Landlord in the Arctic

A-list star.

You and your whole family are A-list stars.

Feng Shan was no longer the clueless rookie he’d been when he first arrived in Alaska.

He knew what the San Fernando Valley was.

It was in Northern Los Angeles, California. Ninety percent of the porn in the United States was shot and produced in the San Fernando Valley, with thousands of films released every year.

It was known as the Holy Land of men’s cinema.

Feng Shan feigned anger. "Believe it or not, I’ll send you to the San Fernando Valley and find someone to cast you in a few plumber films."

"Oh yeah? I love the plumber plotline." Far from being scared, Alvin’s eyes lit up, and he looked eager to give it a try.

Seeing this, a sly smile appeared on Feng Shan’s face. He said slowly, "Then it’s settled. I’ll have Director Roland find you a few male co-stars."

"No, Boss, I was wrong!" Alvin’s expression immediately twisted in agony, and he let out a piercing wail.

The sailors in the pool heard the exchange and could no longer hold back, erupting into unrestrained laughter.

Feng Shan slowly entered the hot spring, leaned against the edge, and gradually submerged his body in the water.

Unseen by anyone, he subtly formed the hand signs for the Witchcraft Strengthening Spell underwater, using his Soul Power as the source and quietly releasing it throughout the hot spring.

A flash of red light flickered through the water, but thanks to the cover of the swirling steam, no one noticed Feng Shan’s subtle action.

However, the sailors definitely felt something unusual.

It was hard to say if it was because the water temperature had quietly risen, or if the warmth of the hot spring was further boosting their blood circulation.

All they knew was that it felt like a warm current was slowly surging through their bodies.

Washed over by this magical warmth, the muscle fatigue and damaged joints from years of hard labor felt exceptionally comfortable, as if an invisible weight they had always carried had suddenly been lifted.

"Hey, guys! It feels so hot, so good! Are you feeling this?" one of the sailors was the first to shout.

Another sailor responded with pleasant surprise, "I feel it! The arm I sprained pulling up a Crab Trap doesn’t even hurt anymore."

"My God, this hot spring really works! My joints don’t ache!" another person yelled excitedly.

"Boss, this hot spring is amazing!"

A boisterous sailor suddenly stood up in the hot spring. "I can feel it! My body is changing! Look, damn it, it’s standing up!"

"Asshole, you almost hit me in the face! Get away from me! Believe it or not, I’ll fucking break it off!"

This immediately triggered a wave of laughing and cursing.

Listening to the sailors’ boisterous chatter in the hot spring, Feng Shan even saw a few with a screw loose excitedly scoop up the spring water and gulp it down.

Feng Shan, on the other hand, picked up a can of beer, popped the tab, and took a satisfying sip, watching the guys’ shocked expressions with great interest.

"Boss, this place of yours is incredible!" As the captain, Alvin wasn’t fooling around like the sailors, but the joy on his face was impossible to suppress. He swam over to sit beside Feng Shan and said emotionally, "My legs always start to hurt in the winter, and I have to take painkillers to manage it. I can’t believe the pain is gone after soaking in the hot spring for just a little while."

"If it feels good, soak a while longer. This is a sulfur spring, the only one in all of Alaska is right here in the Crown Territory. It’s especially good for relieving rheumatism."

Of course, Feng Shan wasn’t about to tell Alvin it was because he’d used Witchcraft. He just made up a casual excuse to brush it off.

"Oh, I see." With a look of complete belief, Alvin also scooped up some spring water, took a sip, smacked his lips, and savored it. "Tastes pretty good."

’What a pervert!’

Even though he was in a steaming hot spring, Feng Shan couldn’t help but shiver.

This was bathwater that everyone had been soaking in, yet Alvin could drink it with such relish.

Feng Shan was suddenly disgusted. He immediately stood up and scrambled out of the pool.

"I’m done soaking. You guys take your time. Remember to go to the dining hall for the welcome banquet later."

As he spoke, he quickly threw on his clothes and left without a backward glance.

