chapter 16 Owe too much

Jiang Zhong was known for its medicinal herbs.
About 80% of the world's traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients came from there.
There were billion-dollar pharmaceutical companies and numerous small herb processing factories.
In every street and alley, you could find traditional Chinese medicine centers.
One street in Jiang Zhong called "Kowloon Street" was a bustling place where all sorts of people gathered. It was filled with antique shops, karaoke bars, pubs, and massage parlors.
At a corner of Kowloon Street, there was a clinic called the "Mortal Clinic," which served as a base for Ellison Jiang.
Ellison Jiang was a renowned healer, and his loyal follower, Lucas, had learned a bit about medicine during their years together. He could handle minor illnesses like colds and bruises.
Inside the Mortal Clinic, there was a small operating table.
Ellison Jiang gazed at Camellia Tang, who was covered in blood, with scraped knees and dirtied flesh.
Camellia Tang had endured unimaginable torment, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted, and she had lost a lot of blood, causing her to pass out.
Ellison Jiang's face darkened.
He gently touched Camellia Tang's face, his rugged expression filled with guilt, and tears welled up in his eyes.
He had promised not to let any harm come to her, but he had failed.
He knew he owed her a debt he could never repay in that lifetime.
He didn't dare to think about what might have happened if he had been just a bit slower.
Even if he avenged Camellia Tang by killing Olav Xiao, it wouldn't ease the hatred in his heart. He was determined to make Xiao's family pay a hundredfold, a thousandfold for the suffering Camellia Tang had endured.
He took out a medical kit and began carefully tending to Camellia Tang's facial wounds.
"General Xiao, it really wasn't me. I swear it wasn't me. Please, spare me..."
Camellia Tang cried out when Ellison Jiang lightly touched her injured face, her body trembling.
Her pain pierced Ellison Jiang's heart, and he choked back tears.
He swiftly grabbed a few silver needles and inserted them into Camellia Tang, calming her and numbing her wounds to reduce her pain.
Only then did Camellia Tang quiet down, peacefully closing her eyes.
Ellison Jiang continued to tend to her wounds, preparing medicine and dressing her injuries.
Lucas had returned but stood quietly aside, not interrupting.
After Ellison Jiang finished caring for the wounds on Camellia Tang's face and legs, he lifted her and carried her to the back room of the clinic.
He placed her on the bed, tucked her in, and held her hand tightly.
He remained by her side, holding her hand.
Lucas stayed at the door, never leaving their side.
For Jiang Zhong, tonight had been a major turning point.
The Xiao family had planned a scheme to rise to power by auctioning cheap goods at exorbitant prices, accumulating a substantial fortune.
They even sought revenge on the Tang family.
However, no one had expected that the mysterious figure who had killed Midas Xiao would reappear and assassinate Olav Xiao at the event.
The police had started investigating, but due to Olav Xiao's special status, other government agencies had also become involved, and the aftermath of these events remained undisclosed.
The night passed quietly.
As the sun rose, it illuminated the dark earth, and the citizens began their day, getting up, grooming themselves, and starting anew.
In the morning, at the Qian Jun Building, in the chairman's office:
"Mr. Ye, something big happened last night," a seductive and glamorous woman stood by Luby Ye's side, recounting in detail what had happened at the Xiao family's auction event the previous night.
"Olav Xiao captured Camellia Tang and the Tang family members?" Upon hearing this, Luby Ye was momentarily surprised, then asked, "Did Olav Xiao die in the end?"
"Yes, Mr. Ye. From the information I received, Olav Xiao planned to deal with the Tang family first, and then with Qian Jun. But when he captured Camellia Tang and intended to establish his dominance, the masked man who had killed Midas Xiao, arrived and killed Olav Xiao."
Luby Ye waved his hand dismissively. "That's enough, you can leave."
After his secretary left, Luby Ye smiled faintly and muttered to himself, "Daring to provoke Camellia Tang, they really don't know what they're doing. The Deputy Commander of the Western Frontier Army is nothing. Even the Carefree King himself would have to bow down before the Black Dragon."
Luby Ye didn't pay much attention to the Xiao family's affairs, nor was he deeply involved in the Tang family's matters.
At the Mortal Clinic.
After a night's rest, Camellia Tang had woken up. When she opened her eyes, she felt a powerful hand holding hers.
She felt weak all over and tried to sit up, but her face throbbed with intense pain, causing her to cry out.
Ellison Jiang tightly held Camellia Tang's hand, and he had been sleeping on the bedside. Camellia Tang's cry immediately woke him up, and he quickly spoke, "Darling, you're awake?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Camellia Tang weakly asked, "Ellison, where am I?"
Ellison Jiang replied, "You're at the Mortal Clinic. It's a clinic run by my friend. Last night, something happened to the Tang family, and the Tang family members were captured. Fortunately, I was quick-witted and escaped in advance. I followed them to Jiang Zhong Grand Hotel and found you lying on the street outside. I brought you here to the clinic."
Ellison Jiang didn't want Camellia Tang to know his true identity.
Camellia Tang was just an ordinary person, and knowing the truth would greatly affect her life. He wanted her to live carefree.
"I'm sorry. I didn't protect you properly," Ellison Jiang said, full of self-blame.
Thinking back to what had happened last night, Camellia Tang felt wronged and her nose started to tingle, tears streaming down her face.
"Why? Why did fate treat me like this?"
Last night, she had experienced despair and endured torture beyond what ordinary people could bear.
When she saw Olav Xiao's ruthless face, she felt hopeless and helpless. She had continuously begged and pleaded, but all that awaited her were cuts on her face, one after another.
She cried, her emotions overwhelmed.
Ellison Jiang held her hand tightly, "I'm sorry, it's my fault, I should have accompanied you."
He kept apologizing.
He felt guilty for what had happened to Camellia Tang.
Without him, she wouldn't have gone through all of this.
Camellia Tang eventually cried herself to exhaustion or perhaps it was fatigue. Her sobs grew quieter, and she fell asleep.
Ellison Jiang then released her hand, got up, and went outside.
"Brother Jiang."
Lucas, who had been on guard all night, handed him a cigarette and said, "Following your instructions, I evacuated all the Western Frontier Army at Jiang Zhong Grand Hotel. I didn't touch anyone from the Xiao family. I've checked, and the painting, "Dwelling in the Mount Huayue," that was auctioned was a fake. I also questioned Cara Xiao. The real "Dwelling in the Mount Huayue" hasn't been with the Xiao family for ten years. As for its whereabouts, Cara Xiao doesn't know. Only the deceased Olav Xiao knew."
Ellison Jiang lit a cigarette.
The painting "Dwelling in the Mount Huayue" was a treasured heirloom of the Jiang family, something his grandfather valued more than life itself. No matter where it was, he would have to retrieve it.
However, he didn't have the time now.
Camellia had just gone through a traumatic experience, and he needed to be with her to make up for his debt.
Lucas paused for a moment and continued, "There's one more thing, Jiangbei, Jiangzhong, Nanhua, Haicheng, and Tianhai, the five major military districts, are being restructured and integrated. The Carefree King from the Western Frontier Army has been transferred away to become the supreme commander of the five major military districts, and he takes office today. The official document was just issued this morning."
Hearing this, Ellison Jiang's expression remained indifferent as he said, "It has nothing to do with me."
"Brother Jiang, in terms of merit, the new commander should rightfully be yours. There's no way it should go to the Carefree King," Lucas stood up for Ellison Jiang.
Ellison Jiang waved his hand and said lightly, "That's enough. I don't need to worry about the restructuring, and it's not my concern who becomes the new military district commander."
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