Chapter 147: Everyone Wants to Cash In on the Buzz

In front of thousands gathered at the scene and millions watching through screens, Li Lekang performed a stunning wall-passing illusion. His method was swift, precise, and ruthless, leaving countless spectators spellbound.

Unlike previous similar magic acts—where magicians would either drag out the time for mystique or obscure the trick to avoid exposure—Li Lekang was straightforward, settling the matter with just two pieces of cloth.

He invited six lucky spectators to don blindfolds and helmets, allowing them to experience the astonishing sensation of passing through a wall as if it were nothing, evoking the young scholar Wang Sheng from the tales of the Taoist priests of Mount Lao.

While the audience watched with amazement, the participants’ inner excitement was beyond measure. Though they saw nothing, the firsthand experience made it almost believable that supernatural Taoist powers were at play.

After the six passed successfully through the wall under everyone’s watchful eyes, Li Lekang instructed the staff to remove the black cloths and collect the props used to misdirect the audience. Thus, the breathtaking performance came to a close.

Facing the crowd with a smile, Li Lekang said, “That’s all for today’s show, but there is much more to come on the theme of the Mount Lao Taoists. The variety drama will premiere in the latter half of this year. I hope you won’t miss it!”

“Goodbye, dear audience! Until next time!”

With that, Li Lekang pulled some props from his pocket and slammed them onto the ground, releasing a thick plume of smoke. Within a second or two after the smoke cleared, the magician had vanished without a trace.

The crowd erupted once more—this final act was equally dazzling.

Other magicians might have turned such a feat into a full stage show, boasting and hyping it endlessly. Yet, in Li Lekang’s hands, it was merely a farewell ritual, done effortlessly.

This scene stirred a spontaneous feeling among many that “this is what a true master’s demeanor looks like!”

Compared to him, other magicians suddenly seemed pale in comparison.

Who else could command the entire atmosphere with such ease and flow, performing at will like a master conductor?

No one.

And watching his performance, the audience felt utterly relaxed, as if Li Lekang could add more layers at any moment. He had numerous secret moves up his sleeve, simply choosing not to reveal them.

The magician’s team then busied themselves cleaning up, restoring the temple to its quiet state. Having occupied the venue for several days, returning everything to its original condition was basic courtesy—they even contributed incense money as a token of goodwill.

Once the official live broadcast ended, it was time for the internet celebrities who had been waiting around to take the stage.

They rushed to the base of the wall where the performance had taken place, eager to uncover any hidden mechanisms.

They knocked on the wall, stamped the ground, assessed the difficulty of scaling it, and speculated about secret doors or trampoline devices—but all their efforts proved futile.

This only deepened everyone’s respect for Li Lekang’s skills.

As an international superstar, his charisma was unmistakably evident that afternoon.

The recorded live stream was reposted online, unsurprisingly going viral.

The corner of the wall even became a hotspot for those hoping to ride the wave of popularity.

Though they couldn’t crack the magic, they could at least latch onto the buzz.

One particularly reckless fellow, desperate for attention, boldly attempted to replicate the wall-passing trick live on stream.

He had memorized Li Lekang’s key advice: “Keep your head down and rush forward quickly!”

“Friends, I’m going first!” he declared.

But with a loud thud, he smashed his head squarely against the courtyard wall, collapsing instantly.

The onlookers burst into laughter.

This guy was a modern-day version of the scholar Wang Sheng!

However, his foolish bravery did earn him some generous donations from wealthy viewers, startling him into sitting upright despite his injuries. After showering praise on “bro” several times, he begrudgingly lay back down to groan.

Even Li Lekang, upon casually stumbling across the video later, couldn’t help but say, “Impressive! I’m the fake one hitting the wall, but you’re truly thick-headed!”

He shared the clip with the comment: “This is what happens when you neglect proper practice and just show off. Take heed, everyone!”

That simple remark racked up over a hundred thousand likes.

Creative netizens flooded the comments with witty remarks.

“I’ll translate for Brother Li: ‘I possess true Taoist magic; you mortals should not imitate!’”

Another highly upvoted comment read: “Never trust the lies on the internet again. Brother Li really does magic, no doubt!”

An apparently stubborn streamer chimed in: “After getting a head full of bumps, I believe it too!”

The comment section quickly became a sea of laughter, even drawing participation from some popular celebrities.

Following Li Lekang’s recent solo show in Beijing, he had befriended many stars and socialites.

Jay Zhou, Liu Qian, and others had become his friends, drawing considerable attention to his visit this time.

Some fans were even bolder, liking and commenting to cozy up to him.

Out of courtesy, Li Lekang liked their posts in return, and when he saw pretty women, he responded with a line or two. These women then acted coquettishly, playfully interacting with him.

“Brother Li, I want tickets to your show!”

“If you speak normally, we’re still friends!”

Li Lekang’s straightforward replies earned him cheers from the crowd below: “Well done!”, “Great job!”, “Husband, marry me!” and the like.

Amid the humor, everyone genuinely looked forward to what kind of show he would produce next.

According to leaked information, the wall-passing trick was just a teaser.

The real spectacle was still in preparation.

Rumors within the industry whispered that Li Lekang’s stage show was still casting female roles.

Though no official announcements about performances or ticket sales had been made, some insiders were already eager with anticipation, given Li Lekang’s soaring popularity.

Few celebrities manage to captivate both Western and Chinese markets; Jackie Chan stands as a rare example but now faces a lack of successors.

Li Lekang, though not a conventional actor, had gained comparable stature through his mind-bending magic, making his rising fame unsurprising.

To be cast as his female lead? Many would pay out of pocket for the chance.

At this level, it’s all about fame and exposure.

For a variety drama set to air across Europe, America, and Asia—with key segments praised by official media as exemplary cultural dissemination—who wouldn’t want to participate?

Whether appearing on the show or alongside Li Lekang, many were scheming to secure a role.

In response to external inquiries and goodwill, Li Lekang was indeed making plans.

The stage design for the Mount Lao Taoist theme was already complete. He intended to recreate classic childhood scenes: immortals drinking wine, the Moon Palace goddess Chang’e descending to dance.

Only the magic’s believability posed some constraints. After continuous adjustments, the production finally met the requirements for stage performance.

However, a new challenge emerged: casting the female lead.

The dancers from the Flying Fairy Show still had commitments in both China and the U.S., so Li Lekang needed to find new dancers for the role of Chang’e from the Liaozhai stories.

This role didn’t demand high-level dance skills—certainly less than the Flying Fairy Show.

The highlight lay in the magical elements; the female lead needed to be beautiful and possess basic dance ability.

Despite his simple criteria, the applications poured in like snowflakes.

The reason was clear: Li Lekang’s resources and popularity were immensely powerful. Everyone wanted to be an international star, to shine on the world stage, and enrich their resumes.

His inbox overflowed with recommendations, all pledging obedience, willingness to follow direction, forgoing payment and only requesting meals.

Faced with such enthusiastic and charming offers, even those with weak constitutions would find it overwhelming.