Chapter 131: A Moment to Test the Fans' Reflexes

Due to the constraints of his production team's schedule and his ongoing television project, Li Lekang did not linger in Beijing for long. He simply hosted a private party to gather with some newly acquainted celebrity friends for drinks and conversation before his team returned to the United States.

Li needed time to work on his scripts and magic, while also ensuring that the filming and editing crew became familiar with the story of the "Taoist of Mount Lao." He had learned a hard lesson during the previous shoot regarding the Dunhuang "Flying Apsaras" segment; he was well-versed in the legends, but his team was completely lost. It is incredibly difficult for foreigners to film a culture they do not understand, as the crew cannot capture what they cannot comprehend. It was only after he had them observe the locations and experience the scenery firsthand that the production team finally grasped the essence. With the "Taoist of Mount Lao" chapter finalized, the team headed home to immerse themselves in Taoist culture, edit the footage, and select Chinese-style soundtracks.

The first season of "Li Lekang's Magical Journey" is set to air in the second half of the year. The raw material for the first episode is already in hand, with over 3,000 gigabytes of footage centered on the Dunhuang Flying Apsaras, which will require careful editing. Li plans to shoot two to three episodes in China. If the reception is good, he will continue to invest in the project for a second season. Since the show is primarily for an American audience, it must progress from the simple to the complex. If the entire series were just Chinese specials, it might not appeal to every viewer; much like a book, if every chapter relies on the same repetitive plot device, the audience will eventually grow bored.

Therefore, back in the U.S., Li needs to film more diverse subjects, such as mentalism, prediction magic, and other performances that Westerners find miraculous. He also intends to hold a few theater performances, as he feels that filming exclusively for the camera is a waste of resources and can lead to audience skepticism. Performing in front of thousands of spectators—with no editing and no camera tricks—would be far more effective, and would also generate ticket revenue, though the money itself is trivial to him.

Li has long moved past the stage where he needs to perform for ticket sales. If he wanted to maximize profit, he could easily hold a solo show in a massive stadium. However, not every performance is suited for a large venue; some delicate, intricate magic is best experienced up close in a theater of a thousand people. The residents of California are quite fortunate, as Li performs in Los Angeles theaters from time to time. He keeps ticket prices reasonable, hoping more people can participate. With Judy’s optimized real-name verification system for ticketing, the process has become a test of speed and luck, which has effectively quelled audience resentment.

But the real highlight is the "Flying Apsaras Show" that American audiences have been eagerly anticipating. It has attracted over a million signatures and led to the formation of lobbying groups petitioning for a dedicated performance. Unable to ignore the fans' enthusiasm, Li met with Judy upon his return to the U.S. to discuss the arrangements. He decided that while it was impossible to accommodate everyone, he would schedule three or four shows in major cities across the West and East Coasts.

For venues, basketball arenas are ideal; their enclosed ceilings facilitate the use of mechanical illusions, and the viewing distance allows even those in the back rows to enjoy the spectacle. Judy helped him finalize the logistics: "NBA arenas in major cities meet your requirements. They hold about 20,000 people, the viewing distance is moderate, and the return on investment remains healthy."

Li replied, "Then let's coordinate with the youth dance troupe in China and invite them over. Their schedule will be tight, so you'll need to align it with my activities in China."

Judy pulled out her calendar and began to note down the details. "Let's plan for a one-month window. They aren't as flexible as we are. Let's start with two fixed shows in Los Angeles and New York."

"New York is still quite cold, let's put that later," Li said.

Judy agreed, "Los Angeles is warmer. Actually, Miami might be more necessary, since it's already summer there."

"Is there spring break in mid-March?" Li asked, aware that many students—a significant portion of his fan base—have a 7-to-10-day break.

"Yes, exactly. Chloe has already been pestering me to follow the team," Judy mentioned, referring to her rebellious daughter.

Li, who quite likes the girl, said, "Let's make Miami the first stop. I want to go to a water park there."

Judy saw right through him. "She’s the one who told you she wanted to go, didn't she?"

Li didn't deny it. "Let's grant her a small wish. We can perform while we're there, and maybe even take a side trip to the Bahamas to stay at Atlantis!"

Judy shook her head as she wrote it down. "How can you spoil her so much?"

Li shrugged with a grin. "Actually, I could do the same for you."

Judy looked at him.

Li added playfully, "Because we’re family."

"Stop quoting Vin Diesel, ha ha!" Judy couldn't help but laugh. "I appreciate the sentiment, but dear, I’m the one who’s supposed to be taking care of you!"

"Understood, Mom," Li teased.

Judy continued planning with a smile: "First stop Miami, second Los Angeles, third New York... Now it's time to test your fans' speed."

Li’s performances have always been spontaneous. As long as his team can keep up, he can start at any moment. While he has a high tolerance for error in magic—even if there is a mistake, he can use magic to cover it up—the fans have no such luxury. Li’s announcement was sudden; as soon as the Chinese dance troupe's visas were approved, the official website opened for ticket sales. It was a surprise drop with no warning.

Only Li would dare to do something like this. Other stars would spend months on marketing and hype to give fans time to prepare, but Li simply dropped the news, and half of the tens of thousands of tickets sold out instantly—even with a strict limit of two tickets per person. If it had been the old way, scalpers would have snatched them all up to resell at exorbitant prices, and given Li’s popularity, people would have certainly paid.

However, since there were over 60,000 tickets across three venues, it wasn't as difficult to grab one as it was for his small theater shows. Even if someone missed the best seats, they could still buy tickets in the back or go for VIP packages. The fans who had organized the earlier petition proved their dedication; when everyone else thought the campaign was a joke, the organizers had actually put up the money to buy tickets. This proved the cohesion of Li’s fan base—they were the true, die-hard fans who moved with speed and decisiveness.