Through the drifting steam, Alvin’s loud voice could be faintly heard.

"Hey guys, the boss said this spring can cure a hundred ailments! It’s the only one in all of Alaska! Drink up, drink your fill! Forget the beer!"

"Captain, I’m already full!" a sailor’s voice called out.

This was followed by the sound of GULP, GULP, GULP.

Hearing this, Feng Shan could only shake his head helplessly.

’I have to hand it to them. These foreigners are so simple-minded they’ll believe anything. To think they’d actually drink bathwater until they’re full.’

Back at the camp, figures bustled about in a lively scene.

The crewmen’s families were strolling leisurely around the camp.

Some walked in twos and threes, while others ambled alone, curiously examining every corner of the camp.

From time to time, the clear, pleasant laughter of children rang out, like a glacial spring on a snowy mountain, adding a touch of innocence and vitality to the bustling camp.

"Dad, help! Help me!"

A familiar cry suddenly sounded from the sky.

Then, his godson, Loki, landed frantically on Feng Shan’s shoulder. His small eyes were filled with terror as he dove straight into the hood of Feng Shan’s animal-hide coat, squawking nonstop.

"Dad, scary!!"

Seeing Loki acting like he’d seen a ghost, Feng Shan couldn’t help but be curious.

After all, the little guy was the camp’s famous little troublemaker. He had been up to no end of mischief since he arrived.

He often mimicked staff members’ voices to prank others, leaving everyone not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

He could also let loose a stream of fluent, mother-filled profanity.

But, thanks to his cute appearance, his silver tongue, and his knack for mimicry, everyone adored him. Even when they were pranked, they would just laugh it off and never held it against him.

’What happened today?’

Just then, a group of children appeared on the path, led by Liu Lan and Fiona.

A dozen or so kids looked furious, each holding a stick, searching all around for something.

They quickly came up to Feng Shan.

"Mister, have you seen Loki?" Fiona asked huffily, her little face flushed red with anger.

"Nope." Of course, Feng Shan wasn’t going to sell out his godson. He shook his head and feigned ignorance, asking, "What’s wrong?"

"Hmph, Loki is a bad bird," Liu Lan said, angrily waving her branch. Her little face was tense as she said loudly, "He used Uncle Yves’s voice to trick Fiona into stealing nuts from the dining hall, and then she got caught by Ms. Maria."

’Is that so?’

Feng Shan’s eyes widened in feigned surprise, and he clearly felt a violent tremor from inside his hood.

He immediately reached into his hood, pulled Loki out, and held him up, asking with a serious expression.

"You were tricking people again?"

"Good dad, best dad!" Loki instantly switched to his tried-and-true cute-and-cuddly routine, his little black-bean eyes darting around.

Unfortunately, Feng Shan was unmoved this time. He curled a finger and gave Loki a light flick on the forehead.

"Have I not told you not to use your voice to trick people? Did you forget again?"

"Loki was wrong!" Seeing that being cute wasn’t working, Loki immediately switched tactics, deploying his second move: admitting fault. He put on a pitiful look, hung his head, and let his wings droop.

"Mister, you can’t hit a bird. That’s not right." Unexpectedly, Fiona, who was still pouting, suddenly reprimanded Feng Shan for flicking Loki’s head. Her little face was completely serious.

"Weren’t you guys trying to catch him? I’m punishing him," Feng Shan said, deliberately pretending to be angry.

Liu Lan, acting like a little adult, said very seriously, "Teacher says you can’t use corporal punishment. When someone makes a mistake, you should make them work to understand what they did wrong!"

Feng Shan nodded as if in a sudden realization and went along with her. "Alright, so what kind of work should he do?"

Liu Lan first showed a troubled expression, then her eyes lit up.

"We can make Loki shell nuts in the dining hall! I’ve seen Loki eat nuts before. He can crack an almond shell in just a few pecks. Make him work in the dining hall."

"No!" Loki immediately protested.

...