Ji Fu: Forgive My Poor Showing...
After returning, Huo Yuanhong immediately had word spread, setting the match for three days later, still at that great lake—a martial contest by Lin Great Lake.
Before long, the Eastern Island Sword Saint in Jin Gate responded, directly agreeing to it.
The news immediately stirred every side, leaving them all suspicious and unsettled.
"What exactly is Huo Yuanhong trying to do?"
The Chu Family head, who had come to Capital City to prepare for a meeting, frowned gradually as he looked over the telegram delivered to him at the first opportunity.
He could not make sense of it.
Had Huo Yuanhong's earlier challenge to the Eastern Island Sword Saint not been meant to divert attention? To give Big Blade Wang Wu and Gong Baotian a reasonable excuse for not responding to the Eastern Island Sword Saint's provocation, so that the truth—that those two old fellows were no longer in fighting condition—would not be exposed?
That was why the earlier challenge had not specified a date: so it could be dragged out for as long as possible, until the buzz died down and the matter simply faded away.
But now, they had directly set a specific date. The arrow was already on the string; they had no choice but to fire it.
Otherwise, under the push of the northern newspapers and public opinion they controlled, word that Master Huo of Jin Gate did not dare fight the Eastern Island Sword Saint would be telegraphed across the country and spread throughout the land.
"It must be that the recent publicity campaign was too overwhelming. Huo Yuanhong was hoisted too high and could no longer save face, so he has no choice but to fight..."
An expert from one of the Old Families beside him said.
"I