Chapter 1384

Austin eagerly awaited showing Lily his two days' work. He perked up at her arrival.

"You're early," he remarked. "I thought you wouldn't dare return after your fluke success."

Austin clicked his tongue. "You have no idea. I'm going to accomplish what you failed to do after all your research. I'll surpass you in no time!"

Lily ignored his boastful comparison. "Where's Professor Thompson?"

"It's early; he's probably still asleep," Austin replied, admitting he hadn't seen the professor. Few people were at the institute so early, aside from the night shift. He considered himself exceptionally dedicated.

He glanced around. "Don't change the subject! I know you doubt me, but I'll prove my capabilities with facts!"

"You didn't shut up last time, did you? Care to try again?" Lily, annoyed by his incessant chatter, raised two fingers, playfully threatening him.

Startled, Austin recoiled. Despite his bravado, he remained terrified by their last encounter. "Stay away! It was sorcery, a trick! Anesthetic?"

Lily found his attribution to magic ludicrous, knowing he meant acupuncture. However, his opinion didn't matter.

"If you believe I practice black magic, cease your babbling. You're a man who belittles women and bluffs. Aren't you ashamed?" Lily turned and left, needing to speak with Thompson urgently.

Stunned, Austin pointed at himself. "I only bluff?" Lily was gone before he could receive an answer. He'd never been scolded like that.

She could call me arrogant, but how could she say I only bluff?

Lily's rebuke soured his mood. Instead of going home, he returned to the laboratory, determined to prove her wrong. Unaware of his intentions, Lily continued working at home, further refining her successful experiment. She'd extracted wilfordi root toxins, working privately to avoid premature discovery. She wanted to understand the institute's intentions.

If it succeeds, will they use it for healing or harm? After days of research, she concluded the toxins, and similar substances, couldn't cure illness. While poisonous plants and insects had medicinal uses, precise dosages were crucial; some physicians wouldn't even prescribe them.

Extracting and mixing the sap would only cause harm, not save lives! Despite having no aspirations to become a physician, her long study of herbal medicine prevented her from considering harmful applications.