Within Sakata Chong's heart, the gratitude from that year, though outwardly repaid with funds, held certain things that money could never truly compensate for.
He had always forced himself, from his high position, to completely disregard such sentiments and affections.
It was only after Su Yang arrived and opened the floodgates of Sakata Chong's memories that Sakata Chong now looked at Zuo Sheng, wanting to explain the reasons.
"Do you remember how my father died?" Sakata Chong asked Zuo Sheng.
"He died of a serious illness. Back then, all seven of our assassination organizations tried their best to find a good doctor, but none could save your father's life. To this day, I still feel it's a great pity."
Hearing this, Sakata Chong let out a scoff, "That was all a facade. Illness was one reason, but the most important other reason was that my father, as the head of the Assassination Hall, had consistently kept it at the bottom among the seven assassination organizations. He felt he was incompetent and worried himself sick every day. Yet, when opportunities presented themselves, he lacked the resolve to seize them."
As he spoke, Sakata Chong scoffed again, "Speaking of seizing, I suppose you're not unfamiliar with that, are you?"
Zuo Sheng frowned, looking at Sakata Chong. "I've never competed with the Assassination Hall for business, nor have I ever competed with your father."
"Is that so?" Sakata Chong's eyes turned cold as he looked at Zuo Sheng. "You truly haven't. You always used to joke with my father and, with your 'gentle knife,' coerce him into letting you have the business. Do you remember that?"
"I..." Memories suddenly surged into Zuo Sheng's mind. He had never imagined that Sakata Chong's father had carried so much pressure within him. And he had always thought Sakata Chong's father was indifferent...
"I always thought your father didn't care..."
Hearing this, Sakata Chong sneered, looking at Zuo Sheng. "He didn't care? The Assassination Hall was ranked last. Do you think he wouldn't care?"
Faced with Sakata Chong's questioning, Zuo Sheng was momentarily speechless, unsure of what to say.
"I... your father never showed any dissatisfaction back then."
Upon hearing Zuo Sheng's words, Sakata Chong let out another cold snort. "What exactly constitutes dissatisfaction? Do I have to fly into a rage and tell you this is unacceptable for it to be dissatisfaction? How many years of friendship did you have with my father? Don't you know what kind of person my father was? When faced with bullying or difficulties, my father always chose to swallow them, to bear them himself. He wouldn't even tell those closest to him. But, honestly ask yourself, do you truly not know why my father didn't speak out?"
Zuo Sheng looked at Sakata Chong speechlessly. For a moment, the impact of this revelation was too great for Zuo Sheng.
"If he was dissatisfied, he could have just said so... I, Zuo Sheng, am not someone who would stab a brother in the back. If your father had spoken up, I certainly wouldn't have taken your family's business then..."
Before Zuo Sheng could finish, Sakata Chong interrupted him. "So now... are you blaming my father?"
In truth, Sakata Chong had harbored dissatisfaction towards the other six organizations that had oppressed his father years ago. Now, with the current situation, Sakata Chong was even more displeased. Putting aside the fact that the current mission was focused on Su Yang, Zuo Sheng had been continuously provoking Sakata Chong. If not for Su Yang, Sakata Chong would have already challenged these six families. It was a pity that the strength of one person from the Assassination Hall was still very, very low compared to the combined forces of the other six organizations.
If Xie Feng were still with Sakata Chong, perhaps with Xie Feng's wisdom, Sakata Chong might have won this battle. But now, Xie Feng had vanished without a trace. All Sakata Chong knew was that Su Yang had sent him back to Long Country.
"I didn't mean that..." Zuo Sheng said somewhat guiltily.
Looking at Zuo Sheng before him, Sakata Chong felt utterly disgusted. Twenty years ago, Sakata Chong had already known how hypocritical these people were. They clearly knew the dire situation of the Assassination Hall, yet they continued to snatch its business. At the time, Sakata Chong had dismissed it. But after his father's death, Sakata Chong felt his world had collapsed. At that moment, he believed it was entirely due to his father's personality and the pressure from the other six assassin organizations. Although it wasn't exactly oppression, it was more like smiling tigers constantly seeking benefits.
"I don't care what you mean. Now that we've reached this point, you should understand why I've changed from who I was twenty years ago. You should also understand why I've been suppressing your six assassination organizations all these years. If you still remember how good my father was back then, then endure it. When I die years from now, I will no longer suppress you."
Upon hearing Sakata Chong's words, Zuo Sheng narrowed his eyes. "Why don't you consider that you might die today?"
Sakata Chong looked at Zuo Sheng, then glanced at the other five hall masters behind Zuo Sheng, and suddenly understood something.
"So that's what you were waiting for here, huh..." Saying this, Sakata Chong scratched his head and looked at Zuo Sheng. "There are rules among the seven assassination organizations. You want to break them? All these years, although I've suppressed you, I've let you go when I could have taken you in. I've shown some mercy. And you want to break the rules?"
Zuo Sheng looked at Sakata Chong. "You suppressed us first..."
"Didn't you suppress our Assassination Hall first?!" Sakata Chong roared, unable to contain his anger.
Su Yang, standing on the deck, looked towards Sakata Chong and the others. He saw Sakata Chong getting unusually agitated but couldn't hear what he was saying.
"What are they talking about?" he muttered, then added, "Why haven't they started fighting yet? I'm waiting to make a noisy phone call..."
Almost everyone on this ship belonged to Su Yang's people. Shangguan Zhongtang's men were few, and Shangguan Zhongtang himself was currently in the cabin, absolutely unable to hear Su Yang speak. However, it was still best to be cautious. Su Yang worried that Shangguan Zhongtang might overhear his phone conversation. If he did, the outcome wouldn't change, but the element of fun would be greatly reduced. Since there was no urgent time constraint, Su Yang took out his binoculars and observed the situation from afar. The situation was indeed quite tense.
After Sakata Chong roared, Zuo Sheng looked at him and said, "That was a past grievance. As the hall master, you shouldn't have any further suppression."