I Forged the Myth of the Ancient Overlords
Chapter 771 - 771 770. Outsider_1

Chapter 771: 770. Outsider_1 Chapter 771: 770. Outsider_1 Lu Ban couldn’t help but watch intently.

“Look! There’s Director Feng, my favorite of his works is his debut, brimming with spirit!”

“If I had to choose the film I’ve watched the most, it’s still Director Zhou’s—never thought I’d get to see him at this film festival!”

“Exactly! I knew it! I just knew Director Yan would be attending!!!”

As soon as the cameraman caught sight of those famous directors and actors, he became excited, and the camera’s shaking grew more violent. Clearly, like a little fan who had long followed their idols, he had nearly forgotten he was still filming.

However, whether it was due to his pronunciation or his tone, the names he mentioned were indistinct, and Lu Ban couldn’t make out which directors and actors he was referring to; the camera also failed to reveal any clues. Otherwise, he could have researched and figured out which film festival this was.

“Ah, sorry, sorry, I got too excited and forgot I was filming, but I think anyone who loves movies would feel thrilled and excited to see this.”

The voice sounded a bit calmer as it explained, but physically, it honestly continued to record the footage of the opening ceremony.

Just when Lu Ban wondered if the next several minutes would be scenes from the opening ceremony, he noticed that the well-dressed guests on stage, clad in suits and finery, appeared to be circling around something.

“Hey, it’s a sacrifice.”

The cameraman’s voice suddenly grew louder, and with it came a sense of curiosity, anticipation, and excitement, just like children witnessing a street performance.

Most importantly, there was not a hint of discord.

The tone of his speech was akin to someone showing off fireworks, devoid of any hint of cruelty or brutality. And because of that, it gave off a genuinely chilling sensation.

People say children are innocent, yet sometimes they kill small animals without mercy.

The person filming gave off the impression that he hadn’t seen the real world, as though he’d been subjected to the wrong teachings from childhood.

Lu Ban saw that the people were circling around a person as well.

This person was also in a suit but bound tightly to a bed, not struggling but displaying a frenzied expression, showing no fear whatsoever.

The circled individuals looked devout, and someone beside them passed out gleaming knives, one to each person, like guests awaiting a roast lamb.

Suddenly, as the music halted, everyone stopped their actions, contemplative. Then, all at once, they lifted their heads to look in the direction of the camera.

They were looking beyond the television set, directly at Lu Ban, who was watching the tape.

“What are you watching?”

A voice from behind made Lu Ban turn his head immediately; it was James.

The dim light from the car’s dashboard illuminated his face, ashen as if he were a corpse.

“This tape’s content…”

Lu Ban gestured towards the television, and only then did he notice that the screen had somehow gone black and the player had long stopped operating, as if everything he had just witnessed was an overly realistic nightmare.

“What about the tape?”

James moved a bit closer, the light casting a slightly grotesque shadow on his face.

“I need to check.”

Lu Ban said, about to turn on the television to confirm the tape’s contents.

“Let’s not, it’s late, and we shouldn’t disturb their sleep.”

James stopped Lu Ban and lay down beside his girlfriend, Valeria, naturally wrapping his arms around her lovely form.

On the other side, Wes stamped out his cigarette butt and climbed into the car as well.

“What’s the matter?”

He glanced at Lu Ban, who had not yet lain down.

“No problem.”

Lu Ban shook his head, continuing to lie down.

He didn’t fall asleep immediately, but listened to the slight snoring from the other side before slowly getting up.

Reaching for the player next to him, Lu Ban was about to press the play button when he heard a voice.

“Director Lu Ban, what are you doing?”

Scott, who was driving, glanced at the rearview mirror inside the car and asked.

“There was new content in the videotape just now, I’m checking it.”

Lu Ban was frank, and he also observed Scott’s expression through the rearview mirror inside the car.

“Really? That’s amazing.”

Scott replied, but since he was driving, he didn’t make any more moves.

“How about we watch it together in the morning? I’d like to see the rest of it as well.”

After hearing Scott’s words, Lu Ban thought for a moment, nodded, got up, and sat in the passenger’s seat, then spoke again, inquiring.

“What do you know about ‘sacrifice’?”

“Are you referring to what the old man said? I’m not quite sure, but it’s definitely not a comfortable word.”

Scott glanced at Lu Ban beside him, still focused on driving.

The road ahead extended infinitely, yet was obscured by fog, allowing only the sight of the road less than ten meters ahead. Beyond that, there were no stars, no moon, not even earthly lights—only the white mist rolling, as if it concealed something inside, causing concern.

“You’re from Miskatonic; you must be very familiar with the film festival.”

Lu Ban asked further.

“The organizers of the festival are Miskatonic University. I didn’t have the opportunity to enter there when I was young, but the reputation of that place isn’t good among our people.”

“The reputation isn’t good?”

“Exactly, as you know, Miskatonic is just a small city that has gradually become isolated due to the decline of agriculture. The people in the city don’t like outsiders; they don’t want to leave the city either. But Miskatonic University is different; they create the film festival to attract students and enhance their reputation, which isn’t seen as a good deed in the eyes of the people of Miskatonic.”

Scott slowed down the car a bit, so he could pay more attention to the conversation without constantly being on the lookout for drunk drivers hitting the wrong lane.

“People from Miskatonic don’t like outsiders; they have their own community. To them, someone like me who went to Boston to study is considered a heretic. I don’t really like the atmosphere there either, but after all, it’s my home; people always have to return home.”

Scott sighed.

“You could also choose to have your parents leave and move to a big city—Boston would be a nice choice.”

Lu Ban suggested.

“Maybe so, but let’s get back to the topic of the film festival. The people of Miskatonic like to keep things unchanged, whereas the folks at the university like to change things. They have altered some traditions, and I can’t say whether that’s good or bad, but in any case, Miskatonic has completely changed from when I was younger.”

Scott’s tone carried a subtle nostalgia as if the cobblestone path he once ran down barefoot had been smashed and paved with concrete and asphalt, the low damp cottages turned into beautiful high-rise buildings. He had returned here, but this place was no longer home.

“But none of that is important, Director Lu Ban. All I want now is to properly make our film. To you, it might just be a poor-quality movie roughly made by college students, perhaps with no audience or applause, but a film, no matter how awkward or clumsy, as long as it’s successfully made, it’s already fulfilling for me.”

He mumbled, the true spark in Scott’s eyes appearing only when he talked about this matter.