Chapter 1411

The most crucial point was that if he were Lily's son, everything would make sense. "She has an odd relationship with Dominic and even knows who his secret apprentice is. If that's the case, I can understand why the old man would dote on the boy," he mused.

"Granduncle, he's Lily's child, isn't he?" Austin asked hesitantly after considering this.

Dominic choked on his water. He looked panicky, glancing at the boy's face. Austin, though Dominic didn't admit it, knew from his reaction that he'd hit the mark. "Bingo!" he thought. "Granduncle, what's your relationship with Lily? You're not only kind to her, but also to her child..."

He suspected the child was his grandson, but quickly dismissed the thought. "No way! No fucking way!"

Dominic frowned at Austin's puzzled expression and headshake. "Why do you care? Who are you to pry into my affairs? Why are you here? If you have nothing to discuss with me, then get lost!"

"Yes, I do, Granduncle!" Austin replied, seizing the opportunity. "I'm treating a young, obese girl. Her pulse suggests chronic toxicity—not fatal, but unusually complex. I'm struggling to find a cure for this poisoning."

"Why are you asking me? You're her physician, not me," Dominic said disapprovingly.

"After studying herbal medicine for so long, can't you find a cure? Didn't I tell you to use the simplest method to counteract a toxin, no matter how complex it is? Always apply the right medicine to the right illness! Haven't you learned to use the matching medicine for any poison? Don't you know how to simplify what is complex?" Dominic scolded, yet simultaneously offered Austin a solution.

Puzzled, Austin asked tentatively, "Are you saying..."

"I'm saying if you're so stupid, stop misleading the public by using my name. If you get into trouble, don't expect me to clean up your mess, okay? Don't spoil my reputation either!" Dominic growled.

Austin was speechless. He reflected, "The old man always says things that are hard to understand, and I have to figure them out myself. Simplify the complex. Does it mean that no matter how many toxins there are, I should simply use a counteracting prescription for each of them? What if the herbs are incompatible?"

Just as he was about to ask again, he heard footsteps and a familiar voice from the backyard. "Hey, old man, have you gotten lazy lately? The grass on the east side has withered a bit. Is it too much for you to look after them yourself?"

Austin was surprised. An awkward look crossed Dominic's face, realizing Austin was still present. Dominic frowned and quietly scolded, "Shouldn't you scram now?"

Lily, unaware of Austin's presence, thought Dominic was speaking to her and wondered at his bad mood. "Okay, I'll scram right away! Don't worry, I won't even come again if you beg me," she said upon entering the house. She was astonished to see Austin. Austin was equally nonplussed.