What Is a Card Film?

Chapter 20: What Is a Card Film?

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Lei Zi gritted his teeth. "Blockhead, I know what you're thinking. You really can do it! Trust me. When have I ever lied to you? That fifty thousand Odi is our starting capital, and I'm planning to put all of it in. Mu, what are you still hesitating for? Let's do this together!"

Lei Zi's eyes burned with fervor.

They looked at each other for a long time. After a moment's hesitation, Chen Mu nodded. "All right. I'll give it a try."

"Yes!" Lei Zi jumped up like a child. Watching him cheer and leap for joy, Chen Mu's lips curved into a faint smile.

The two immediately began working out their plans.

Fifty thousand Odi wasn't much for a Card Film. Chen Mu put in his savings as well, finally bringing their total to a hundred thousand Odi.

But that was still far too little for a Card Film, so they decided to make a short one first.

Lei Zi would rack his brains over the script. As for Chen Mu, Lei Zi had only one requirement: he needed to learn what a Card Film actually was.

As it happened, Lei Zi knew there would be a lecture on Card Films at East Guard Academy the next day, so they decided to go take a look.

Early the next morning, Lei Zi arrived at Chen Mu's place with dark circles under both eyes. He had been too excited to sleep the night before, and when he saw Chen Mu, he was yawning nonstop, listless and drained.

"Why are there so many people?" Chen Mu was puzzled. There were several times as many visitors at East Guard Academy as usual. People were everywhere.

"It's because Star Academy is coming. These people have stuffed their bellies and have nothing better to do, so they've come to join the fun," Lei Zi said through a yawn.

Chen Mu was startled. "Star Academy is coming to East Guard Academy?"

"You're kidding. You haven't heard news this big?" Lei Zi looked at Chen Mu as though he were an alien. "Heh, that's Mu for you!"

Star Academy was coming to East Guard Academy. Chen Mu was still digesting the news. In his and Lei Zi's eyes, East Guard Academy was a sacred place. But put East Guard Academy beside Star Academy, and no one would even notice it existed. To ordinary people, the Six Great Academies were practically the stuff of myth and legend.

Three years earlier, a boy from Dongshang Guard City had been selected to enter Zhongda Academy, another of the Six Great Academies. It had caused a sensation throughout the city at the time. The mayor had even received the boy in person.

The Six Great Academies had extremely strict selection systems. They primarily recruited residents of the Five Great Huahua Districts and the Capital. For residents of the twenty-two Common Districts, their admission requirements were much harsher. If a youngster from a Common District managed to enter one of the Six Great Academies for further study, that alone was enough to prove his exceptional talent.

The Six Great Academies had always stood high above everyone else, and their policies toward the Common Districts had always been somewhat discriminatory. Now one of them was taking the initiative to visit East Guard Academy. How could he not find that strange?

It looks like East Guard Academy is about to enter a period of rapid growth, Chen Mu thought. Riding this momentum, East Guard Academy could reap immense benefits. Its reputation would soar, and the advantages in every other area would be too numerous to count.

After his initial shock, Chen Mu regained his composure. The news was certainly astounding, but it had little to do with him. He wasn't a student at East Guard Academy, nor would he gain anything from this. His life wouldn't be affected at all.

Chen Mu and Lei Zi fought their way through the sea of people, carving out a bloody path. Chen Mu fared well enough. His recent training had made his body much stronger, so it took little effort. Lei Zi looked far more bedraggled. He was panting, his clothes were crumpled from the crush, and footprints covered his shoes layer upon layer. Without bothering to straighten his clothes, he craned his neck and looked around.

"Over here! Over here!" Someone waved an arm not far away.

Delighted, Lei Zi hurriedly led Chen Mu through the crowd toward him.

"Oh, my mother! Your school has really hit the big time. We could barely squeeze our way in," Lei Zi complained.

Standing before Chen Mu was a student in uniform. With his furtive brows, ratlike eyes, and short stature, he certainly didn't look like a decent sort. "Heh heh, you bet. Apparently, this year's revenue has shot straight up. The school's even considering waiving next year's tuition." Pride seeped through his words.

"All right, all right, spare us the bragging." Lei Zi seemed quite familiar with him and casually introduced Chen Mu. "This is my brother, Chen Mu." Then he turned to Chen Mu. "This is my friend, Lao Shu, though everyone calls him Mouse. He's the local big shot around here."

Chen Mu curiously studied the people seated around him. This was his first time inside a classroom at East Guard Academy. Most of those present were students, but he spotted a few others who, like him, had muddied the waters to slip in. The students casually discussed which recent Card Films were worth watching, and the atmosphere in the classroom was relaxed.

A female student stepped up to the lectern, and the room immediately began to quiet down.

"Quiet down, everyone. Today we'll be screening Words of Summer, which has received excellent reviews lately. This Card Film has attracted a tremendous following ever since its release. With an outstanding story and well-realized characters, it's fair to say this is the Card Film most worth paying attention to right now."

Chen Mu suddenly noticed a pained expression on Lei Zi's face beside him. His hands rested on the chair, trembling slightly.

Startled, Chen Mu immediately understood. He asked softly, "Is this yours?"

"Yes." Lei Zi bit down hard on his lip. His expression was frightening.

Chen Mu sighed inwardly and said nothing more, turning his attention instead to the Card Film about to play. It was his first time watching one, and he couldn't help finding it fascinating.

A Wrist Device could also play Card Films, but dedicated Card Film players were already available on the market. The classroom was using one now. It projected clearer illusions and had a dedicated sound-card slot, producing excellent audio.

Half an hour later, the Card Film finally ended.

"So that's a Card Film?" Chen Mu asked Lei Zi in disbelief.

Lei Zi had already returned to normal. He knew what Chen Mu was thinking and chuckled. "Yep. Feeling confident now?"

So this was what a Card Film was like! Chen Mu didn't know what to say. To his eyes, neither the objects nor the people looked realistic. They seemed to have undergone a degree of exaggeration and simplification. In terms of difficulty, making a Card Film fell far short of making his Flame Dragon Illusion Card, let alone the Illusion Card billboard at the Twin Ring Card Shop.

Although he didn't know whether this Card Film's production quality counted as good or bad among its peers, Chen Mu felt its story was its greatest strength. He had to admit that Lei Zi's talent in this area was beyond question. Even someone as cold and wooden as Chen Mu had been completely engrossed.

Chen Mu felt that making it more realistic would certainly produce a better effect.

But then he reconsidered. In that case, the cost would probably be astronomical! Understanding dawned on him. No wonder Card Films all used these simplified, exaggerated illusions.

He didn't know that this was only one of the reasons. Making a Card Film look exactly like real people would not only drive up the cost considerably but also make it much more difficult. Card Masters whose skills reached that level were exceedingly rare.

Afterward, they screened several classic old Card Films.

(End of chapter)