Chapter 1343

"You guys are useless!" Dominic snapped, glancing at the book in his hand. "Let him go!"

His men released Austin, resuming their positions. Austin stretched, then said, "Granduncle, I'm not here to cause trouble or beg. I need to ask you something important."

Dominic looked up, clicking his tongue. "And what vital matter could you possibly have?"

Austin hesitated, glancing around before continuing, "Granduncle, you've studied medicinal herbs for years. Do you know of any that could temporarily numb a person's nerves, rendering them immobile?"

Dominic stared at him. "What's wrong with you? Have you never heard of anesthesia?"

Austin panicked. "No, it's not that! It's..." He paused, then tried a different approach. "Is there a way...if I poke two fingers on someone, they'll be unable to move or speak?" He lightly poked Dominic to demonstrate, careful not to hurt him. His memory of the event was hazy, a recreation of his recollection. "Then, they can move again if you pat them."

Dominic narrowed his eyes at Austin's incoherent explanation and bewildered expression. Instead of mockery, he said thoughtfully, "You mean numbing someone's nerves by striking their acupuncture points?"

"No!" Austin shook his head. "Those things are folklore! I think it's a medicine that freezes a person. Maybe needles could be used on acupuncture points to achieve the same effect, but it doesn't hurt!" He reflected on his experience: no pain, no warning, just sudden paralysis and inability to speak. The horror of it remained vivid.

Dominic observed Austin's fearful face, a smile playing on his lips. "Why can't a person's nerves be numbed by striking acupuncture points? Why assume such things don't exist? There are countless medical disciplines. How can you be certain?"

He rose, book in hand, and headed inside. "The world is vast, and our knowledge is limited. Just because you don't know about something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. What you do know may not be entirely true. How well can you discern reality from falsehood?"

He settled into his rattan chair, leaving Austin even more confused.

Austin stood stunned. Granduncle means someone can be paralyzed by striking acupuncture points. That's what Lily did? She knows how to do that? I thought she just knew some kickboxing—better than most girls, but still… This was unacceptable. "Granduncle, even if it's possible, it would take years to master, right? Not something anyone can learn easily." He refused to believe Lily possessed such a skill.

Dominic chuckled, without looking up from his book. "You were frozen because someone struck your acupuncture points?"