Landlord in the Arctic

A hoarse, aged voice mixed with the howling wind.

"The hour has arrived. Let the ritual begin!"

Before Ms. Hong’s grave, six Daoists immediately sprang into action.

The sounds of copper bells and Wooden Fish rose and fell. The crisp chimes of the bells were like shattering jade, while the dull thuds of the Wooden Fish were like distant thunder.

They began to chant the Sutra of Salvation in unison. The low, droning scripture twisted with the wind, circling and echoing over the empty cemetery.

The moment the chanting stopped, the air seemed to freeze solid.

Daoist White Beard’s silver eyebrows twitched. He slammed the Token in his hand down hard onto the Dharma altar.

He then snatched up a Peach Wood Sword, the red silk wrapped around its blade rustling in the wind as he began to chant an incantation.

"Today, the devout Feng Family, wishing to move the grave of their wife, beseeches the protection of all spirits. Land God, City God, we ask your permission to break ground and ensure a smooth relocation of the grave!"

Before his voice faded, he pinched a yellow paper talisman covered in Cinnabar runes between his fingers.

The instant a flame shot up, the talisman paper CRACKLED sharply. The grayish-black ash was swept up by the fierce wind, swirling into a strange vortex in the air.

Daoist White Beard held his Peach Wood Sword aloft and paced slowly around Ms. Hong’s tombstone.

With each step, the hem of his black Daoist robes swept across the base of the grave, the tips of his shoes crushing a few withered leaves.

Feng Shan stood a short distance away, taking in the entire ritual.

’Never mind whether the ritual actually works. Just this display and these vestments radiate professionalism.’

’Although I’m a Witch myself, compared to these professionals, I’m more than just a little behind.’

’This ritual cost 50,000.’

’Worth it!’

After circling the grave three times, the old Daoist’s Peach Wood Sword suddenly stopped in front of the tombstone.

He narrowed his cloudy eyes, the tip of the sword lightly tracing lines across the tombstone’s surface.

As the final mark was etched, he spun around abruptly, pointed the Peach Wood Sword to the sky, and roared.

"Break ground!"

Several workers from the cemetery’s engineering department hurried forward.

Using crowbars wrapped in red silk, they carefully pried open the grave’s cover.

With every pry, they sprinkled some rice wine, which scattered and spattered in the wind, filling the air with a faint, sweet aroma.

Finally, Ms. Hong’s urn was carefully removed. In the oppressive atmosphere, it seemed exceptionally heavy.

Daoist White Beard’s expression was grave. He held up a bowl of Talisman Water with both hands, dipped a willow branch into it, and flicked it gently. Droplets drifted down like a fine mist, sprinkling over the urn.

"Dust to dust, earth to earth. Wash away the sorrows and hardships of a past life."

Manager Pang stood to the side, his eyes anxious, and quickly waved Feng Shan over.

Feng Shan was holding Coca-Cola. Xiaohua and the others hurried over with him. He handed Coca-Cola to Hu Zi and accepted the urn with both hands.

He felt the coldness of the urn.

His eyes instantly filled with tears as vivid memories of his time with Ms. Hong flashed before him.

The surrounding Daoists, their faces solemn, once again began chanting prayers in unison.

Daoist White Beard’s expression was dignified. The Peach Wood Sword in his hand trembled slightly as he led the way forward, each step firm and steady.

As he walked, he scattered mixed grains on the ground, chanting under his breath.

"The path ahead is clear, do not wander; a new home is ready, proceed with peace."

The six chanting Daoists followed closely behind Daoist White Beard, their black robes rustling loudly in the wind.

The Dharma Artifacts in their hands occasionally let out crisp sounds that harmonized with the chanting.

It added an air of mystery and solemnity to the spirit-escorting procession.

Feng Shan clutched Ms. Hong’s urn, his steps heavy.

Xiaohua and the other three followed close behind Feng Shan. Xiaohua’s eyes were bloodshot, tears welling up. Hu Zi’s face was grim. Black Hide was filled with sorrow, and Black Egg clenched his fists, trying hard to suppress his own grief.

The cemetery staff followed silently at the rear of the procession, their heads bowed, afraid to make a sound.

The group arrived at the new gravesite on the mountaintop.

The gloomy sky grew darker still. A savage wind howled as if trying to tear the entire summit apart.

The last time he came, it had been an empty, grassy plot. Now, it was completely transformed.

A white jade grave base gleamed with a cold light in the wind, and next to it stood a maple tree over ten meters tall.

The fiery red maple leaves covering the tree were like dancing flames, tumbling wildly in the wind, yet they exuded an indescribable desolation.

Cradling Ms. Hong’s urn, Feng Shan walked step by step onto the white jade gravesite.

His lips trembled slightly as he placed the urn into the burial pit, as if afraid of hurting the person inside.

The workers carefully placed the cover on, then set the original tombstone onto its new base. Every movement conveyed their respect for the deceased.

Daoist White Beard set up the altar and performed another ritual, his robes whipping in the fierce wind as he brandished the Peach Wood Sword.

Finally, he pressed the Dharma Seal firmly onto the tombstone and shouted.

