My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!-Chapter 361 - 235: Public Rebuke

This Martial Arts Tournament had sixty-two Grandmasters participating.

The struggle for the title among the Ten Great Grandmasters involved thirty-one matches in the first round, which were to be held over three days.

Actually, these thirty-one matches could have been completed in one day.

Even the Imperial Examination, which had more participants and was more tightly scheduled, could still finish one subject in one day.

However, if it were so, Li Nuo would not have much time to send these Grandmasters to the Confinement Room for reflection. The longer the timeline was stretched, the more adequately he could prepare and could relatively easily achieve his goal.

The first ten matches of the first day ended in the morning.

In the afternoon, everyone was free to do as they pleased.

Whether to spar and exchange pointers within Martial Arts Village, or to venture out in groups for leisure, the Ministry of Rites did not interfere much.

This also brought relief to everyone.

After the morning matches, it was just time for a meal.

In Martial Arts Village, there was a dedicated cafeteria, where ingredients were sourced fresh from the market every morning.

To provide the best dining experience for everyone, Li Nuo had his own chef come over as the head chef and borrowed several Imperial Chefs from the palace. Even those assisting in washing and cutting vegetables in the cafeteria were from major Chang'an restaurants.

Even the working meals of the Three Provinces and Six Ministries weren't treated this well.

Disciples from various sects couldn't stop praising the cafeteria's food.

Even the Grandmasters, who normally didn't care much for gastronomic desires, had to admit that although the court was quite strict in its rules, it attained perfection in the details.

The etiquette was comprehensive, and no minor sect felt overlooked. Everyone felt respected.

The cafeteria's dishes catered to everyone's tastes.

All major cuisines of Daxia were present, and their authentic flavors made it hard for the guests to imagine they could savor such genuine hometown delicacies far from home.

Some even noticed more touching details.

Even within the same culinary tradition, the same dish could differ among various prefectures.

For example, Hai State cuisine, while also a part of the southern culinary tradition, preferred using more sugar in their cooking.

Because there were sects from Hai State attending, the kitchen used two different methods for the same dish, specifically indicating that one version was tailored to Hai State's taste, making the small sect of five members feel valued.

"This tastes good, junior sister, you should try it!"

"This is also good, senior brother, I'll get you some!"

"No need, no need, I'm full."

"Oh come on, just try a bite. It's really delicious!"

…

While the Grandmasters still maintained their dignity in the face of such delicious food, the younger disciples lacked such restraint.

Faced with an array of dazzling dishes, they tried one and then wanted to taste another, limited only by their capacity. After a light taste, they often set it aside to explore other options.

Soon, their tables were piled with dishes.

The bins by the door were filled with wasted food.

Sects like Sanqing Sect, Shu Mountain, and Five Mountains Sword Sect had disciples who managed to curb their appetites, upholding the dignity of their prestigious sects.

But the disciples of smaller sects didn't hold back at all.

Given that eating here didn't cost silver, and adhering to the idea that food should not be wasted, too much food was still wasted.

Some sect elders, though they did remind their disciples not to be too wasteful, did not speak harshly, and thus did not have much effect.

Bang, bang, bang!

Just then, several dull sounds suddenly reached everyone's ears.

The sound was extremely abrupt, and everyone involuntarily looked in the direction from which the noise came.

They saw a young official from the Ministry of Rites slowly step forward, glance at the tables piled with food, tapped on a table, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, please hold on a moment."

After he spoke, the entire cafeteria, those who were chatting stopped chatting, those who were eating ceased their motions.

Even the Grandmasters were ready to listen seriously to his upcoming words.

In just a few days, he had established sufficient authority in everyone's minds.

When sect disciples were taken away by the Imperial Guard for violating the law, it was he who had led them out.

Whether it was the leaders of the Imperial Guard or other court officials they encountered, all were extremely respectful towards him.

Even when dealing with the Grandmasters of Sanqing Sect, he showed no leniency.

Unbeknownst to these Martial Arts Masters, they had already begun to view him with significant importance.

Li Nuo swept his gaze over the crowd, slowly saying, "Perhaps you are not aware, but the organization of this Martial Arts Tournament was not smooth sailing. The Imperial Examination had just concluded, and the court had spent a considerable amount of Silver Coin during it, leaving the National Treasury depleted. When the Ministry of Rites first proposed the Martial Arts Tournament, all the departments of the court were opposed."

Everyone listened intently, as these were matters they were indeed unaware of.

