Chapter 169: Poisoned

In the Athena Temple.

"Athena, Apollo doesn't know—does even you not know?"

Heracles stood before Athena's statue, looking at her image, a look of disappointment appearing on his face.

He first went to Apollo's temple to inquire, but did not get the answer he wanted, and then hurried straight here to Athena's temple.

Consequently, the priest's request yielded a Divine Oracle that likewise said they did not know.

But just as he was about to turn and leave, the priest suddenly spoke:

"The deity says: you may go ask those elders who possess the ability of Prophecy."

"Prophecy? I understand, thank you," Heracles nodded, turned, and left the temple.

Outside.

Iolaus and Chiron had been waiting outside for a long time; when they saw him emerge, they stepped forward and asked:

"How's it going?"

"She also doesn't know," Heracles shook his head, then looked at Chiron: "She suggested I seek elders who possess the ability of Prophecy."

"Teacher, do you know which elder has this ability?"

"The ability of Prophecy?" Chiron's face showed contemplation, and he said in a deep voice:

"But Apollo is the god of light and Prophecy."

"........" Heracles fell silent, then suddenly showed a look of understanding, and with a wry smile said:

"It seems the closer I get to the end, the harder my trial becomes, and the less they can lend a hand........."

"No." Chiron shook his head, as if he had figured something out, and immediately said:

"The crux of the problem lies with the elders!"

"An existence that even Athena calls an elder......... I happen to know a few such ones."

"And the first one, I believe with his magnanimity and kindness, he will certainly help you!"

Heracles, curious, asked: "Who?"

"The creator of man, the thief of fire—Prometheus! His name itself stands for 'foresight'!"

Chiron turned, raised his hand, and pointed toward the direction of the Caucasus Mountains:

"Heracles, go find him."

"Creator of man, thief of fire........" Heracles murmured the two phrases in his mind, nodded, and said:

"Yes."

The twilight's afterglow filtered through the forest leaves, casting dappled light and shadow.

After a day's travel, Heracles tightened his reins, saw Iolaus beside him looking exhausted, and said:

"Let's rest for a while; we'll set out again tomorrow morning."

Iolaus nodded, just as he was about to dismount—

Rustle......

A strange sound suddenly came from the grass ahead.

Heracles froze, his gaze sharply scanning forward.

He saw a dozen or so centaurs stepping out slowly from both sides of the woods, blocking the road's center.

They wore coarse leather armor, wielded stone hammers, bone clubs and similar weapons, and greedy glints flashed in their eyes.

The leading centaur was unusually tall, holding a bronze Long Sword, its blade glinting coldly in the sunset.

Heracles met his gaze, and in a deep voice said:

"Please step aside."

The centaur leader gave no reply, only the corners of his lips lifted slightly, showing a faint smile.

The sunset gradually sank below the horizon, and darkness began to envelop the forest.

Finally, the centaur leader spoke, his voice hoarse like stones grinding: "Leave all the money you have on you......"

"And." He slowly raised his Long Sword, pointing directly at Iolaus: "Him."

"You two may then leave."

"........" Heracles's original intention to speak with them vanished instantly, his expression turned cold, and in a deep voice he said:

"Are you sure?"

The centaur, seeing his cold expression, also withdrew his false smile and retorted:

"Do you think I'm joking with you?!"

Heracles gave a slight nod, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Understood."

In the next instant, he roared, "Attack!"

Before his words fell—

"Swoosh!"

Chiron's arrow flew like lightning, striking a centaur's throat with perfect precision! The centaur hadn't even time to scream before it crashed to the ground.

At the same time, Iolaus drew his short sword, its blade cutting a cold flash in the dusk, aiming at the centaur beside him!

Heracles, like a Ferocious Tiger, lunged at the centaur leader!

The battle was about to erupt.

Although centaurs are naturally far stronger than ordinary humans, and centaurs of Chiron's caliber are heavyweight beings.

But now they faced the heroic might of Heracles!

Thus the fight left virtually no suspense; in the blink of an eye, most of the centaurs were slain!

Especially the centaur leader, who had an arm cut off and a huge wound in his belly; he used his remaining hand to cover it, preventing his organs from spilling out!

He stared ahead with a face full of startled anger at Heracles, who looked like a lion entering a flock of sheep, and fear of death rose in his heart, with only one thought in his mind:

"Run!"

Without any hesitation, he turned and fled at once.

Heracles saw the centaur leader trying to escape, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He swiftly took down the massive bow on his back and nocked an arrow coated with hydra venom.

Whoosh—!

The arrow shot through the air with a sharp whistling, instantly piercing the centaur leader's back heart!

Yet the arrow's momentum did not lessen, continuing forward—

Pfft!

The arrow precisely struck Chiron's arm, who was grappling with another centaur!

Chiron: "............"

He lowered his head to look at the poisoned arrow on his arm; before he could pull it out, the deadly toxin had already begun to spread rapidly.

His arm instantly turned a bluish‑purple, veins bulging, and the intense pain made him grunt, collapsing onto one knee.

Heracles was aghast: "Teacher!"

He could not bother chasing the other fleeing centaurs, and with a single stride he lunged to Chiron's front.

Chiron's face twisted in pain, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.

Heracles, at a loss, looked at him, his voice full of self‑reproach and anxiety: "Teacher, tell me, where can I find an antidote?"

Chiron inhaled deeply, enduring the excruciating pain, forcing out a faint smile: "Heracles, don't worry about me."

"I possess an immortal body......"

"This poison cannot harm me."

Though he said so, the hydra's deadly toxin was clearly not so easy to endure.

Chiron's breathing grew rapid, his complexion turning ever paler.

Heracles clenched his fists, regret filling his eyes: "I actually......... hurt you, damn it!"

"Don't blame yourself." Chiron interrupted, holding his shoulder to help him stand, gently saying: "It's just...... a minor mishap."

"Life is always full of accidents, isn't it?"

"Perhaps this is a blessing rather than a curse for me, something I must experience."

"Alright, let's find a place to rest."

He patted Heracles's shoulder, removed the poisoned arrow, then untied his medicine pouch, pouring its contents onto his wound.

Then he showed a relaxed expression:

"This poison is nothing, hahaha."

Heracles remained silent for a long time, then slowly said: "Teacher, I'm not a child anymore."

"There must be a way to neutralize the poison."