Chapter 1299
Austin had been hesitant about the project from the start, doubting its success. He considered the entire experiment a waste of time. However, after repeated encounters with Lily and observing her closeness to his granduncle, he felt compelled to prove his superiority. Lily, in his eyes, was merely a woman, and he was determined to achieve something significant to demonstrate his dominance.
Once Thompson agreed, Austin immersed himself in the laboratory, constantly preoccupied with the project. Traditional methods involved slowly simmering medicinal herbs to extract their properties, carefully controlling heat and water to prevent dissipation. This project, however, relied on volatilization to absorb the properties.
The problem was the unpredictable absorption rate through volatilization, making the process less stable and controllable than traditional methods. After days of work, Austin remained unsatisfied with his results, prompting him to seek Dominic's advice.
Though Dominic had not practiced medicine for years, his research into medicinal herbs continued. His villa housed countless rare herbs, and Austin had heard rumors of a vast plantation he'd established, though he'd never seen it and Dominic had dismissed his inquiries.
Austin's visit proceeded smoothly; Dominic admitted him without delay. Despite the absence of a red sports car, Austin checked for Lily’s presence upon entering, confirming her absence. This wasn't surprising; even Austin, as Dominic's grandnephew, found visits challenging, let alone an outsider like Lily. Austin suspected Dominic's kindness toward Lily stemmed from his secret apprentice.
The identity of this apprentice remained a mystery. Austin knew all Dominic's previous apprentices, but this one seemed exceptionally significant. Lily, aware of the apprentice's identity but unwilling to reveal it, mocked Austin as an imposter.
Initially, Austin hadn't considered claiming the title of secret apprentice, but rumors spread by others had established him as such. Denial now would be deeply embarrassing, branding him a liar. He saw no harm in taking the bullet for the secretive apprentice, viewing it as a favor to both the apprentice and Dominic. This thought filled him with a sense of pride.
The scent of simmering medicinal herbs permeated Dominic's home, a familiar aroma. Whenever Austin left, he carried the lingering smell.
"Granduncle Dominic," Austin said, smiling and presenting a gift. "My parents returned from a trip and brought you a set of purple clay teapots. They know you appreciate them." Dominic glanced at them dismissively. "What good can your parents buy?"