Chapter 135: Another Phenomenal Success in the Making

The applause, overwhelming and all-encompassing, was a massive affirmation of both the magician and his performance. Yet, just as it had been back in China, the audience waited in vain for Li Lekang to return for a curtain call.

He had vanished like smoke, as ethereal as a figure from myth, leaving everyone wanting more. Some audience members were already grumbling, "Why are there so few shows?"

"To see it again, we'll have to wait for the TV broadcast, and that's not until the summer. No other show has ever made me feel this reluctant to leave!"

"Sometimes I think Li Lekang is annoying. Why does he have to be so lazy?"

"I don't know! But the next time he holds a solo show, I'll be the first in line to grab tickets!"

"Who wouldn't!"

The audience was caught between love and frustration when it came to Li Lekang.

As they exited the arena, they were still buzzing with conversation, complaining about how they hadn't gotten enough and wishing they could see it all over again. Others were enthusiastically recounting specific scenes. Young fans, only half-informed, were busy showing off to their girlfriends by reciting second-hand knowledge picked up from YouTube bloggers, or proudly repeating Chinese phrases so poorly pronounced that even native speakers wouldn't recognize them.

The girl in one such couple listened with adoration before asking, "Honey, what is that outfit the dancer is wearing? It’s so exquisite and beautiful, I love it!"

"Well, it's obviously Chinese-style clothing. You know, in China, a lot of people wear things like that for festivals and events. The women there are so gifted they even make them themselves..."

Her boyfriend began to babble nonsense, but that didn't dampen the girl's earnest longing. She was already thinking about how she might get her hands on a set. The performance had truly left its mark; the image of the celestial maiden treading on clouds, that fleeting, breathtaking glimpse, was impossible to forget.

Many women leaving the venue were discussing the costumes—what they were called and where they could be bought. They all wanted to try one for themselves, much to the distress of their boyfriends and husbands! Those with a silver tongue managed to bluff their way through, while the more honest ones just scratched their heads, completely stumped. To them, the term "Dunhuang Flying Apsaras" might as well have been an ancient, indecipherable script.

But where there is a challenge, there is motivation. More than a few decided to do some research once they got home, with women asking their Chinese-American friends for help. Those with better connections were already reaching out to friends in China or searching the internet, while the shrewder ones sensed a business opportunity and were looking into importing a batch to test the market. Even music lovers were obsessed with the background tracks and the unique instruments they had never seen before, finding them incredibly cool.

Outside the venue, media reporters were busy at work. They hadn't been invited by Li Lekang’s team, but they all knew how to chase a trending topic. A different performer might not have drawn such a crowd, but this was Li Lekang!

The world-renowned Chinese-American magician, the sensation of America, the wizard, the superhuman, the hype master, the charlatan—the audience had a thousand names for him, all of which served as a testament to his impact. This meant his heat was high; a photo-rich news report posted tomorrow would surely be more engaging than dry, run-of-the-mill celebrity gossip.

Reporters interviewed many passersby outside the stadium, and when asked about the show, the responses were remarkably unanimous:

"An absolutely stunning performance!"

"It completely blew my mind!"

"Li Lekang is the GOAT!"

One long-haired young man with an artsy vibe held court, saying, "Beyond what everyone else is saying, I found the instruments in the show fascinating. That row of bronze instruments—I’m not sure if they were antiques, but they certainly felt ancient. They were the perfect finishing touch to the performance. I’d never seen them before, but now I love them!"

The interviews captured both the pure, unadulterated awe of the fans—who gave the show a perfect score without hesitation—and the analysis of the "experts," who loved to distinguish themselves by focusing on non-mainstream angles, stage layout, dance art, and instrumentation. To put it bluntly: they were seizing the chance to show off in front of the camera. After all, a significant portion of the American public flows with a deep-seated confidence that "no one knows more than I do," even if they have to make things up to prove it. But isn't that what makes it all the more lively?

That night, the audience shared their thoughts all over the internet. If "Flying Apsaras" were a film, its rating would undoubtedly be sky-high. Even though it was a theatrical performance, word-of-mouth spread rapidly. Media professionals who had been lucky enough to attend were busy typing up their professional and unique reviews.

"From the perspective of dance art, Li’s performers are rumored to be from a national-level dance troupe. The techniques they displayed were there for all to see—truly outstanding."

"From the perspective of magic, Li continued his trademark style of being impossible to decipher. While it was dreamlike and illusory, I saw something very striking: he is still experimenting with different genres!"

"He is not content with the status quo, nor is he limited to traditional performance forms. In this show, I saw a fusion! The extensive integration of dance art has elevated the thematic depth of the show!"

"I am delighted to see such an innovative magician. He will bring many new elements to the industry; perhaps a new genre will be born in his hands!"

The media reviews were exceptionally high. It could even be said that to find a fault, one would first need the capacity to appreciate the work. The "Flying Apsaras" show satisfied both the academic critics and the idol-worshipping fans; with a national-level troupe combined with magical presentation, most people lacked the expertise to even critique it.

Thus, the media helped solidify Li Lekang’s status, even predicting that he was "about to trigger another phenomenal" trend.

It had already been revealed that the full story of this performance would appear in the variety series *Li Lekang’s Magical Journey*, which NBC would broadcast in the second half of the year—a big-budget production with heavy-hitting appearances!

Media types with a keen sense of smell could already see the niche trends that might emerge after the broadcast—a craze for Chinese costumes and musical instruments. Of course, the media was cautious with their phrasing, using the term "niche trend," as they felt it might be difficult to go fully mainstream given the cultural divide. Perhaps Americans would find it cool, but not everyone would necessarily fall in love with it.

Yet, nothing is absolute. Take sushi, for example—it became a very successful Asian cuisine in the United States. So, one cannot say that art—an exquisite skill that transcends language and cultural barriers—cannot strike a chord with people. As for the actual impact, we will have to wait until the second half of the year, when the show hits the screens and reaches a wider audience, to see how the public truly responds.