Landlord in the Arctic-Chapter 94: An Incident

A sliver of white had just appeared on the tundra’s horizon. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Feng Shan was already packed and ready, heading for Kivalina.

He had made an arrangement with Old Swan yesterday: the fishing boat would be ready in advance so he could board it as soon as he landed. After fishing, he would return to Crown Territory the same day, making sure not to linger in Kivalina.

Crown Territory was over 400 kilometers from Kivalina. At the Carnation’s speed of over 100 kilometers per hour, the trip would take more than three hours.

He would also take the opportunity to refuel at the Kivalina airport. The last flight back from Fairbanks had left him with only half a tank, and he needed to fly to Fairbanks again in a couple of days for an indigenous peoples’ conference.

Nash didn’t get along with the Inuit, so Feng Shan was going alone this time. The three little ones were also left at home.

He removed the waterproof tarp protecting the Carnation.

Feng Shan climbed into the pilot’s seat, powered up the electronics, and checked the plane’s systems. Once he confirmed everything was normal, he waved to Nash.

The plane wobbled as it climbed into the sky, disappearing into the clouds.

「Three hours later.」

The plane approached Kivalina. Through the windshield, he could already see the surface of the Ice Sea.

It was a vast, endless expanse of icy blue, both calm and mysterious.

Feng Shan intentionally made a turn in the air, flying over the Ice Sea. There was even more floating ice on the surface than last time.

After admiring the Ice Sea, the Carnation slowly descended onto the runway at the Kivalina airport.

The plane taxied to its parking spot. Right next to it was a grave, its cross facing the cockpit.

Feng Shan cursed his bad luck, pushed open the cabin door, and jumped out.

He looked out at the empty airport runway. Not a soul was in sight.

’Strange!’

Yesterday, Old Swan had thumped his chest and promised to welcome him with the highest honors.

’Never mind the highest honors, even just one person showing up would be nice!’

Just as Feng Shan was wondering what was going on, a snowmobile came speeding toward him, fishtailing to a stop right in front of him.

It was Little Swan.

But the look on his face wasn’t good.

"Hey, where’s your grandfather?" Feng Shan asked, craning his neck to look toward the airport entrance.

"Grandpa’s at Maria’s house. In the early hours of last night, Morris climbed through a window into Maria’s room and almost raped her," Little Swan said, his expression grim.

What?

’Raped?’

Feng Shan couldn’t wrap his head around it.

Weren’t the Inuit communities supposed to be simple, honest, warm, and hospitable? How could something so vile happen here?

His thoughts couldn’t help but drift back to the first time he met Maria.

Back then, Maria had a sincere smile on her face as she offered him Inuit food with both hands. Her clear eyes were filled with friendliness and innocence.

That radiant smile, those hands holding out the Inuit food so warmly, those eyes as clear as the Ice Sea—so clean, so pure.

When he was leaving, Maria had even made a point of giving him a walrus ivory carving her father had made.

He was wearing it around his neck right now.

’As her friend, I can’t just pretend I don’t know about this.’

No matter what, he had to get justice for Maria.

Feng Shan immediately turned and walked back to the plane. He pulled open the cabin door, took out his Type 56 carbine, jumped onto the snowmobile, and clapped Little Swan on the shoulder.

"Let’s go. To Maria’s house!"

"Hold on tight."

Little Swan twisted the throttle hard. The snowmobile roared to life, kicking up a spray of snow as it sped out of the airport.

They arrived at Maria’s home, a dilapidated wooden cabin.

In front of the door, a crowd of townspeople had gathered, seething with righteous indignation. Their faces were etched with anger and discontent as they murmured amongst themselves, their voices a clamor of fierce debate.

Before the snowmobile had even come to a complete stop, Feng Shan, with his rifle slung over his back, leaped off and shouted at the crowd, "Let me through."

"Feng! It’s Feng!" The townspeople turned and saw Feng Shan. Remembering that he was friends with Maria—she often showed off the expensive Hunting Knife he’d given her—they parted to make a path for him.

Feng Shan didn’t have time to offer thanks. He strode into the wooden cabin.

Inside, men and women stood around the living room, smoking. The air was thick with smoke, and the atmosphere was oppressive and grim.

Old Swan was among them, his head bowed as he smoked, his face a mask of sorrow.

"Old Swan, where’s Maria?" Feng Shan’s voice was blunt, his gaze locked on Old Swan, his eyes filled with accusation.

Old Swan’s head snapped up. His expression was one of utter helplessness, the wrinkles on his face seeming to deepen. He dropped his cigarette and said apologetically,

"We can’t go fishing today. I’m sorry you came all this way for nothing."

