Chapter 079: The Professional Team Takes the Field!

The art of escape has always been a classic among magic performances, enduring from the era of Harry Houdini to the present, never losing its allure. The routines devised by magicians constantly evolve, always finding ways to overcome peril. Yet, there are those who fail due to neglecting details, some even injuring themselves, and others whose assistants fail to hide properly during body-sawing tricks, leading to genuine tragedies.

This, then, is the essence of escape artistry’s enduring fascination. Even magicians cannot guarantee their safety absolutely; if their movements to break free are slow or their timing is off, death remains a real risk.

Li Lekang had never performed escape tricks before, leading people to believe his expertise lay more in levitation and close-up magic, branding him as a high-tech magician. But today, before the wood chipper, there are no hidden wires, double-sided props, nor glamorous assistants to distract; the sturdy wooden board has already attested to the machine’s power.

Two female assistants then began to fasten the restraints: metal handcuffs bound his wrists, shackles secured his ankles, and chains were wrapped tightly around him, their ends sealed shut with a welding torch.

Usually, a magician’s handcuffs are designed with easy escape mechanisms. Yet, Li Lekang, with boldness, had the chains welded, raising the challenge to unprecedented heights.

Moreover, Li Lekang was never one to follow the ordinary path. He did not disappoint his audience; after bearing so many restraints, the main event awaited him—a coffin placed to the side.

It was a Western-style coffin, broad at the top and narrow below, with the lid already open. The beautiful assistant struck it with a hammer, the echo demonstrating its solidity—it was no flimsy prop.

“My friends in the audience, wish me luck!” Li Lekang left the crowd with a dashing phrase before stepping into the coffin and, with his assistant’s help, lying down.

The two assistants closed the lid together, but that wasn’t enough. With feline grace, they strode to the tools, retrieved a nail gun, showed it to the audience, and along the coffin’s edge, began driving steel nails one by one.

The sharp, repetitive sound echoed through the hall, holding the audience’s gaze—it was feedback of real strength and solidity. Many skilled American men in the crowd could tell: this was the real deal.

The two assistants were thorough, working from start to finish with care; when the camera zoomed in, a dense ring of nails could be seen lining the lid.

The audience’s murmurs buzzed around the venue.

“He’s nailed in from the front—how will he escape?”
“There must be a mechanism at the base or side!”
Many believed the coffin surely had a weak point, a breakaway feature.

After all, it’s magic—yet Li Lekang’s magic always seems to defy these conventional expectations.

How to prove the coffin’s solidity? Simply lift it.

After the assistants finished nailing, they dusted their hands, and from the side of the stage strode six or seven men: black suits, white shirts, gleaming shoes—an impressive presence. The leader wore a tall hat, wielded a cane, and draped a sash over his shoulder, his expression solemn.

The other six wore boat hats and white gloves, their faces hidden behind dark sunglasses, radiating cool confidence. The highly recognizable ensemble, the serious expressions beneath their shades, made the audience—both live and at home—cry out in surprise.

“Wow—this is a real surprise!”
“I never expected to see the professional team on stage like this!”
“WTF? They’re really here!”
“Lekang is the most playful magician I’ve ever seen!”

The tension and anticipation in the air were infused with a burst of joy thanks to the arrival of the professional team. Li Lekang was already in the coffin; how could there not be some magical crossover?

Finding the professional team was a stroke of luck; all the way from Ghana, Africa, their visas and schedules shouldn’t have aligned, but by chance, they had recently been invited to the US for business. Li Lekang thought, “Since you’re here, how can you miss my grand event?” With the power of money, he made arrangements, and after ample compensation, they gladly agreed.

Thus, the scene unfolded on stage.

The music began—the remix of “Astronomia,” the iconic soundtrack to the viral coffin dance. That familiar prelude rang from the speakers, and many felt their DNA awaken.

As the infectious tune played, the six professionals stood on either side of the coffin. At the leader’s command—one, two, three—they lifted.

The background music surged to its climax as the coffin was raised and set down, again and again. The third time, they hoisted it onto their shoulders.

The crowd’s minds buzzed, stunned by the joyful, magnetic rhythm and the team’s expert choreography. Six men carried the coffin, taking three steps forward, two back, sometimes collapsing beneath its weight, legs flailing comically, or crawling across the stage like turtles, as hilarious as they were graceful.

The audience below was doubled over in laughter; truly, Li Lekang’s final act had delivered surprises far beyond mere magic. The ticket was worth every cent!

Even the judges on stage abandoned their composure, laughing heartily, clapping madly, or simply standing to dance along with the music.

Young viewers at home watching the live broadcast were beside themselves with laughter, shouting excitedly, leaving parents and elders bewildered by the internet’s new trends.

Meanwhile, the show’s ratings soared, reaching 15 million viewers according to backstage data.

This magical crossover moment in the live finale left countless people laughing and deeply satisfied—and the act was only halfway through!

The Talent Show production team and NBC were wise, placing no time limit on Li Lekang’s act; he could perform as he wished, for he was the guarantee of high ratings.

After the professional team’s lively display, the coffin’s solidity was beyond question. Some audience members now worried whether the magician would be dazed inside after such a ride.

As the music faded, the team placed the coffin onto a conveyor belt.

A female assistant pressed a microphone to the air vent on the coffin’s front, allowing Li Lekang’s voice to come through: “I’m still okay! Thank you for letting me experience how death can actually be quite joyful!”

“Hahaha!”

Thunderous applause erupted.

The professional team bowed toward the stage, waved, and departed in an orderly fashion.

After this magical crossover interlude, the escape act continued.

The magician’s coffin was now on the conveyor belt, and the sound from inside confirmed Li Lekang had not taken advantage of the chaos to escape; he was still inside.

With the infectious background music fading away, the atmosphere settled. The two assistants pulled the switch, and the conveyor began to hum, moving the coffin slowly forward. The buzzing sound set everyone’s nerves on edge; the short distance felt endless, and countless hearts raced in suspense.

ps: Please vote!