Chapter 123: Hype and Filming

As the minutes ticked by, the guy livestreaming began to feel that something was wrong.

"He's been in there for ten minutes now, and still no movement!"
"Could his business really be that lengthy?"

He shifted his stiff, prone body. In the chat, his viewers were also debating why Li Lekang had been inside for so long, speculating if he had fallen into the pit or worse. He remained patient, continuing his vigil.

Fifteen minutes passed. Still nothing. The lonely portable toilet sat under the scorching sun; the prey was inside, yet the situation was becoming increasingly maddening.

"Did he actually fall in?"

The streamer’s comment drew both laughter and derision from the audience, but thanks to the entertainment value of his broadcast, viewership began to climb. Some fans even sent rockets, urging him to rush over, knock on the door, or do something.

"If there’s no movement in five minutes, something must be wrong. We can't just sit here and watch!"

The streamer muttered to himself, while the two paparazzi beside him were equally bewildered.

A few minutes later, a female assistant suddenly emerged from the tent. She strode toward the toilet and opened the door—it was completely empty! The livestream camera captured the entire scene. The assistant seemed to have received a call; she didn't rush in, but instead stood with one hand on the door and the other on her phone, giving the camera plenty of time to register the void before she stepped inside and shut the door.

"What the hell! Did you guys see that?"

The streamer doubted his own eyes. He looked at the two paparazzi, who were just as stunned, completely unable to grasp the situation.

"Am I hallucinating? I clearly saw Li Lekang go in. How could it be empty when she opened the door just now?"

The chat went wild. Comments like "supernatural phenomenon," "it's a ghost," and "this is magic" flooded the screen. But the surprises didn't end there. Shortly after the assistant went in, another woman emerged from the tent and headed toward the portable toilet. The three of them watched, six eyes wide, holding their breath, not daring to move.

The woman pulled the door open—the interior was empty. She walked in and closed it.

"Holy crap! This is truly haunted!"
"How is this possible?"
"Is this an interdimensional portal?"

The streamer and his buddies were completely dumbfounded. While they had seen plenty of magic tricks, they never imagined they would witness such a supernatural phenomenon in such a casual, unintended setting. The three of them questioned their sanity, but those with quick reflexes had already switched to recording mode to capture the scene, sensing that this would be a major talking point.

They waited and waited, baking under the harsh sun. They never saw anyone enter or leave the toilet again. By the time the sun set and darkness fell, they were still holding their ground. But until the people in the tents began packing up their gear and loading the vehicles to leave, the toilet remained silent. Amidst the roar of engines, the film crew departed, leaving the three of them in total disarray.

Suddenly, someone gasped, "Look at Li Lekang’s Weibo! He just posted something."

Everyone instinctively pulled out their phones. Li Lekang’s latest update read: "What if I used a little magic to keep three guys entertained all day?" Attached to the post were photos of the three—front, back, and side views.

The comments section was initially filled with confusion. It wasn't until the viewers from the livestream flooded in, excitedly recounting the "man-eating toilet" incident, and the clips began circulating online, that everyone realized what had happened. Li Lekang had performed a grand "disappearing act," playing the three paparazzi for fools for an entire day!

The internet erupted in laughter. Their appreciation for Li Lekang’s prowess became even more vivid and concrete.

"I have to say, this is a true magic master—integrating techniques into the very details of life!"
"I watched that stream; it was absolutely divine and brilliant!"
"Go watch the stream recordings, it’s hilarious! Three idiots waiting in the sun while everyone else had already circled around behind them!"

The internet was a sea of joy, and the incident quickly trended. It was an unplanned but sudden surge of popularity; the crux of the matter was that Li Lekang had used his magical skills to toy with three paparazzi. It was the first time people had seen a celebrity win so elegantly. Their profound realization of Li Lekang’s technical skill only heightened their anticipation for his upcoming solo show in China.

...

Li Lekang had anticipated the trending status. Judy had been the one to push the momentum, though, of course, he was the only magician in the world capable of pulling off such a stunt at will. The effect and technique were flawless, though it did attract more curious onlookers who traveled thousands of miles just to photograph the toilet.

However, they would never catch a glimpse of Li Lekang again, as the outdoor work had concluded and they had moved to indoor scenes. Li Lekang temporarily cut off outside noise to focus on his creation.

Lately, he had also been practicing dance. Although the dance was primarily performed by the women, as the core of the performance, the magician had to know a thing or two. Furthermore, he needed to coordinate the "flight" of the lead actress, which required acting and rehearsal.

For days on end, he practiced. The dancers were even more diligent than he had imagined, rising early to train and rehearse, taking only a brief break for lunch before continuing until the sun set. They were beautiful enough to rely on their looks alone, yet they worked so hard it made other women look bad. Thanks to their desperate efforts, they finished ahead of schedule.

Li Lekang personally reviewed the footage. The hardest part wasn't the dance itself, but adapting to "true flight." When magic allowed them to defy gravity, how should they dance and perform? After constant adjustments, the recent rehearsals finally achieved the desired effect: the "celestial maidens" could rotate and dance among the clouds, showcasing their skills in the sky.

With the arrival of the exquisite traditional costumes commissioned from Beijing, the conditions for the outdoor shoot were finally perfect. The team spared no expense on props and wardrobe. Splendor was key for Li Lekang, so the gold and jewelry worn by the lead dancer weighed over ten pounds from head to toe. The clothing was equally detailed, featuring hand-stitched brocade, gossamer-thin scarves, and beaded veils—the result of the designers racking their brains.

The high-cost costumes did not disappoint. Once the ladies changed, they immediately possessed an ethereal, magnificent aura, with exquisite beauty in every detail. Li Lekang’s attire followed his usual breezy, elegant style, with the top cut to accentuate his physique and the bottom composed of rich red and clear blue, giving him the air of a prince from the Western Regions.

To be precise, it was a Dunhuang-style costume that blended Western and Central Plains cultures. Since the "Feitian" (Flying Apsaras) originated in India before being perfected in China, the clothing naturally carried an exotic flair. Standing with the women in their outfits against the backdrop of the desolate desert, a gust of wind caught their ribbons, and the otherworldly, transcendent atmosphere was instantaneous.

The crew had built a circular, sand-colored altar in the desert, which blended into the background of desolate stone pillars and ruined city walls, highlighting the desolation of the ancient ruins. To the accompaniment of the guzheng and pipa, and the song of a traditional Chinese female vocalist, the most beautiful aspects of Chinese art and culture were gracefully performed on this desert Gobi.