I add points to Indian martial arts.

Suleza realized she had been a bit out of line, so she coughed twice to cover her embarrassment.

She was a little annoyed. She should have responded with an impeccable, gentle smile immediately when Li Wei said those words, instead of being stunned. What was wrong with her?

Li Wei merely offered a compliment, which was at most somewhat novel, but nothing special.

Suleza pursed her lips, a little annoyed. She couldn't let a man's praise make her lose herself; that wasn't how she should behave. She told herself that she had almost won this battle to win over Li Wei and had gained the upper hand. She should immediately start playing the role of a gentle wife who looked at Li Wei with adoration, leaving an impeccable image in Li Wei's mind, instead of standing there in a daze.

Thinking this, after a few more breaths, Suleza took a very light breath. When she spoke again, her expression was gentle and concerned, and her voice was still soft, but for some reason, it seemed to have lost some of its previous fluency and become a bit dry and flat. "Salma is joking... How could Ahami be disappointed?"

Suleisa pronounced the three words "Ahami" very clearly, as if reminding herself, or as if drawing a line.

Li Wei gave a soft "hmm" and said nothing more. He whispered, "Let's go home," and started walking. He felt that some things were better left unsaid. He should take things slowly.

Suleisa was a little slow to react, but caught up shortly afterward.

The two walked one after the other in the dim twilight, amidst the mooing of cattle in the cattle pen and the shadows of the tree ferns by the roadside.

……

Li Wei and Suleisa walked back to the courtyard of the Laka family, one after the other. Unlike most of the simple earthen walls in the village, the walls of the Laka family's house were made of neatly fired red bricks, and the gatehouse was also taller. There were even simple auspicious patterns carved under the eaves, showing the wealth of the owner as a successful Vaishya merchant.

The copper-framed glass lantern at the entrance was lit, its steady and bright light illuminating the stone pavement in front of the door clearly.

"Salma, it's time for your meal."

The mealtime was also the time for farewell. Suleisa had recovered from her earlier state. She bowed respectfully to Levi, her voice regaining its usual gentleness, "Salma, may Brahma and the goddess Sakti grant you a peaceful night of recovery."

"May the gods also favor you, Suleisa." Li Wei returned the greeting with his palms together, his gaze calm.

After the two exchanged greetings, Suleisa gave a farewell bow and walked into the courtyard to the east, while Li Wei walked to the west.

Because of Livi's Brahmin status, the Laka family did not eat with Livi; Livi ate alone.

As Suleza reached the end of the east corridor, she glanced back. Looking at Li Wei's back, she silently thought that she had made a good adjustment just now. In the time it took to walk from the neighbor's house to home, she had already adjusted her mindset. She would not lose her composure because of a single sentence today again.

……

Li Wei walked towards his guest room in the side courtyard. The room was much more spacious than those in ordinary villagers' homes, and the furnishings were more exquisite, with a solid wood bed, a chest carved with vine patterns, and even a small desk. The air was filled with the scent of expensive sandalwood, rather than the ordinary smell of firewood.

Soon, the maid who had brought Li Wei breakfast that morning came in with a black lacquered wooden tray, silently and respectfully serving the food. Dinner was indeed more lavish than breakfast: snow-white fragrant rice piled high, rich "masala" stewed chickpeas glistening with oil, two fluffy "puri" (fried bread), a small dish of vegetable "laita" seasoned with yogurt and spices, and even a few crisp pickled lemon slices and a small bowl of sweet "halva" dessert. The tableware was a special brass bowl and plate, polished to a shine.

Other options include fluffy garlic naan bread, fresh vegetable salad (Laita), and sweet and sticky rose milk balls (Gulabjamon).

It was a very generous meal. Perhaps Laka knew that Li Wei had been practicing martial arts all day and must be very hungry, so she sent so much food.

"My father-in-law treats me well." Looking at the sumptuous meal in front of him, Li Wei nodded in satisfaction; he was indeed starving.

