One of the tasks Jun must complete before his campaign is a tour of his territory. It normally takes two weeks, but Jun could probably solo it in a few days.
However, he decided my presence is required so I am now two days into touring the White Fang. We’ve made it about halfway by carriage so far.
Jun has horses with fancy qi infused horseshoes that allow us to travel obscenely faster than a horse naturally can. But probably still slower than Jun.
Somehow the very official Lord of White Fang carriage has stayed together despite the speed, dirt roads and crazy shaking (only a handful of nails have fallen out). It was commissioned by the late Lord White to show his prestige to all who see it and not because he was an insecure in any way.
Everything is in the White Fang grey and green. Wolf motifs have been shoved everywhere they could be crammed. All it lacks is an attached whistle to howl our arrival and cushions that actually provide enough padding to protect my mortal butt.
We are visiting all the parts of his estate I will be managing while he’s gone. So far, meeting with the locals has been pretty formulaic.
The carriage rolls into town. Whoever’s in charge comes out to greet us as Jun helps me out of the carriage. We are shown around the one to two things worth mentioning and at least three that weren’t.
The local mayor, steward or whatnot is watched very carefully as they try to prove just how useful they are.
Anyone who shows signs of embezzlement, incompetence or the slightest bit of insubordination to me finds themselves enlisted as cannon fodder for Jun’s army. He’s not risking leaving me any trouble behind.
As romantic as Jun trying to protect me as best as possible while he’s away sounds, I’m certain he’s doing this to protect his supply line. Should that get cut off, his brand new army will quickly wither.
Despite this obvious fact, all the towns are apparently getting their news from the same source as the Ladies who came to celebrate my recovery. There has been no shortage of suggested romantic views and dishes delivered with a knowing wink.
Throughout all of this misdirected suggestion, I’ve been clinging to etiquette like a life boat. It’s the only shield I have to keep me from accidentally crossing that line with my savior and now boss.
We are sitting on opposite sides of the carriage. Where I get shaken up like a martini, my hair flying in all and Jun’s mysterious cultivator powers leaving him looking like he just got dressed.
Right now, as the forest blurs past the window, I’m trying to wrangle my hair back into some semblance of a bun while Jun politely looks away reading reports.
The landscape is nothing like where I grew up in Nebraska. It’s filled with rolling mountain peaks and dense pine forest. The people who live here have had to carve out little towns from the forest.
The communities are small with the area barely growing enough for subsistence, especially with how vertical the landscape is. Their clothes are sturdy and dyed with cheap dull colors that basically label the peasants.
Nothing as bright or soft as what I’m wearing. It feels strange to be the one looking rich, even if I can’t get my hair to look right while being bumped around in the carriage.
Once I’m done with the messy bun, he looks up and says, “Our next stop is Wolf Mine. It’s a small and known for two things. Their primary industry for the last few decades has been charcoal and firewood. It is also the site for the Wolf Mine that I ordered reopened when no one would sell me iron.”
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His cousins and their allies have gone out of their way to make a trade embargo on White Fang. It probably didn’t help that the major iron supplier was very upset that Jun murdered his daughter, son-in-law and grandson.
He continues, “The mine only recently started producing some ore thanks to Ming’s assistance. He should be meeting us once we arrive.”
He passes me the preliminary mine output report. As I start to skim it, I ask, “Why was the mine closed?”
“A combination of cave-ins, a desire to artificially increase the price by the late Lord and his father-in-law, and just lower yields.”
I hope it’s worth it to get the place up and running again. “And Ming has helped?”
“The iron in his sword calls to the iron in the mine.” Yes, of course that makes perfect sense. Why can’t a cultivator use a sword as a metal detector?
The carriage stops suddenly, and I have the wind knocked out me from slamming my back into the carriage wall. Jun looks at me with concern and I awkwardly wave saying, “I’m fine.”
He gets out first. After I catch my breath, I exit the carriage with the help of Jun’s hand. The only publicly acceptable platonic touching between genders I’ve come across that doesn’t involve punching in this crazy place.
This mining town appears to be about half way up the mountain and has a good sized river flowing through it. The welcoming party consists of an old lady wearing a chain of office, a slightly younger lady holding a platter of what I hope is fish, and nervous man who’s already sweating in fear of Jun presence.
The old lady gives me a deep respectful bow and the other two quickly follow suit in a clumsy fashion. Luckily, she doesn’t spill the snacks. I motion that they can rise.
Jun says, “We are ready to see your progress.”
Keeping her eyes on the ground, the old lady says, “Of course my Lord and Lady. Please follow me. First, allow me to show you the quality of the ore we are currently extracting.”
She very carefully shows us everything to do with the mine before taking us up towards the mine entrance. Throughout the tour the town is silent, almost like a ghost town. I wonder if they evacuated it before our arrival.
As if he can sense Jun, Ming appears at the entrance to the mine pulling a cart of ore behind him. He looks picture perfect and way too clean for someone who was just working digging up rocks underground.
Jun gives him a nod and says, “Greetings brother, I hear that you have made excellent progress and found a deeper vein, which appears very promising.”
Ming stands a bit straighter with that complement. He says, “I would appreciate the opportunity to show senior brother my progress.”
Jun agrees and I take the opportunity to go check out the books instead of walking down into a scary hole, which has killed over twenty mortals in living memory. Being buried alive might be a worse was to go than my previous deaths.
I sit and check the books in a quaint little room. It has a little wooden table with a little wooden chair and a little window overlooking the river. Staring out the window is all that keeps me from feeling claustrophobic.
The view is spectacular. The river actually has a waterfall as tall as my old apartment building. If only I knew how to make a water wheel. I’m sure that would be useful somewhere in the weapons making process. But I don’t even know who I should suggest ideas too to invent it.
My head is in my hands when Jun comes to check on me. He asks, “Did you find another problem?”
I sit up straight and smooth the wrinkles out of my dress. “No, nothing of the sort. The records might not be perfect, but it’s within acceptable error. Nothing regular check ins can’t fix.”
“That is good news. Any trouble while we were out then?”
“No, I think I’m just a bit tired and still getting used to all of this.” I look out the window at the waterfall and the strangeness hit me again. Perhaps, I’m just feeling safe enough to feel a bit homesick. “I’m ready to head out when you are.”
“How about a quick tea break?” My face must look exhausted or something if he wants to ensure I rest a bit.
I agree and he leads the way out to a beautiful and private little garden nestled by the forest on the edge of town. Everything is already set up like he somehow planned this in advance.
We sit down and the maid brings us a fresh pot of tea. As I reach to take the pot from her, she whispers in my ear, “I added just a pinch of thick root milady,” and then gives me a wink. Great, aphrodisiac tea. Then again, they will put thick root in just about anything around here.
Resisting an eye roll in favor of a more lady like dismissing wave, I pour it in both our cups. It really is a wonderful place for a romantic tea: beautiful plants, birds chirping, and not another human in sight. No wonder the staff think we are on a date.
I take a sip of the tea and can’t contain the sigh that escapes as I relax. Jun smiles.