Zhao Dakan, sect master of the Horse Saber Sect, sat atop a fiery steed, his beard fluttering in the wind.
He quietly cleared his throat. Just as he was about to speak, he felt something was off and silently crooked a finger at one of his subordinates beside him.
The subordinate stepped forward and whispered, "What are your orders, Sect Master?"
Zhao Dakan crooked his finger again.
The subordinate stuck out an ear and leaned closer.
Zhao Dakan cautiously glanced around and said in an extremely tiny voice, "Go tell Zhuo Bao to make the first move."
The subordinate understood and silently made an "OK" gesture.
Then—
The subordinate tiptoed across the space between the two armies and arrived before Zhuo Bao, the Beast Sect master, who was holding a black panther on a leash.
Zhuo Bao turned his head and offered an ear.
The Horse Saber Sect member leaned close and whispered, "Our boss said your side should go first."
Zhuo Bao opened his mouth but did not dare make a sound. His lip movements were crystal clear. "Bullshit."
"Tell Zhao Dakan that if he doesn't go, I won't go either. Also, keep it down on your way back."
The subordinate returned to his own camp, leaned close to his sect master's ear, and whispered, "He said you're full of shit."
Zhao Dakan's face flushed red with rage, but he still moved cautiously and said softly, "Go tell Zhuo Bao that when I cross this river, I'll definitely capture fierce beasts and make them serve me. Once he goes back, he'll never again be qualified to talk about my Horse Saber Sect."
The subordinate nodded, then tiptoed back to Zhuo Bao and hissed, "Our boss says you're weak as hell and that he's going to slaughter your whole sect."