He started eating. Li Wei sat cross-legged on the soft cotton cushion, tore open a naan bread with his hands, wrapped it around a chickpea, and ate it in a big bite. Finally, he tried the dessert rose milk ball, which was also quite good, although it was inexplicably a little sour, but overall the taste was pretty good.

Then he looked at the rice, which made him a little worried. It was inconvenient not having chopsticks. He would have to find someone to make him a pair of chopsticks in a while.

Half an incense stick later, Li Wei finished eating and stretched contentedly.

Seeing that Li Wei had finished eating, the maid on the other side began to tidy up the room. Soon, the maid had cleaned up the tableware and left.

Li Wei was left alone in the room. He suddenly felt a little quiet. He looked around and saw that the room was dimly lit with only a few candles burning.

At this moment, every muscle in his body was screaming with soreness, but his mind was somewhat at a loss because of the sudden comfort and silence.

Li Wei leaned back on the cushion, gazing at the flickering lamplight. A magnified sense of loneliness, unique to ancient rural nights, suddenly enveloped him.

He was thinking that life in ancient times was indeed a bit boring. There was so little entertainment, and he didn't know what to do after eating.

At that moment, he thought of Suleza. If Suleza were here, he would have some things to do.

But clearly, their relationship hasn't reached that point yet.

Of course, he didn't want to push their relationship forward too early. He always felt that the most beautiful feeling between two people was in the initial ambiguous stage, in the period of emotional tug-of-war that was a little hazy and indistinct. Li Wei felt that pushing the relationship forward too early would skip the most beautiful stage.

As he pondered, Li Wei thought of Pangkabang, where he was born. When he was a child, his father had taken him to the central city of Pangkabang, which was indeed magnificent and had many nighttime entertainment activities, unlike the small villages here.

Gradually, Li Wei's thoughts involuntarily flew over the fields and villages where he lived, and landed on the central megacity of Ponkabang deep in his memory—"Chandrapali" (the Moon City), where the night was alive, a totem of breathing desire and power.

In Chandragupali, the fisherwomen of Kerala are merely embellishments on the water. On the sacred Yamuna tributary that runs through the city, there is a grand "Night of Food," where tamed aquatic snake women with scales shimmering like jewels emerge from the water, spreading their alluring fleshy fans around their necks, and dance with dancers draped in light veils and adorned with silver bells. Their vertical pupils shimmer with a mesmerizing light under the illumination of magic lanterns, and the mist they exhale carries a seductive sweet fragrance.

In the western center of the city stands the towering "Brahma Spiral Tower," at the top of which is the Spice Dream Pavilion. What is offered there is not ordinary smoke, but a mixture of rare elemental plants, spirit pollen, and even trace amounts of spirit dust. Participants who enter the Spice Pavilion can see ever-changing illusions in the misty fragrance, experience a brief moment of transcendence, or engage in secret spiritual communication. Of course, the experience is very expensive.

When Li Wei was a child, his father took him there once. In his current opinion, seeing the illusions in the Spice Dream Museum is like watching a movie, only it feels more real and immersive.

In the southern part of the city, there is also the "Illusion Market," where gypsy-style wandering illusionists and spell vendors set up stalls. You can see riddle birds imprisoned in cages, whose feathers constantly change color; taste candied fruit that allows you to temporarily understand animal language; or buy crystal teardrops that record a memory of a lost love.

In short, big cities are the ultimate vortex of power, wealth, mystery, and pleasure.

It attracts many people regardless of whether it's in this life or the next.

Thinking this way, Li Wei felt he needed to become stronger. Otherwise, how could he possibly go to the big city and enjoy life?

"The allure of big cities is irresistible to young people at any time."

Late at night, Li Wei sat on his bed in his room, thinking to himself.

He really wanted to go to, or rather, wanted to own, a big city like Chandragupali.

In that case, he would feel that he would possess something wonderful.