Chapter 93: Making the Moon Disappear

After the dazzling flash magic thrilled eighty thousand spectators, Li Lekang’s solo performance entered a classic phase—a segment blending magic with the artistry of beautiful dancers and singers. Magic was woven seamlessly into the show, offering both aesthetic delight and unexpected surprises, and with a few guest appearances, the audience was treated to a visual feast.

But such spectacle alone was not enough to warrant the grandeur orchestrated by Li Lekang. Indeed, the performance was already top-tier, a world-class stage magic show by any standard. Yet Li Lekang was a magician determined to create legend.

After this swirling, colorful display, the NBC live broadcast team received their cue and began preparations. The next act would be broadcast live in its entirety. On Saturday night, during prime time, NBC reserved the best slot for this event, even cutting other programs, knowing that Li Lekang would set the world ablaze.

Those unable to attend in person gathered before their television screens. Li Lekang picked up the microphone, calmed his breath, and began to share his story: “When I was a child, the first magician I encountered was David Copperfield.”

“He left a profound mark on my childhood, revealing to me the allure of grand magic. It was because of him that I set foot on this path!”

“I still remember, back then, in New York—a city brimming with miracles—David performed a world-stunning illusion: he made the Statue of Liberty disappear!”

“Ever since, a mad idea has haunted my mind, lingering until today, until this special moment, when a voice told me: the time has come!”

“Everyone, please look up at the sky above you!”

At his words, the audience collectively lifted their heads. The bright moon hung high in the night, its silvery light cascading across the land.

“In the ancient Chinese calendar, today is the sixteenth—the moon is at its fullest and brightest, gazing quietly down upon us!”

“So I came up with a greedy yet brilliant idea: what if I stole it, to admire it alone? How wonderful that would be!”

With these words, the audience caught on. This was undoubtedly the magic act about to unfold. To steal the moon? That was even more difficult than David’s disappearance of the Statue of Liberty!

Many professionals and enthusiasts in the crowd knew well how David’s magic was done. His stage could rotate; the magician used a curtain to block the audience's view, then slowly rotated the stage to shift the angle. When the curtain was removed, the audience’s perspective revealed only the empty night sky.

As for why the live audience didn’t notice the rotation? One reason was the distracting music and the slow movement of the stage, making it unnoticeable; another possibility was that the live audience were all assistants, since it was a televised magic show.

Now, Li Lekang intended to pay homage to David Copperfield by making the moon disappear. The difficulty was several magnitudes higher! The moon hung directly overhead, beyond any human interference; the stadium was vast, impossible to manipulate its angle by any trick. And eighty thousand pairs of eyes watched—this wasn’t a matter of a handful of extras posing as spectators. The challenge was exponentially greater, bordering on the impossible!

Yet it was precisely Li Lekang’s audacity that drew such a crowd tonight. He was called a wizard by some, a god by his fans, and a high-tech magician by others… always pushing the boundaries of performance in the most unexpected ways.

Tonight, he meant to make the moon vanish! It sounded like madness, yet it sent eighty thousand spectators into a frenzy of excitement!

As his words faded, the purpose of the overhead scaffolding became clear—it was a prop designed to cover the entire stadium! Li Lekang had custom-ordered several colossal curtains, large enough to block out the sky above the whole arena, ensuring that not a single spectator could see the heavens.

The reason he chose the Citifield Stadium was now revealed—it was a venue equipped with retractable roof technology, capable of closing when needed.

At his command, the staff activated the machinery, and the curtain slowly unfurled, gradually obscuring the starry sky overhead.

Standing at center stage, Li Lekang gazed upward.

“Beautiful moon, lovely goddess, take a good look at her, for it may be the last time! In a few minutes, she will vanish before your eyes!”

The audience buzzed with conversation; everywhere, murmurs and excited discussions filled the air. Heads craned upward, some filming with their phones, others staring so intently their eyes grew weary.

Some debated the possibility, while enthusiastic fans anticipated the arrival of another miracle. At last, before their very eyes, the curtain fully covered the stadium’s sky!

Li Lekang lowered his gaze, scanning the crowd. The audience was packed, countless eyes fixed upon him.

Slowly, he walked to the front of the stage, to a red button.

He raised his hand, looked into the camera with a mysterious expression, and asked, “Are you ready?”

A thunderous wave of response rolled through the crowd.

The audience could barely contain their anticipation.

“Welcome to Li Lekang’s magical realm!”

He pressed the button. Accompanied by the drone of machinery, the curtain overhead began to retract, reopening the sky!

Eyes, cameras, all focused on the first sliver of exposed night!

The night sky returned, at first only quiet darkness.

As the curtain continued to open, more of the night flooded into their view.

Aside from the occasional twinkle of stars, the sky was nothing but black.

The moon, which should have been hanging high above, had vanished without a trace!

Spectators peered about, searching, hoping to find the faintest clue to the moon’s disappearance!

The murmurs grew louder; some stood up to scan the sky, others raised their phones to record… Shock spread contagiously, cries of astonishment echoed everywhere!

When the curtain was fully withdrawn, and the entire sky surveyed, over eighty thousand people realized in terror: the moon had truly vanished!

“I must be drunk!”

“Mom, am I dreaming?”

“This is exactly why I had to see it in person! He’s a god!”

Exclamations burst from countless mouths.

Countless minds collided, unable to fathom what they had witnessed!

The audience was stunned, and so were the professionals—their minds buzzing, perhaps just as those who witnessed David’s magic forty years ago!

Today, forty years later, Li Lekang made the moon disappear single-handedly—not merely an homage, but a total transcendence in difficulty, concept, and execution!

Such a feat existed only in animated films and ancient legends; though logic cried, “It’s just magic, surely it’s fake!” the sensory shock compelled belief. Even knowing it was impossible, people found themselves doubting reality in panic.

Some experts still clung to hypotheses: perhaps clouds obscured the moon, or something was done overhead, or high-tech projection was involved—but these explanations were feeble at best.

Those familiar with Li Lekang knew he would not simply let the audience stare at the sky. He would surely use some technique to mock these so-called professionals, overturning their naive attempts at debunking his trick.

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