“Can you talk to it?” Mia whispered to Yang.

But Yang just heaved a long sigh.

The lizard turned away slowly and disappeared into the grass.

“The lizard is the most stubborn species among animals. It has a dreadful mind, but it’s dangerous only to itself. That look . . . Who wouldn’t be moved by it?”

Yang was meditating. Mia ran a few steps ahead, trying to track the lizard. Then she thought for a moment and returned.

“I love it. Lohan, you won’t be offended, will you?” Mia blushed and stuttered.

“Of course not. I’m going to cry,” Lohan said softly.

Yang felt the hill dancing again. This time, though, it wasn’t moving physically but spiritually. Yang bobbed his head to the rhythm of the dance.

“How old is it?” Yang asked suddenly, as if waking from a dream.

“It is said that in ancient times there were no mountains here. It must have risen up over time from the ground.”

Lohan answered Yang unhurriedly. As he spoke, he heard a man inside the mountain saying the same thing. So he said, “Ah!” The man in the mountain also said, “Ah!”

“That is to say, it has been looking forward to this. Now it has come to us at last. Because it saw an opportunity. Isn’t that right?” Yang looked over at Mia.

“The three of us created this opportunity!” Mia shouted.

Mia’s suddenly raised voice led to a buzzing in the mountain’s belly, and it shuddered slightly.

“Oh, let me die in bliss!” Yang said, closing his eyes.

“Yang, your time isn’t up yet,” said Lohan. “I heard the hill say you will enjoy still more bliss. If you hadn’t bought this hill, we wouldn’t have had such good luck.”

When the three of them went into the village, the villagers, who were usually a little indifferent, gathered around eagerly. They seemed to have something to say but they couldn’t.

“Dear, you want to tell me something, don’t you?” Mia asked a little girl kindly.

“Well—I want a pet. It’s a little green lizard. It’s very small. My parents told me to ask you if it’s okay . . .” The girl looked at Mia with tears in her eyes.

“It’s a great idea! The lizard is out looking for a job, and you can give it a lot of work.”

On hearing this, the villagers said, “Oh,” and dispersed.

Mia stood where she was, puzzled.

“Mia, this is how our villagers are repaying you,” Lohan said.

The next morning when Mia woke up, she heard Lohan talking loudly with someone.

“She will not leave Deserted Village—there is much to be done here!” Lohan said.

“That’s what I thought. I was just sounding you out,” said a familiar voice.

Mia dashed to the door and found that her husband was alone.

“Who was with you?”

“It was Dr. Lin Baoguang from Blue Mountain.” Lohan shrugged.

“Why did he leave so soon?”

“I spoke to him ten minutes ago. Did you hear us only now? If you just heard us, it means Blue Mountain people’s time is different from ours. I was in their circle of time just now. How mysterious!”