The light emanating from the sphere gradually dissipated. Holding the cold metal sphere in his hand, Lu Chen looked at the restrained Black Wolf, yet felt not a shred of victory's joy. He knew this was only a temporary measure; violence could not solve the problem.
"Who on earth are you? What do you want?" Black Wolf struggled, his eyes filled with vigilance and anger. Having roamed the tomb-robbing underworld for many years, he had never encountered such a bizarre opponent.
Lu Chen did not answer. He simply walked forward and untied the bonds on Black Wolf.
"You..." Black Wolf looked at Lu Chen in astonishment, failing to understand his intention.
"Black Wolf, I know you want to acquire this treasure, but I can tell you that you know nothing of its power." Lu Chen's tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable dignity. "It is not a tool to satisfy selfish desires, but the final hope to protect human civilization."
Lu Chen tossed the sphere in his hand into the air. The sphere emitted a soft glow, projecting images into midair: ancient cities, peculiar scripts, highly advanced technology...
Staring dumbfounded at all this, Black Wolf felt as though the door to a new world had been thrown open. He had never imagined that such a miraculous civilization could exist in this world.
"Are all of these real?" Black Wolf muttered to himself, his eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.
"Yes." Huo Yao took over the conversation, walking to Black Wolf's side. "We come from the future, here to protect these precious historical ruins. What you see is merely the tip of the iceberg."
Huo Yao explained in detail to Black Wolf the purpose of their journey, as well as the true value and usage of the treasure. Her sincere gaze and infectious tone gradually won Black Wolf over.
Black Wolf fell silent. Looking at the two young people before him, he felt a complex mix of emotions. He had always lived in the darkness, stopping at nothing for survival, and had never thought that one day he would fight to protect something.
"I... I understand." Black Wolf raised his head, a complex light flickering in his eyes. "I apologize for my previous actions, and I am willing to help you."
Lu Chen and Huo Yao smiled at each other, knowing they had succeeded.
"Welcome to the team, Black Wolf." Lu Chen extended his hand. After a moment of hesitation, Black Wolf reached out and shook it.
As the setting sun cast a golden glow upon the ancient ruins, the three figures stood together, their shadows stretched long, portending a future fraught with unknown challenges.
"Next, we need to make a proper plan..." Huo Yao frowned slightly as she looked at the intricate routes on the map in her hand.
"I am familiar with the terrain and mechanisms of this area," Black Wolf volunteered proactively, confidence shining in his eyes.
Lu Chen nodded. He knew they were a team now; many challenges still lay ahead, but they would overcome them together.
Night fell, and the campfire crackled in the cave, dispelling the surrounding darkness and chill. The team sat together in a warm and hopeful atmosphere.
"The underground structure of this area is extremely complex," Black Wolf said, pointing to a spot on the map. "There are many hidden passages and mechanisms. One misstep and you will get lost or trigger a trap."
"My system can detect energy fluctuations," Huo Yao said, pointing to the metal ring on her wrist. "We can use it to avoid certain dangers."
"My combat skills should come in handy too," Lu Chen said with a confident squeeze of his fist.
"Wonderful, it seems each of us has our own strengths," Huo Yao said with a smile. "I believe that as long as we work together in unity, we will surely overcome all difficulties."
Over the next few days, using his knowledge of the ruins, Black Wolf led the team around numerous hidden dangers, greatly accelerating their pace. They traversed narrow passages and solved ancient mechanisms; every challenge deepened their tacit understanding.
"Ahead is the entrance to the main tomb chamber," Black Wolf said, pointing to a massive stone door ahead with a hint of solemnity in his voice. "According to information passed down by my ancestors, the most dangerous mechanisms have been set up here. A single misstep spells total destruction."
"It looks like we must be careful." Lu Chen nodded with a serious expression.
Guided by Huo Yao's energy detection and Black Wolf's experience, they carefully dismantled the mechanisms, treading with exceptional caution at every step. Just as they were about to open the tomb doors, Black Wolf suddenly stopped, a flicker of complex emotion flashing through his eyes...
Taking a deep breath, Black Wolf turned to look at Lu Chen and Huo Yao, his gaze tinged with hesitation and struggle. After a moment of silence, he finally made up his mind and spoke: "There are some things I haven't told you..."
Lu Chen and Huo Yao exchanged glances, both seeing doubt in each other's eyes. Although Black Wolf had joined the team recently, he had always kept a certain distance, as if harboring some unspeakable secret.
"Actually, my ancestors were also guardians of these ruins," Black Wolf's voice was low and hoarse. "They guarded the secrets here for generations, until..."
Black Wolf paused, appearing to sink into painful memories. "Until one day, a disaster struck. The ruins were destroyed, and nearly all my ancestors perished. Only a few escaped with the secret, passing it down through the generations."
"You mean your family's mission is to protect these ruins?" Lu Chen asked.
Black Wolf nodded. "My family has passed down an ancient text for generations, which records the history and secrets of the ruins, as well as how to use the treasure. Unfortunately..." His tone was filled with regret and helplessness. "That ancient text was lost during the wars, leaving only scattered records."
"Then why did you previously..." Huo Yao trailed off, not understanding why a family bearing the sacred duty of protecting the ruins would attempt to steal the treasure.
"Since I was young, I heard the elders in my family recount the legends of the ruins, and I longed to find the treasure guarded by my ancestors to restore the family's glory." A trace of fanaticism flashed in Black Wolf's eyes. "But later, I realized I was wrong..."
He smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I was blinded by greed, forgetting our ancestral teachings and the responsibility of guardianship. I thought getting the treasure meant gaining everything, yet I almost destroyed it."
Lu Chen and Huo Yao remained silent, able to empathize with Black Wolf's feelings. Everyone held a certain obsession in their hearts, but what mattered most was realizing what was truly worth protecting.
"Now, I know what I must do." Black Wolf raised his head, his eyes filled with determination. "I will do everything in my power to help you protect the treasure and fulfill my mission."
Lu Chen patted him on the shoulder without saying much. He knew some things had to be experienced and realized firsthand.
Late at night, the team rested in a relatively safe cave. Tossing and turning, Lu Chen could not fall asleep; Black Wolf's story lingered persistently in his mind. He vaguely sensed that the secret of Black Wolf's family, along with that lost ancient text, might be the key to unlocking the mystery of the ruins.
Early the next morning, the team pressed on. With Black Wolf's help, they smoothly bypassed many dangerous mechanisms and quickly reached the entrance of the main tomb chamber.
"According to my family's records, the entrance to the main tomb chamber is right behind this stone door." Black Wolf pointed to a massive stone door ahead carved with strange patterns. "As for how to open it specifically, I do not know."
Huo Yao observed the patterns on the stone door closely, attempting to find some clues. Suddenly, she pointed at one of the patterns and said, "Look, doesn't this pattern look very similar to the symbol we saw in the secret chamber earlier?"
Lu Chen and Black Wolf stepped closer, discovering that the patterns on the stone door indeed bore a striking resemblance to the symbols in the secret chamber, albeit much more intricate.
"Could it be that the key to opening the main tomb chamber is hidden in that secret chamber?"