Chapter 042: What It Means to Be a Master

Convincing Judy was as easy as turning on a tap. After all, everyone now knew that Li Lekang had a brilliant future ahead of him—or, to put it more bluntly, he was already making waves abroad. This wasn’t about giving up an established career to take a gamble; it was an irresistible opportunity for success, practically handed to her on a silver platter! For someone as astute as Judy, a savvy professional woman, it took only a moment’s thought to realize she had stumbled upon a treasure.

So, over half a cup of coffee, the two reached an immediate agreement.

Judy joined Li Lekang’s studio, taking on the role of general manager, overseeing personnel, scheduling, event planning, and everything else orbiting around him. For her, this was a venture into a new field, one that would require learning and experience, but her broad expertise allowed her to get up to speed quickly—especially with the ever-present financial and legal issues that crop up in any industry.

Upon joining, Judy immediately set to work. She tackled the perennial dilemmas of the wealthy: How to minimize taxes more effectively? How to pay less? And how to deal with lawyers to best protect one’s own interests?

Truth be told, Li Lekang had never been meticulous about such matters. He hadn’t even considered filing taxes on his income, yet in America, individuals must file before April 15 every year. If you try to cheat, the tax authorities—reputedly fiercer than the FBI—will hunt you down by any means necessary.

With fame and fortune come new problems, but the benefits were equally substantial. For example, Li Lekang’s current fee for a commercial spot during his show had soared into the six-figure range—don’t even ask if you can’t afford it! And for blockbuster acts like his “Prediction of the Future” magic, the negotiations started at millions. His recent live broadcast with NBC generated ad revenue well over a million.

He also had income streams from YouTube and ad networks. Just the company’s revenue share with the TV station, according to the contract, brought in about $150,000; add another $200,000 or $300,000 from video ad splits, and with an expected $200,000 from this month’s performances, Li Lekang stood to make around half a million dollars in a single month.

And that’s not even counting the million-dollar bet with the debunking team—there could be even more! And this was just the beginning.

Li Lekang’s fame was only just starting to blossom. As long as his performances maintained their quality, there would be no shortage of commercial appearances, endorsements, and other lucrative deals. The highest-earning magician, David Copperfield, grosses over sixty million dollars a year—enough to place him in the top five, or even top three, of Hollywood’s highest-paid entertainers.

That’s why they say: when you have the spotlight, the money follows!

Li Lekang’s studio was officially established just as his career was soaring, and operations began at a feverish pace. They rented an office in Hollywood, which would not only serve daily operations but also eventually house exhibitions of Li Lekang’s props, costumes, stage photos, and related merchandise.

Judy’s business acumen was first-rate. She understood the power of popularity in today’s world. For a superstar, relying solely on performances to make money was a waste of talent! Endorsements and commercials were a given, but there were also corporate events, merchandising, and spin-offs from personal video footage. People might poke fun at the Kardashians, but their money-making methods were truly worth studying.

From Paris Hilton’s sidekick to the queen of self-made millions, Kim Kardashian’s meteoric rise proved one thing: in the world of making money, there’s no shame in success.

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While Judy took charge and busily arranged affairs, Li Lekang’s first solo performance finally debuted at the Los Angeles Music Center!

At seven in the evening, the parking lot at the music center was packed with cars, with audiences coming from all directions, converging to witness the sensational Li Lekang Magic Show.

Over three thousand attendees filled every seat. The VIP tickets in the front row had been scalped for more than ten times their original price, yet rabid fans still fought to get them!

Li Lekang could already sense it: under the spell of his ever-rising fame, casual fans were turning into die-hard devotees! This was a good thing.

According to Junling’s statistics, his fan base had reached fifty thousand! Not only did this mean he received at least fifty thousand transaction points from them daily, but it also guaranteed that they would buy tickets and show up in person.

The audience tonight was a passionate crowd—either early supporters who snagged tickets as soon as they were released, or those willing to pay a premium just to witness the show firsthand.

Although this was Li Lekang’s first personal showcase, his recent domination of the headlines and his mysterious, inexplicable feats were more than enough to draw a crowd!

He took to the stage with infectious enthusiasm.

Li Lekang’s magic was marked by a unique personal style—no set routines. He had no fixed program; he would perform whatever came to mind. Tonight’s show would be vastly different from tomorrow’s, yet he could conjure wonders with ease.

He might produce a rabbit from thin air and with a flick of the hand turn it into a bird. He could soar freely above the stage, then, to everyone’s shock, reappear among the audience.

His assistant, Daisy, now took the stage—a tall, enchanting woman whose background in dance made her performance sweet or sultry as needed. Tonight, the magician and his assistant danced together, delighting the audience and ensuring that this smiling American sweetheart left a lasting impression.

With an assistant, Li Lekang’s repertoire expanded. No longer limited to solo acts, he could now attempt the long-envisioned beheading illusion.

Of course, it wasn’t a real beheading—even with magic, he wasn’t about to try that for real. Instead, he created a double, had the assistant cut the cord holding the guillotine, and as the audience gasped, down came the blade—separating head from body!

The American sweetheart, now playing the role of a deranged killer, flashed a wicked smile with her scarlet lips, holding aloft a basket containing the severed head, sending shivers through the audience.

With a simple turn, as she set the head on the table, Li Lekang’s eyes suddenly opened—the head, detached from its body, was still smiling! Daisy held a microphone to his lips, and the head quipped, “Hello, who stole my body?”

“Wow!”

“Bravo!”

Shrieks and raucous applause filled the hall. Although similar illusions had been seen before, none had been executed with such seamless flair.

His head sat on a flat table—completely exposed, with nowhere to hide! Traditionally, similar tricks relied on actors hidden within the table, but here, it was perfectly clear: there was simply no place to conceal anyone.

Undoubtedly, Li Lekang’s chilling illusion won the audience’s utter admiration once again.

His entire performance was a feast of wonder, earning applause from every member of the audience and leaving them convinced their tickets were well worth the price.

People agreed: compared to others, every magician seemed utterly outclassed! This, they thought, was truly magic for a new era—the creativity might not be brand new, but the technical mastery surpassed anyone in the world.

The hour-long show was so captivating that the applause seemed never to end.

In a rare move, Li Lekang returned for an encore, performing one more act before finally bidding the audience farewell as they rose to their feet in satisfaction.

Everyone left the theater thoroughly delighted, hurrying to share their experiences online—and soon, even more people were desperate to attend.

Because his shows were few and tickets had sold out long ago, demand far outstripped supply, resulting in a kind of unintentional “hunger marketing.”

Especially when those who had attended went online to describe his brilliance and mystique, claiming he outshone every magician alive—this, they said, was the definition of a true master!

Those who had yet to witness him felt an unbearable longing, wishing they could fly to the theater that very instant.

It was even more agonizing than waiting for a movie premiere! At least films ran all day and you could always get a ticket if you queued long enough. But with Li Lekang, there was only one show per night—when and where he performed next was entirely up to his mood.