Chapter 029: Ten Minutes of Astonishment

He poured all the wine back into the large glass, disregarding how much was left in the medium and small glasses; in the end, it was just enough to fill the big glass perfectly. Then, with a gentle flick of his finger against the rim, a clear ringing sound echoed, and to everyone’s astonishment, the red wine inside instantly turned into transparent water!

In ancient times, Jesus turned water into wine; now, Lekang transformed wine into water. It truly suited his devilish persona.

The audience regarded Lekang as a wizard with supernatural abilities. Rationally, they knew it was just a magic trick. Yet, witnessing it firsthand made their rationality hard to trust.

Lekang picked up the now water-filled glass, cupped it in both hands, and gave it a few shakes. Water sloshed out onto the table, but he paid it no mind, continuing to shake. After five or six times, he suddenly inverted the glass. The expected splash never occurred; the water inside seemed to have solidified.

As the audience squinted, watching intently, Lekang proved the water had indeed frozen—he pulled out a pillar of ice, formed from the very water moments ago. Those in the front rows saw mist curling around the ice, confirming it was not just frozen, but substantial, nearly as thick as a human forearm.

Then, Lekang picked up the envelope resting nearby, opened it, and placed the ice inside. With a swift fold and a slap, the envelope flattened—its contents surely vanished. He proceeded to put the other glasses into the envelope, repeating the same operation; with each fold and slap, they disappeared as if he possessed a magical bag from another dimension, capable of holding anything.

Finally, he packed everything from the table into the envelope, leaving the tabletop bare. Yet the audience sensed something was amiss.

Lekang fixed his gaze on the envelope, picked it up and opened it, then measured it against his head. A murmur rippled through the crowd—they seemed to know what Lekang intended.

“Oh, I need to hold my bladder to see how this ends! Damn, how can it be so thrilling!”

“Don’t talk to me, don’t block my view! I swear, I’ll kill you!”

After a few gestures, Lekang raised the envelope above his head and slipped it over his head, which fit perfectly. The scene was slightly comical—a man with an envelope over his head making muffled noises, his hands groping around and bumping into the table.

But the next moment sent the audience into screams—Lekang suddenly slapped both sides near his ears, and the envelope flattened instantly!

Lekang’s head seemed to have vanished. His frantic hands beat the top a few more times, and now the shape of his head was gone entirely—above his neck, there was nothing but the flattened envelope. He staggered around the stage like a headless fly.

The audience was utterly stunned! With such thin clothing, where could the magician’s head possibly be hidden?

Lekang wandered blindly, spun in several circles, then staggered off backstage.

Then, all the stage lights came on.

The audience saw only chaos on stage. The magician had disappeared without a trace.

The three thousand spectators remained caught in the shock of the previous scene! That final trick from Lekang had truly frightened many!

Suddenly, wild screams and cheers erupted from the entrance to the auditorium. Everyone turned to see Lekang running in from the entrance, smiling and waving to the crowd.

“Thank you! Thank you all!”

Lekang ran back onto the stage, bowing and waving in gratitude. Instantly, the applause thundered, overwhelming the hall.

Everyone celebrated this fantastic performance. As those in the front rows stood, the rest followed, and soon, every person was on their feet applauding!

Those who resisted the urge to visit the restroom received an unexpected gift—the most dazzling part of the show, when the intermission was usually uneventful.

So much so that as the next circus act began, those who had waited finally rose to use the restroom, leaving the main event momentarily neglected!

In the front row, several VIPs watched. Simon applauded, turning to Mike, “Where did you find such a talented newcomer? He’s as good as the top magicians!”

Mike couldn’t help but beam with pride, “I discovered him among a group of hard-working people. Not many believed in him then, but he’s proven himself outstanding.”

Another person chimed in, “I can only guess at the mechanisms behind the basic tricks, but I still can’t piece the clues together. This young man is destined to be a future star in magic!”

Mike’s smile grew wider. He recognized the speaker as a veteran member of the Magic Association—a true professional. If even he could only understand a fraction of the performance, it proved Lekang’s act was truly remarkable!

Just as with Copperfield’s magic, it took people years to unlock its secrets, which is why he became a superstar and captivated the world.

Though it was early to reach a final verdict, a sixth sense assured these people that if the young man on stage maintained his standards, he would surely shine on the world stage!

Just ten minutes of brilliance, the audience’s rapt attention—it was applause for a genius, recognition for an emerging star!

Amid the sustained applause, Lekang smiled, waved, and retreated backstage.

He knew the audience’s enthusiastic applause meant they wanted an encore; they weren’t satisfied yet.

But he left decisively—not because of unfinished props.

Want more? Pay extra!

This was a free show; it was meant to whet the audience’s appetite!

The onsite camera team had already captured the performance from multiple angles. LAA’s professional media crew would edit the most exciting moments and upload them online.

Original release on YouTube to maintain his popularity, garner more subscribers, and earn steady ad revenue—never underestimate the power of small profits.

Mike, full of delight, had already arrived backstage.

He knew from the first few minutes of Lekang’s act that this guy nailed it!

Any audience member with eyes would love him.

The thunderous applause was the best reward for the performance. When Lekang returned, they high-fived, celebrating a successful step in their careers!

Of course, Mike had burning questions, “That last trick, making your head disappear—how did you do it?”

“Hey, a magician’s secret isn’t for outsiders, you know?”

“I know, I know! But you did great. Did you see the expressions of those VIPs up front? Haha, when they come over, that’ll be your bargaining chip for the appearance fee!”

Lekang was not skilled at negotiating, so he left it to Mike, “It’s your turn to shine now!”

Mike replied, “Leave it to me! We’re not rushing—let them come to us first!”

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