Surviving as the Terminally Ill Young Lady of the North Sea Ice Palace - Chapter 92

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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 92
Myeong Seong had said that Un Cheon’s group was wiped out.
But Un Cheon himself lost to Namgung Min?
‘It really is Namgung Min, then…….’
The way he’d fled while saying “let’s see how this plays out” looked like some third-rate villain’s escape.
Yet he’d held his own against Un Cheon’s coordinated assault and even stolen the Jade Token from them.
“Wait, so only Namgung Min is left on the island now?”
“That’s probably the case.”
The Zhong Nan Disciple nodded when I asked in surprise.
“Did you happen to see how many tokens she’s carrying?”
“……Four? Five? I think it was four.”
“What about Un Cheon?”
“Un Cheon had seven. We were supposed to divide them up once the Hunting Tournament ended at dusk today…… tsk, that bastard must have had all of them stolen by Namgung Min.”
He clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Though it was questionable whether the Zhong Nan Disciple would have received any tokens even if he hadn’t lost to Namgung Min.
Well, that was just speculation anyway.
“So in the end, Namgung Min is carrying eleven tokens right now.”
“Do Yeon must have been captured too, so that makes twelve.”
Namgung Min has twelve tokens now?
If I counted the ones I’d just taken from this fellow, I’d obtained forty-four total.
If I could just capture Namgung Min, the tournament was as good as over.
No wonder I hadn’t seen a single student despite searching the island thoroughly!
Eun Hyun as well—Un Cheon and Namgung Min had both been quite diligent about hunting down the cadets.
“Ha…… I thought I’d barely escaped Namgung Min. Luck’s against me too.”
The Zhong Nan Disciple grumbled in frustration.
But since he’d only been holding one token anyway, he didn’t seem to harbor much regret.
“You just ran away—couldn’t Namgung Min keep up with your Light Footwork?”
I asked the Zhong Nan Disciple.
Judging by the skill he’d shown in our brief fight, he’d rank among the weaker ones at Jijeong Hall, and he didn’t seem particularly swift.
If he’d bolted right in front of her, I doubted Namgung Min would have let him escape.
“Ah, was Namgung Min injured, maybe?”
I’d heard Namgung A Yeong shouting for her to recover, so she must have consumed a Recovery Pill.
Still, did the wounds from her fight with Maeng Ryeong Ji linger?
“That…….”
The Zhong Nan Disciple glanced at me warily before speaking after a moment.
“That’s not it…… Un Cheon was captured first, and I escaped while he bought me time.”
Honestly, building up such suspense over something so trivial.
He seemed ashamed of abandoning Un Cheon and running.
But this wasn’t even a team competition—what was he suddenly being so fussy about?
When I told him I would’ve left him behind and fled alone without hesitation if I were in his position,
he seemed genuinely delighted.
“So Namgung Min will finish off Un Cheon and come after you next?”
But we shouldn’t be standing around like this—I needed to prepare quickly.
I looked up toward the direction where Namgung Min was expected to descend.
“That’s right. I left footprints heading toward the Reed Field to throw her off, so even Namgung Min will be confused for a while.”
The Zhong Nan Disciple then detailed exactly where he’d led Namgung Min,
and roughly when she was likely to arrive here.
“I see.”
He seemed eager to emphasize that his escape hadn’t been entirely mindless.
Either way, the information proved quite useful to me.
‘His injuries have nearly healed, and she’ll arrive within an hour or so…….’
I nodded
and thanked him briefly for the information.
After clearing his throat several times, he headed down toward the Coastal Area where the martial instructors were waiting.
“All right, I’ll have my final duel with Namgung Min here.”
Now the only living students on this island were me, Namgung Min, and one last person whose identity I didn’t know.
Perhaps the Zhong Nan Disciple had miscounted the numbers,
or if Namgung Min had already captured that last person, then this might be the very end.
If so, I should prepare accordingly.
I scouted the path where Namgung Min was expected to descend, searching for the ideal place to make my final stand.
Crash!
I drew Excalibur and drove the blade into the ground, pouring as much Internal Energy as I could muster into it.
“This spot is perfect.”
Once my preparations were complete, I sat on a rock a few paces away and waited for Namgung Min.
* * *
I’d finished my setup quickly, expecting to arrive a little earlier than the time the Zhong Nan Disciple had mentioned.
Whether his directions had actually been useful, or whether I’d simply wandered through the Reed Field anyway, I wasn’t sure.
But when a little over an hour had passed, I heard the chiming of Jade Tokens.
Ding-ding-ding!
With twelve tokens, she could easily have fastened them to her belt without a sound if she’d wanted to.
Yet Namgung Min made no attempt to hide that threatening jingle as she strode into view with unmistakable confidence.
I’d done the same when I was wandering the mountain.
This time, however, I remained perfectly still on the rock, waiting for her calmly.
“……Seol?”
“Hey. Just a full day since we last saw each other, huh?”
Thanks to that, I was able to startle her simply by existing—her, who’d been rushing to track down the Zhong Nan Disciple.
The moment Namgung Min spotted me, she stopped dead in her tracks, then crouched into a low stance, eyes narrowed with caution.