Li Nuo continued, "However, the Ministry of Rites felt that the court and the Martial Arts communities are not adversaries. As an important force locally, the Martial Arts Community deserved significant attention from the court. It was only through the relentless persistence of the Ministry of Rites that this Martial Arts Tournament was realized, securing some privileges for the elders present."

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Nuo spoke again.

"The court's funding is limited. To save every bit of money, the Ministry of Rites stretched one cent into two, turning the Examination Hall into what is now Martial Arts Village. Although the living conditions are modest, the Ministry tried to perfect other aspects. The chef here was brought from the palace, and all the ingredients are freshly purchased daily…"

"All these efforts by the Ministry of Rites are to ensure that everyone is comfortable and enjoys their meals during the tournament. But seeing so much food being wasted, honestly, it disappoints me…"

Li Nuo pointed outside and solemnly said, "Not to mention far-off places, even within Chang'an City, many citizens struggle to feed themselves daily, finding it difficult to even drink a bowl of porridge. Yet here, pastries meticulously crafted by the Imperial Chef are left aside after just one bite…"

At his words, several hands in the pastry section that were reaching to try different cakes slowly withdrew.

Some young disciples from smaller sects looked down in shame.

Li Nuo continued, "The Ministry of Revenue was initially vehemently against holding the Martial Arts Tournament. If officials from the Ministry knew about such wastage of food and the court's funding here in Martial Arts Village, they would surely impeach the Ministry of Rites. Then, I fear this first Martial Arts Tournament might also be the last…"

Those who had wasted food bowed their heads even lower.

Silence, a lengthy silence.

Within the entire dining hall, one could hear a pin drop.

The young disciples from various sects dared not breathe too loudly, and even the Grandmasters seemed to revert to their younger days when they were reprimanded by their sect elders.

Though young with a face still showing traces of youth, and his tone not severe—he was practically still a fledgling…

Yet, the words he spoke were impactful.

After some time, Li Nuo broke the silence and said, "Every grain of rice, every bit of porridge should remind us of the hardship behind them. I hope that such incidents do not occur a second time. After lunch, anyone who wastes food must willingly go to the Confinement Room to reflect for one two-hour period. If disciples err, their Grandmasters should also accept punishment alongside them, to serve as a warning…"

Having finished, he walked out by himself.

It took a long while before sounds began to gradually fill the dining hall again.

Disciples and elders from the Sanqing Sect, Shu Mountain, and the Five Mountains Sword Sect felt differently, as they had not wasted any food, thanks to the strict management of their sects.

However, the disciples from second-class sects kept their heads down, feeling ashamed and self-reproachful.

The faces of the Grandmasters from various sects darkened.

After traversing thousands of miles, losing face all the way to Chang'an.

Looking at the disciples from prestigious sects and then at their own, the disparity was blatant.

"What are you all bowing your heads for, go eat!"

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"If you can't eat it, why take so much?"

"Whoever took the food, eat it all, take whatever is left with you, and don't come back to eat here until it's finished!"

"You'll only bring shame upon returning!"

"Our sect's reputation has been completely ruined by you!"

…

After the meal, the Grandmasters voluntarily took their disciples to the self-reflection room.

Wasting food is wrong anywhere.

Having been caught for spitting, littering, and wandering the streets at night, they had subconsciously formed an idea that Chang'an was a place of many rules.

A punishment for wasting food seemed only natural.

Indeed, it would be humiliating if only one family were penalized.

But except for a few major sects, almost no small or minor sects were spared. With everyone penalized together, the shame didn't feel as significant.

The Confinement Room, fairly spacious, suddenly felt exceedingly crowded as so many people streamed in.

The room was filled with the voices of Grandmasters chastising their disciples.

Meanwhile, inside Li Mansion.

Li Nuo was sitting in the courtyard, drawing something on a piece of Rice paper, while Su Qing, curious, came over to peek. At first glance, her face flushed as she spat silently, thinking to herself why he would draw something so indecent.

But upon a second look, she paused slightly, sensing something familiar.

The lines on the body of the unclothed woman seemed to be the meridian map of the Yuqing Heart Technique.

Why was he drawing the meridian map of the Yuqing Heart Technique? Could he be trying to decipher it?

Su Qing dared not look any longer and quietly left.

Many elders from the Sanqing Sect hadn't managed to accomplish this, and she didn't believe a youth under twenty could achieve it.

But since the issue arose because of her, she worried that Li Nuo might blame her if he failed.

Besides satisfaction, she felt somewhat fearful of this son-in-law.

Thinking back to the terrifying scene when he reprimanded the Grandmasters, her steps hastened...