Chapter 1679

Austin had no energy left when he woke up again. He opened his eyes and stared upward in a daze.

Still not fully awake, Austin tried to move his arm but could only lift his fingers. His throat was itchy, so he wanted to cough but could only breathe when he opened his mouth.

It was a weird feeling. It was as if Austin was on the brink of death but had hung on by a single breath.

He could not die, yet could hardly live.

“You're awake?” A gentle voice sounded.

Austin wanted to turn his head but could only move his eyeballs.

“Don’t try to move. You’ve drained your energy. Even if you want to move, it'll be hard.” Dominic guessed what his grandnephew wanted to do and sighed before sitting beside Austin. Dominic was holding a bowl of steaming herbal medicine but looked gentler.

“I...” Austin struggled to speak. He had too many questions, but his throat was unbearably dry, and it would take a lot of energy to utter even a single word.

Dominic leaned over and pulled Austin’s blanket up a bit. Dominic guessed what his grandnephew wanted to ask and said it for him, “ You'd like to know what’s wrong with you, am I right?”

Austin eagerly tried to nod but only managed to blink. Dominic sighed, sat on the stool beside him, and put down the bowl. After gazing at Austin for two minutes, Dominic finally spoke, “Frankly speaking, I have no idea what’s wrong with you.”

Austin was stunned.

“From herbal medicines’ viewpoint, you’re having a blood dysfunction and a loss of vitality. Since your pulse is fast and your hormones are not balanced, you should be fragile. However, you’re physically strong.

“This is impossible and defies logic. It doesn’t make sense,” Dominic spoke slowly as his gaze swept over the exposed parts of Austin’s body from top to bottom.

Austin’s muscles were firm and bulging like they were about to split apart. However, his eyes were clouded, and the coating on his tongue was thick and yellow. His face looked pale as well. In other words, he was weak but looked strong.

Dominic pondered and asked, “You said they injected you with some virus?”

“y-Yes.” Austin's throat made a monosyllabic sound.

“Hmm...” Dominic breathed, sat backward, and rubbed his hands together on his knees without a word.

Austin knew his granduncle was facing a problem and was thinking hard.

‘I haven’t seen him acting like this for many years. If even he thinks it’s a tough problem, does it mean no one can save me?’

“Uncle... Dom...” Austin called out in his husky voice. He wanted to say something but could not and only shed a tear from the corner of his eyes.

‘Am I dying soon?’

“Why are you crying?” Dominic growled and reached out his hand to wipe off the tear. “You’re a grown man, okay? Men do not cry! Besides, you haven’t died, have you? With me around, how could you die?

You won’t die without my permission!”

He got up and looked infuriated. On the other hand, Austin relaxed after hearing that and felt deeply moved.

With his hands behind his back, Dominic looked up and said emotionally, “What the f*ck are those b*stards up to? Do they have to kill everyone? Humans are always the cause of our own downfall!”

He looked down at Austin, then sat back down and held up the medicine bowl to test its temperature.

“Good, it’s not too hot now. Drink it and replenish your energy.”