“Your tokens… how many…”
“Forty-four. That Zhong Nan friend of yours that you were trying to catch? I got to him first.”
I could tell at a glance that Namgung Min’s count was exactly twelve.
But from where she stood, counting them would’ve been difficult.
I helpfully informed her, brushing my hair back over my shoulder.
Ding-ding!
The Jade Tokens at my neck swayed, producing a crystalline chime.
“…….”
After hearing my boast, Namgung Min simply stared at me without speaking.
Was she impressed by how many tokens I’d gathered?
“You’re all healed up, aren’t you? Seems like the time Namgung A Yeong bought you was worth something.”
I’d expected her to charge straight at me as soon as she got the chance.
But since she remained rooted to the spot, only watching and waiting, I decided to break the silence.
Now that I thought about it, the Zhong Nan Disciple wasn’t the only one who’d fled while his followers bought him time—Namgung Min had done the same.
“……We began our training under the same rules. I won’t make excuses about injuries just because I lost.”
Namgung Min, who had been watching me quietly, finally spoke.
Unlike the Zhong Nan Disciple, who’d worried about unnecessary things, she clearly didn’t dwell on such matters.
“……Rather, I wasn’t careful enough. If I hadn’t answered Maeng Ryeong Ji’s provocation, So Jeong wouldn’t have fallen to you so easily.”
“Oh, sounds like you’re learning plenty in line with your training objectives.”
Clap-clap-clap!
I stayed seated on the rock, grinning and clapping my hands a few times.
“This time it’s just training, so losing your followers is all—but next time demon cultists provoke you, be careful.”
At that, Namgung Min’s brow twitched slightly.
Of course, since I was the one who’d knocked out her followers in the first place.
My provocation was well-aimed.
“So Jeong and Namgung A Yeong are not my subordinates.”
She’d bristled at a peculiar detail instead.
“If they’re not subordinates, what are they? In the Namgung Clan, branch family members follow the direct line clan head like subordinates, don’t they?”
“While there are differences in the martial arts we can learn and the support we receive, the direct line doesn’t respect those with inferior martial prowess just because of their lineage.”
On the day of the Entrance Ceremony when we first met, Myeong Seong had called her the Changtian Sword King’s second daughter, and she hadn’t seemed pleased about it.
She clearly disliked being perceived as receiving special treatment simply because of her direct line status.
“So you’re not serving me because of direct bloodline—you’re walking with me because you respect my abilities?”
I tilted my head, curious.
Did she want to be recognized for her own strength rather than fitting into the mold of being a direct line member of the Namgung Clan?
Did she hope to be truly seen as her whole self?
Something like that, perhaps?
Hmm, well. At mid-teen years, those things could certainly matter.
In my past life, I’d had no backing whatsoever, so being born as the daughter of the Buk Hae Ice Palace’s master had seemed like pure fortune to me.
But adolescence was genuinely a time when having one’s identity respected was crucial.
“……Think whatever you want.”
So she was saying they weren’t subordinates after all, even though I’d already been thinking of them that way?
If that wasn’t what they were, she could’ve just told me the actual relationship instead of asking me to guess.
“Fine, whatever. Anyway, since you say they’re not, I won’t call them subordinates anymore.”
But I’m generous of spirit, so I decided to accept her request graciously.
In my heart, I could think of them however I liked, and when speaking, I’d simply use their names instead—no harm in that.
Besides, by now we both knew each other’s names.
If they’d introduced themselves from the start, I never would’ve thought of them as Follower One and Two in the first place—I’d have used their names from the beginning!
……
“And I acknowledge you too. Regardless of whether you’re from the direct line of the Namgung Clan, I’ve already considered you the Hunting Tournament’s greatest rival—that’s why I had my friends eliminate your potential allies beforehand, and I’ve made full preparations here.”
Since I’d already accepted Namgung Min’s concern, I added one more flattering remark.
I’d thought she might take it as mockery and grow angry.
“I didn’t think you’d regard me as a rival.”
Unexpectedly, Namgung Min accepted my words at face value.
“You’re the strongest cadet in our generation—so who else would be my rival?”
Moreover, she seemed to carry a hint of genuine emotion on her face.
She was such a taciturn person that she didn’t rattle on about her competitive spirit the way others might.
But it was clear her mood hadn’t soured.
Had her heart opened, just a fraction?
“I won’t go down as easily as So Jeong and Namgung A Yeong did.”
Namgung Min spoke with resolve, infusing Sword Energy into her blade.
“Fine. Come whenever you’re ready.”
Only then did I rise from my seat and assume a defensive stance.
Perhaps she’d been reluctant to attack while I sat with my legs crossed, taunting her.
The moment I was prepared, she took a step forward.
Whoosh!
And Namgung Min fell straight into the trap I’d laid.
Surviving as a Doomed Young Lady of the Buk Hae Ice Palace (Ongoing)
Author │ Sasangnoroe
Publisher │ Kim Ju Hyung
Published by │ J Plus Media Co., Ltd.
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ⓒ Sasangnoroe 2026
※This work is published by J Plus Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder, and its contents may not be used in any form or by any means without the permission of the company and author.
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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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