Reborn as Powerful Minister's Beloved
Chapter 72: Nanmen Death Soldier

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Nanmen Death Soldier

Thirty miles north of the Imperial City lay the continuous Northern Min Mountains, with their over one hundred and sixty peaks towering high. Unlike the mountains in other parts of Nanzheng State, the peaks of the Northern Min Mountains were extremely high, successfully blocking the invasion of the Northern Barbarians and keeping the Capital of Nanzheng safe like a fortified citadel for nearly a hundred years.

Thus, even though the Nanzheng State had decayed to the point of stench, it had enjoyed several eras of peace. Moreover, Nanzheng State bordered the sea to the east, and Nanyu had only a few small countries to its south, while to the southwest and west, the three large nations comparable in strength to Nanzheng State were in a state of stalemate where none dared to make the first move.

The defeat of Nanmen State in that battle, after all, stemmed from the internal strife within Nanmen State itself. The war came quickly and ended just as swiftly, without giving the other two countries a chance to exert their influence, ending with the direct collapse of the Nanmen Royal Family’s direct line.

Today, the sixth son of the former Monarch of Nanmen State, who is also the younger brother of Nanmen Yu, born to Consort Yin, led a rebellion with the Yin Family and established the Sixth Prince as the Monarch of Nanmen State, with the Yin Family controlling the political power.

The only remaining descendant of the Nanmen Royal Family was this Hostage of the Nanmen State, Nanmen Yu.

However, the Yin Family did not rush to act. Nanmen Yu was alone in Nanzheng State, unable to accomplish anything significant; moreover, the more important reason lay with a vital secret of Nanmen State, always kept in the hands of those in power. Although the Yin Family had already eliminated all opposing forces, they could not rest easy.

For the Nanmen Imperial Family always believed that the heir of the Nanmen Imperial Family was chosen by the heavens. How exactly the selection was made was a complex and mysterious trial process that had been passed down through the Nanmen Imperial Family for hundreds of years.

This method of trial was always managed by the Jingmen Clan.

Each new Monarch of the Nanmen Royal Family came into being through the trials of the Jingmen Clan. Only those who passed could become the actual successor to the Nanmen State and qualify to be the Monarch of Nanmen State. Those who failed the trails had no chance of survival. Thus, Nanmen State never had any princes.

Originally, when the Monarch of Nanmen State suddenly fell ill and was on his deathbed, he hastily had his five sons undergo the trials. Within a single day, four princes died one after the other, leaving the Sixth Prince, born to Consort Yin. The Yin Family, with substantial influence in Nanmen State, decisively took military control, nearly wiping out the Jingmen Clan.

It can be said that the mutiny of the Yin Family was absolutely successful because the four princes who undertook the trials died. The only prince left untested was the Sixth Prince, thus convincing a significant number of the ministers.

Even Duke of Jing Ci and Second Uncle Jing, who managed to escape, placed their only bet on Nanmen Yu, who had yet to undergo the trial.

The Jingmen Clan, as the actual holders of this secret of the Nanmen Imperial Family, had Empress and Uncle Jing, as well as Duke of Jing Ci, sent out, sacrificing their entire clan’s safety because the Empress believed that Nanmen Yu was the one destined by heaven.

The Jingmen Clan and the remaining direct members of the Imperial Family fled towards the east and the west to avoid pursuit by the Yin Family. They did not directly enter Nanzheng from Nanmen State’s borders but deliberately took a long detour through Nanyu, suffered losses along the way, then entered Rizhao Country posing as refugees before reaching Nanzheng State.

The Jingmen Clan’s persistence in finding Nanmen Yu was not only due to the family’s mission and the Empress’s dying wish but also because of an even more crucial secret behind the trial. Once the trial was passed, each ruler of the Nanmen Imperial Family would have a military force absolutely loyal to themselves.

Nanmen Imperial Family Diehards.

Originally, the Monarch of Nanmen State died suddenly, and the Nanmen Death Soldiers also vanished overnight without a trace, their trails completely untraceable. Only the next Monarch of Nanmen State, who passed the trial, had the right to awaken them.

But Duke of Jing Ci never felt completely confident about letting the Princely Heir attempt it because indeed, this trial was not achieved overnight. The princes of the Nanmen Clan needed to undergo step-by-step training from a young age, continuously increasing in intensity, to finally pass the trial.

This is also why, even though the Sixth Prince had not undergone the trial, many people still believed that he was the one who would ultimately survive.

Because Nanmen Yu had not undergone any training since childhood.

Duke of Jing Ci had devised a method—on top of the daily encouragement to strengthen Nanmen Yu’s physical training, they rapidly enhanced the absorption of the drug in a short period.

Simply put, the endurance to the drug that the Nanmen princes faced over a decade or more had been squeezed into just two years.

Even though, over this past year, Nanmen Yu’s performance had greatly satisfied Duke of Jing Ci, at this moment, the real trial still made everyone anxious.

The most talented little prince among the Nanmen Imperial Family traditionally needed three days. Now only two days had passed, and with no unusual sounds coming from the cave, it was the best response for them.

On the second night, Second Uncle Jing and Uncle Jingmen, who had been watching unblinkingly at the cave entrance, suddenly heard a loud noise from inside. They hurriedly stood up, wanting to rush in, but Duke of Jing Ci stopped them.

"It’s not a bad thing, don’t worry." Had it really succeeded in less than three days?

Duke of Jing Ci couldn’t suppress his excitement and nearly rushed in himself.

Just then, a huge noise, like the roar of dragons and tigers, caused the leaves to tremble and ripples to form on the water’s surface.

Duke of Jing Ci was the first to rush in and saw a figure in the pool, a back covered in black patterns, appearing before his eyes.

Duke of Jing Ci trembled, slowly moving forward, while Uncle Jingmen and Second Uncle Jing cried tears of joy and knelt down, repeatedly kowtowing.

"Princely Heir, oh no, Monarch, Monarch." Duke of Jing Ci immediately knelt down solemnly.

Nanmen Yu turned around, and in the moment his consciousness returned, the black patterns on his body faded, and his skin regained its normal appearance.

Nanmen Yu stepped out of the pool and donned the clothes beside it, for the life-threatening struggle in the pool was no longer important.

"What about them?" Nanmen Yu asked as he dressed, feeling an endless surge of strength within him—he had known the effect of this drug since the first time he tried it.

Duke of Jing Ci immediately looked up.

"Monarch, don’t worry, the Nanmen Death Soldiers will be on their way upon hearing your call," Duke of Jing Ci said confidently.

Nanmen Yu nodded and personally helped the three rise from the ground.

"Master, Uncle Jingmen, Second Uncle, I owe you so much for this journey; rest assured, I will certainly avenge my enemies, and seek justice for my mother’s family, the Jingmen Clan."

"Monarch, we have always believed that you are the one chosen by heaven," said Uncle Jingmen, crying and trying to kneel again, but was firmly pulled up by Second Uncle Jing.

"Monarch, you’ve been gone for two days; it’s best we return quickly. Before the Death Soldiers arrive, we still need to be cautious."