"Settle the spirit!"

The other Daoists also sounded their Dharma Artifacts and began the final scripture, the low chanting intertwining with the gale.

After the ritual was complete, Daoist White Beard walked up to Feng Shan. He looked at him with profound eyes and spoke slowly.

"The ritual is done. Your wife will surely rest in peace in her new home, and the Feng Family will enjoy good fortune and health from this day forward."

With his eyes red-rimmed, Feng Shan, along with Xiaohua, Hu Zi, Black Hide, and Black Egg, all thanked the Daoist.

As the Daoists and cemetery staff departed, the mountaintop cemetery returned to silence, with only the wild wind still howling wantonly.

Feng Shan stood alone before the tombstone. Beside him, Xiaohua and the others wept silently. Coca-Cola whined uneasily, pawing at the wet stone slabs.

He stared at the tombstone, which had a red scarf tied around it. Ms. Hong’s photograph shimmered faintly in the dim light. Her familiar face and smile seemed so close, yet impossibly far away.

The tombstone stood quietly, as if freezing time itself, bearing the weight of longing and sorrow.

There seemed to be tear tracks on the photo—whether from the rain or from tears, he couldn’t tell. They blurred Ms. Hong’s face, and they blurred Feng Shan’s vision.

On the dim horizon, the dark clouds, which had been roiling like boiling water, suddenly split open.

A single ray of sunlight pierced the thick clouds like a thread of hope. It landed directly on the tombstone, illuminating the faint smile on Ms. Hong’s face in the photograph.

Fat raindrops followed close behind, PATTERING down and striking the white jade gravesite, sending up splashes of water.

The maple tree nearby swayed in the fierce wind, its fiery red leaves fluttering down like crimson snowflakes. They scattered around the tombstone, mixing with the rain and soaking the ground.

Xiaohua sobbed softly. Hu Zi reached out and put an arm around her shoulder. Black Hide and Black Egg shed silent tears.

Feng Shan slowly crouched down and gently caressed the tombstone. Rainwater ran down his arm, mixing with his tears and dripping onto the ground.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Ms. Hong, you can rest easy now. We’ll live our lives well from now on."

The wind howled, the rain poured, and the maple leaves drifted down.

But Ms. Hong’s face and smile would forever remain in the hearts of Feng Shan and the others.

...

With Ms. Hong’s grave settled, Feng Shan’s trip was coming to an end.

The rain was a downpour. It POUNDED on the corrugated iron roof of the shelter, and water exploded into fine silver beads at the corners of the eaves.

The five of them huddled together under a plastic awning. A damp wind swept in sheets of rain, which pooled into winding rivulets at their feet.

"Are you sure you don’t want to come to Alaska with me?" Feng Shan asked, looking at Black Egg, who sat with his head down in silence.

Black Egg suddenly clenched the hem of his clothes, his knuckles turning white in the cold wind.

With dried tear tracks still on his face, he looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "Brother, I don’t want to go. I want to stay in Hai City. I don’t want to go anywhere!"

Instantly, the atmosphere felt as if it had been doused in icy rain, so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

The wind howled outside the tin shelter, and the rain beat a chaotic rhythm on the roof.

Seeing things were getting tense, Hu Zi quickly threw an arm around Black Egg’s shoulders and forced a smile, trying to break the awkward atmosphere.

"Brother, just let Black Egg work at the supermarket with us. Hua’Er is a white-collar worker now, so we’re short-staffed."

As he spoke, he nudged Black Egg gently with his elbow, signaling for him to say something too.

Black Hide quickly chimed in, "Exactly! The supermarket is super busy right now. The two of us are about to work ourselves to death!"

Feng Shan’s gaze rested on Black Egg’s face, his eyes filled with complex emotions: reluctance, understanding, and a faint hint of disappointment.

Black Egg kept his head down, not daring to meet his gaze, his fingers restlessly fidgeting with the hem of his clothes.

After a moment of silence, Feng Shan slowly shook his head, his voice tinged with a hint of loneliness. "Forget it. If you don’t want to go, then don’t go. It’s easy to stay in touch these days anyway. It’s good for you to stay in Hai City. You all can come visit when you have time!"

The words had barely left his mouth when...

Xiaohua immediately pouted and grumbled, her face full of reluctance and disdain.

"Go there again? That place is all heavy snow and cold snaps, and you never even see the sun. No way I’m going back."

Feng Shan shot Xiaohua a glare, but his tone was affectionate.

"What do you know? It’s almost summer there. It’ll never get dark. It’s daylight all day and all night."

Hu Zi and the others were afraid of Feng Shan’s glares. One look from him and their legs would turn to jelly.

But Xiaohua wasn’t afraid. She’d never feared anyone or anything, and now that she was pregnant, she felt even more justified.

"What kind of awful place is that? It’s either all day or all night. Hai City is better. We have everything we need here," Xiaohua said righteously, making her position clear.

"You..." Just as Feng Shan was about to say something, his phone rang.

He took it out and saw the call was from Yves, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

’I wonder why Yves is calling at a time like this.’

.....