Li Huan stared directly at Chen Jinnan and chuckled.
"Chief Chen, you have lost one-third of your internal energy. Why don't you eat my boxed lunch to replenish your strength and help you recover your internal energy?"
Chen Jinnan remained calm and said, "I heard that Lord Li sets up a stall selling boxed lunches in the palace. His cooking skills are superb, and he has won the favor of the dog emperor, who has even bestowed upon him an imperial token."
Li Huan took out the golden token and threw it at Chen Jinnan.
"This is the token that reads 'By Imperial Order, I'm setting up a stall to sell boxed lunches.' Please take a look, Chief Chen!"
Chen Jinnan reached out and caught the golden token, then quickly examined it.
"With this token, Lord Li can not only set up a stall in the palace, but also anywhere in the world to sell boxed lunches!"
Li Huan said, "That's right, we're setting up a stall by imperial decree, who dares to stop us?"
Chen Jinnan returned the golden token to Li Huan, saying, "Ordinary people and government officials will naturally recognize this token, but people in the martial arts world may not!"
Li Huan said, "Why should I seek the approval of the martial arts world? I can earn money from wealthy merchants and government officials; there's no need for me to do business with the martial arts world!"
A glint of light flashed in Chen Jinnan's eyes...
Wei Xiaobao urged, "Master, quickly cure me of the poison from the Bone-Melting Palm!"
Chen Jinnan nodded and immediately used his martial arts to detoxify Wei Xiaobao.
Soon, the poison from the Bone-Melting Palm technique that Wei Xiaobao had been afflicted with was cured.
Chen Jinnan's breathing was slightly unsteady, and his forehead was covered with beads of sweat.
After all, he had just lost a third of his internal energy and had also detoxified Wei Xiaobao, so he inevitably appeared exhausted.
Wei Xiaobao beamed with joy: "Thank you, Master! Quickly, detoxify Huan-ge."
Chen Jinnan said, "I am too weak to do it. I will give Lord Li the antidote another day."
Li Huan knew that although Chen Jinnan looked a little tired, he was not physically exhausted.
He said that purely to whet Li Huan's appetite.
The purpose was to get Li Huan to beg.
Once Li Huan makes a request, Chen Jinnan can set conditions.
Li Huan fully understood Chen Jinnan's thoughts and deliberately said, "It's alright, I'm not in a hurry. I estimate that in another three months, the poison of the Bone-Melting Palm will not be able to reach my elbow, and perhaps it will disappear on its own!"
Chen Jinnan said, "Don't be careless. Although your internal strength is very strong and you have temporarily resisted the poison of the Bone-Melting Palm, if you are not careful, the poison may suddenly intensify!"
Li Huan feigned concern: "Chief Chen is right, my internal energy is very strong, but sometimes I can't control the internal energy I've accumulated over a long period of time..."
Chen Jinnan said, "Lord Li is a highly skilled cook and possesses extraordinary inner strength. Why is he coming to the palace?"
Li Huan said, "I want to be the imperial chef and present delicious food to the emperor."
Chen Jinnan asked, "Are you a Han Chinese?"
Li Huan said, "Of course they are Han Chinese."
Chen Jinnan said, "The Manchus have seized our land, robbed us of our women and silver, so why do you still want to be the imperial chef for this dog emperor?"
Li Huan said, "I only know that Ao Bai is a treacherous minister who preys on the people. I have never heard of the emperor doing anything to wrong the people."
Chen Jinnan was taken aback, then sighed: "Sigh, you're thinking too simply."
Li Huan then said, "Please enlighten me, Chief Chen."
Chen Jinnan said, "Right now, the dog emperor is only fifteen years old and his power is not yet fully developed, so the power in the court is controlled by Ao Bai! Once Ao Bai dies, the dog emperor will surely stir up trouble and steal even more of our women and money!"
Li Huan pretended to be thoughtful and nodded.
