….”
The discussion of dual cultivation passed quickly, and the topic returned to Xisui Jing.
Was it because the instructor came from Shaolin?
His praise for Dharma Master and Shaolin’s martial arts seemed rather excessive.
“And after Dharma Master, the most crucial turning point in the history of Zheng Gong is surely Zhang San Feng the Immortal—but we’ll discuss that next time.”
In the end, today’s class had been nothing but stories about Dharma Master.
From his Wall-gazing Nine Years to the philosophy of Chan and Martial as One, I’d heard quite a variety of accounts.
Looking at their faces, the students from Zhong Yuan all seemed to know it already.
Setting aside the question of how interesting it was.
I too hadn’t been able to concentrate well in the latter half of the lesson.
“You there!”
“Yes? Oh, ah, yes. Seol.”
What had been nagging at me was how Wi Jong Haeng had gotten hit—and by whom.
At a glance, it wasn’t an injury from some mishap during training.
He’d been fine two days ago, so someone must have struck him.
Once class ended and Je Gal In left, I grabbed Wi Jong Haeng directly and asked him.
“Who hit you?”
Had school violence already broken out less than a month after enrollment?
Did he get beaten because he had no Internal Energy to resist?
Of course, even if that were the case, I didn’t feel particularly responsible since I wasn’t carrying Gu Won’s antidote.
But I was curious what the circumstances were.
“…It’s not something you need concern yourself with, Seol.”
But Wi Jong Haeng wouldn’t tell me.
Seeing him tense his eyes and clench his teeth, it seemed like a martial artist was ashamed of having been beaten by someone.
Ah…yes, even among the weaker here, he’d have his pride.
Even if he’d paid a large donation, the Gongdong Sect wouldn’t hand out beatings to just anyone.
The fact that he’d gotten into Heaven’s Martial Academy meant he was at least someone recognized in his region.
The unusual one was Eun Hyun, really—he’d spill everything straightforwardly when asked.
“Ah, my apologies.”
I simply excused myself plainly.
Wi Jong Haeng just lowered his head with a slight bow, then turned sharply and left.
Seeing his bruised face, my mood wasn’t particularly good.
“Did something happen in Jijeong Hall yesterday? Who was harassing him? Myeong Seong’s faction?”
Without leaving the lecture room, I approached Eun Hyun, who was glancing over, and asked in a low voice.
I wondered if he was eager to report on some misconduct by a faction he disliked, but that wasn’t it.
“No…it’s unthinkable that Instructor Myeong Seong would do such a thing. Our relationship may be poor, but he’s not someone who’d bully disciples from another sect without reason.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Eun Hyun flatly denied it.
I’d promoted him to candidate number one because he went around with his followers, but it seemed that wasn’t it.
True, even the Zhong Nan Sect, famous for bad relations with Hua Shan, wouldn’t have reason to deliberately fight with a Gongdong Sect disciple.
And if it were Myeong Seong, even if Wi Jong Haeng had made the first mistake, he probably would have issued a formal duel challenge.
He didn’t seem the type to avoid a fight he was obviously going to win and do something questionable.
“Then who is it?”
Resorting to punching meant the person either couldn’t control their brutal nature or lacked intelligence….
Was there anyone like that in Jijeong Hall?
“I have no idea either.”
Eun Hyun answered plainly as well.
Right, I don’t know everything that happens in Inbon Hall either.
Even Gu Won practically sneaks out of the Dormitory every day, and I don’t always know when he’s gone.
‘I’m curious, though….’
I asked Eun Hyun to let me know if he happened to learn anything.
Eun Hyun gave a slight nod and quickly headed out to train.
But there was no need to wait for Eun Hyun to bring back information.
“All the new recruits supposed to be here?”
“Huh?”
“What? Why are only half here?”
“Class ended early, but…who are you?”
Not even a cup of tea’s time had passed before I found out who had hit Wi Jong Haeng.
I was gathering my notes and heading out of the lecture room with Maeng Ryeong Ji and So Un
“Is Seol of the Buk Hae Ice Palace here?”
A man who looked every bit a thug had come all the way to the lecture hall where new students gathered and loudly called me out.
‘If he’s looking this loudly, it’s either a duel challenge or a confession.’
A grey Daoist robe embroidered with the Five Elements pattern, and a crimson sash to match.
Dressed identically to Wi Jong Haeng, he appeared to be a disciple of the Gongdong Sect.
But what kind of Daoist speaks like that?
“It’s me.”
Regardless, I stepped forward.
As the dignified young lady of the Buk Hae Ice Palace, I could neither falter nor retreat from a challenge.
“Hmph.”
He’d advanced with such swagger, yet the moment his eyes found my face, his body went rigid.
Startled by my beauty?
His expression said precisely that.
“Who are you?”
“I—I am Jin Young Hu, a ‘True Mountain Disciple’ of the Gongdong Sect!”
Still, he quickly composed himself and declared his name.
As expected, he was indeed a disciple of the Gongdong Sect.
And his purpose became equally clear.
The way his hand moved to his sword hilt, creating tension—it wasn’t a confession.
It was a duel.
Surviving as the Doomed Young Lady of the Buk Hae Ice Palace (Serialized)
Author │ Sachyang Noru
Publisher │ Kim Ju Hyung
Publishing Company │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
Marketing │ Han Jae Hyuk
Address │ 11, 401st Floor, Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong, Ace Techno Tower 8)
Email │ [email protected]
Website │ www.jayplemedia.com
ⓒ Sachyang Noru 2026
※ This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder, and its contents may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and author.
Violation of this will 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
—————