Feng Shan couldn’t be bothered with the old geezer’s excuses. He asked again, "Cut the crap. Where’s Maria?"

"In the room over there." Little Swan, who had followed him in, pointed to a door in the corner of the living room.

Feng Shan strode toward the room. As he reached the door, he heard Louise’s comforting voice from inside.

"Maria, the state troopers are on their way. They’ll definitely catch that bastard."

"Don’t cry, child." Her voice was filled with heartache.

"That bastard Morris... God won’t let him get away with this."

"May I come in?" Feng Shan asked softly from the doorway, his voice softening now, full of concern.

There was a shuffle of footsteps inside, and then Louise emerged, her expression sorrowful.

"Feng, you’re here!"

Feng Shan nodded. "Can I go in and see Maria? I flew here, so if she needs it, I can fly her to a nearby city for treatment."

Louise silently shook her head, saying nothing, but she stepped aside from the door.

Her eyes were filled with a grief so profound that words seemed pale and powerless.

Seeing this, Feng Shan entered the room.

He saw Maria lying on a simple bed. The bed frame seemed uneven and gave off a musty smell.

An elderly woman sat by the bed, weeping. Her tears fell like a broken string of pearls as she murmured something in a low voice, as if praying for Maria.

Maria’s once pretty face was now covered in bruises and swelling. Her eyes were hollow and lifeless, having lost their former clarity.

A horrifying purple ligature mark was visible on her neck. Her hair was splayed in a mess across the pillow, and her body trembled slightly, as if she were still trapped in the terrifying ordeal, unable to escape.

Feng Shan’s heart clenched. A wave of anger and pity washed over him.

It was hard to imagine the nightmare the girl had endured, how much pain and despair she must have felt in that moment.

"Maria!" Feng Shan’s voice was thick with concern.

Hearing Feng Shan’s voice, a flicker of light returned to Maria’s vacant eyes. Two streams of tears flowed from their corners, gushing out like a bursting dam.

The tears slid down her swollen cheeks, leaving clear tracks next to her bruises, like sad lines drawn on a battered canvas.

Maria’s lips trembled. She wanted to say something, but only a weak, hoarse sound came out.

"Feng... he took the knife!"

"It’s okay. It’s just a knife."

Feng Shan quickly walked to the bedside and gently took the girl’s cold hand. Silent comfort was all he could offer.

He kept his eyes fixed on her, hoping his presence could bring her even the slightest bit of reassurance.

Maria’s tears flowed even more fiercely as the long-suppressed pain and grievance poured out of her.

An Inuit woman came forward and quietly advised Feng Shan not to upset Maria further, saying she needed to rest.

Louise gently tugged on the corner of Feng Shan’s shirt, her hushed voice tinged with helplessness.

"The girl’s been through too much. Let her get some sleep. Bothering her more might make things worse."

Feng Shan nodded silently and looked at the others in the room.

"Could you all step out for a moment? I’ve studied medicine. I might be able to ease Maria’s pain. It will only take a few minutes."

’Studied medicine?’

’A few minutes?’

Louise turned to look at the middle-aged woman who had just told Feng Shan to leave. She was the only person in Kivalina who had ever worked as a nurse.

The woman sized Feng Shan up for a moment, then decided to trust him.

After all, Kivalina had no medical equipment and no emergency medicine.

She then followed Louise out of the room. The condition for their agreement was to let the old woman stay, sitting by the bed to watch over Maria.

Feng Shan didn’t care at all if others knew about his Witchcraft; he just didn’t want anyone bothering him.

Gently holding Maria’s cold hand, he began to chant a healing spell.

The air in the room seemed to freeze. Only the low, mysterious sound of the spell echoed within the walls.

A red glow emanated from the Witchcraft Bone Ring and instantly flowed into Maria’s body.

Nourished by the healing Witchcraft, the bruises on Maria’s swollen face slowly faded, as if gently wiped away by a tender hand.

Her crying gradually subsided, and her breathing began to even out.

Her eyes, wide with terror, slowly closed, and her trembling eyelashes grew still.

Finally, she fell into a deep sleep.

At some point, the old woman had stopped crying. She was now staring intently at Feng Shan.

Feng Shan stood up, walked out of the room, and returned to the living room. The nurse immediately rushed inside.

"What’s going on? Have they caught the perpetrator yet?"

The question was met with silence in the living room. Everyone, including Louise and Old Swan, said nothing. Only Little Swan’s voice was filled with anger and frustration.

"After Morris did... what he did, he ran off into the Tundra. The state troopers said they won’t be able to get to Kivalina until tomorrow morning."

...