Chen Jinnan continued, "I heard from Xiaobao that you are resourceful and single-handedly set a trap to capture Ao Bai alive. This shows that you are a righteous person, unlike those lackeys of the Manchu Qing!"
Li Huan said, "To tell you the truth, the reason I went to the palace to become a royal chef was to promote my boxed lunches!"
"Promote boxed meals?" Chen Jinnan asked curiously.
Li Huan started rambling again.
"After I become the imperial chef, I can create 'Lunchbox Party,' recruit disciples all over the country, set up stalls to sell lunchboxes, and earn money!"
"Now, I have not only received the imperial decree to set up a stall and sell boxed lunches, but I have also become a Grand Secretary of the Imperial Academy. I am highly appreciated and trusted by the Emperor, which is even more conducive to the establishment of the 'Boxed Lunch Party'!"
Chen Jinnan was stunned.
Wei Xiaobao covered his mouth and chuckled: "Hehehe, are there Shaolin, Wudang, and Emei sects in the martial arts world? Brother Huan creating a lunchbox sect, isn't that a bit too funny?"
Li Huan said seriously, "They are a sect that fights and kills, while I am a sect that runs a food business. How can we be compared?"
After a moment's thought, Chen Jinnan smiled and said, "Lord Li, have you ever considered that after establishing the Boxed Lunch Party and setting up a stall on the street to do business, it might be sabotaged by people from the martial arts world?"
Li Huan said, "I'm here to sell boxed lunches by imperial decree, and I belong to a sect protected by the court. Anyone who dares to disrupt my business, I'll have the government arrest them!"
Chen Jinnan said, "Government officials are corrupt, cowardly, and afraid of death. Would they provoke people from the underworld?"
Li Huan said, "What Chief Chen said makes sense. In your opinion, what should I do?"
Chen Jinnan said, "Why don't you cooperate with me!"
"Cooperation?" Li Huan raised an eyebrow. "How would we cooperate?"
Chen Jinnan said, "You've joined the Heaven and Earth Society..."
"What?!" Li Huan slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his expression one of shock, putting on a convincing performance. "How could you say such blasphemous things?"
Chen Jinnan smiled and said, "Lord Li, please sit down and let me finish."
Li Huan sat down.
Chen Jinnan continued, "After you join the Heaven and Earth Society, my disciples and I will help you set up stalls selling boxed lunches all over the country. Those local bullies and thugs will never dare to provoke the Heaven and Earth Society."
Li Huan shook his head: "No, no, if I join the Heaven and Earth Society, I will become your disciple. I want to create my own lunchbox party!"
Chen Jinnan said, "You can create your own 'Boxed Lunch Faction,' taking advantage of both the imperial court's strengths and the Heaven and Earth Society's manpower. Why not do it?"
Li Huan laughed and said, "Who doesn't know that the Heaven and Earth Society is the mortal enemy of the imperial court, and Chen Jinnan is the emperor's biggest worry? I enjoy the power of the imperial court and the resources of the Heaven and Earth Society at the same time. I think it's inappropriate to have my cake and eat it too!"
Chen Jinnan said, "The Heaven and Earth Society has disciples all over the world and is very powerful. Overthrowing the Qing Dynasty is just around the corner! Why should Lord Li put all his eggs in one basket and not leave himself a way out?"
Li Huan shook his head: "No, still no! After I join the Heaven and Earth Society, you will definitely make me do things that betray the Emperor. As an official of the court, the Emperor will definitely make me do things that betray the Heaven and Earth Society. I will be a traitor no matter what, and I will be condemned by people!"
Chen Jinnan laughed and said, "Don't worry, I will never let you do anything against your conscience. I will only ask you to help secretly to eliminate those traitors who sell out the country for personal gain and prey on the people!"
Li Huan asked, "I am the Emperor's confidant. Don't you want me to take this opportunity to assassinate the Emperor?"
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