Days passed quietly after the Cloud Jade Pavilion incident. Too quietly. I had known peace like this never lasted long, not when the world began to whisper my name again.
The Myth System had also been silent for some time, until one evening it finally spoke.
"Ding! New main task unlocked—The Lecherous Prince Facade. Objective: Live in disguise for three months as a foolish prince known for wine and women to divert international attention. Reward—One Legendary Summon (Strategist class)."
I nearly dropped my cup. "Seriously? Lecherous Prince? Prince? I thought I'd grown past that image!"
Yue Zhilan Zhilan tried not to laugh, which only made it worse. "It's fitting," she teased. "You already pretend well. The world believes it anyway."
"I'd rather fight ten beast kings," I muttered. But I understood the system's plan. By letting the kingdoms see me as a useless hedonist, they'd forget the myth growing behind the border.
And so began my greatest performance.
Every day, I appeared at the Cloud Jade Pavilion, laughing louder than before, surrounded by dancers and musicians. Bards wrote songs calling me "the fallen prince reborn as the playboy of the north." Youths copied my hairstyle; merchants sold fake "Ling Chen wine".
Behind all that farce, Yue Zhilan trained soldiers under moonlight, and Mo Han expanded our defences underground.
To the world, I was a fool. In truth, I was building a fortress under the laughter.
One late night, when the music dimmed and even the guests had stumbled out, the system chimed again.
"Ding! Task progress—Lecherous Facade: 73%. Condition met for Legendary Summon Reward. Activate?"
I sighed and whispered, "Activate."
A gust of wind swept through the empty hall. The lamps flickered, shadows spinning into a glowing formation at the room's centre. When the light faded, a man stood there—tall and lean, dressed in scholar's robes trimmed with silver thread.
His eyes were like quiet stars, thoughtful and cunning at once.
He bowed. "Heavenly Strategist Lin Dao greets the Myth System's host. Forgive my delay—I was examining potential theatres of war on my way here."
"Already working?" I said, half‑smiling.
He straightened, returning my gaze calmly. "My purpose is strategy. Victory begins before a blade is drawn. Your enemies have already moved."
The system confirmed it.
"Ding! International Alert. Nations: Wu, Huang, and Freeport Alliance have dispatched spy squadrons to observe Ling Chen's activities. Objective: Determine military capacity."
I frowned. "So, the neighbouring kingdoms are watching me now."
Lin Dao nodded. "They fear what they don't understand. Your rapid rise unsettled them. They think the Empire hides a weapon forged by gods." He poured himself tea, unbothered. "But intelligence suggests they no longer trust those rumours. They've begun to believe you are ordinary—an indulgent noble corrupted by wealth."
Yue Zhilan entered then, holding reports from her moon scouts. "Confirmation," she said, handing them to me. "Several spies lurk in Cloud Jade Pavilion each day, pretending to be travellers."
I flipped through the notes. Descriptions matched men I'd seen at the bar: a merchant with too‑clean hands, a bard too quiet for his trade, and a servant who never drank but always listened.
"So," I said wryly, "my daily act entertained the world after all."
Lin Dao smiled faintly. "More than entertained—it confused them. The spies report nothing of armies or cultivation. All they see is a prince spending fortunes on wine and laughter."
Yue Zhilan looked puzzled. "Will they withdraw?"
"Not yet," Lin Dao replied, sipping tea slowly. "They think this city hides your true power underground. Their next move will be to send assassins disguised as patrons or entertainers to test your skill personally."
I leaned back, thinking. "Then let them test and see what they touch."
The strategist's lips curved. "A plan forms already. Allow me to manage their perceptions. I'll ensure they see exactly what you wish—all while gathering their secrets in return."
I nodded. "Good. I trust your mind as much as Yue Zhilan's spear."
He bowed slightly. "Then, my lord, keep playing the lecher. Tomorrow night, drink even louder. Dance if you must. Let them believe the border prince has fallen to pleasure."
Yue Zhilan frowned. "This plan makes me uncomfortable."
"Because of the dancers? " I teased.
"Because you enjoy pretending too much."
I laughed and raised my cup. "Then I'll take that as a compliment."
Two days later, the spies' reports reached their respective rulers.
In the Kingdom of Wu, the old king scowled after reading the parchment. "So this so‑called godlike duke spends his nights with dancers instead of soldiers?" He threw the scroll aside. "Bah! The Li Empire grows soft. No need to fear a prince who wastes his strength on wine."
In the Huang Dynasty, the Empress chuckled. "Typical mortal arrogance. Perhaps all their talk of heavenly power was just superstition. Keep an eye, but cancel the invasion plans."
And in the Freeport Alliance, a councillor smirked as he read. "Our spies see him at Cloud Jade Pavilion every night. Surrounded by women and music. If this is their champion, we'll sleep peacefully."
Thus, in one act of foolishness, the world relaxed its blade.
When the spies withdrew, Lin Dao reported proudly, "Three nations have reduced border patrols. Their fears lulled to sleep by rumour and vanity."
"Well done," I said, pouring more wine into his cup.
He smiled. "Deception is the oldest wall, my lord. Sometimes, it's stronger than stone."
Yue Zhilan sighed, watching me take another drink. "You realise you're becoming too good at this act?"
"Maybe," I said, shrugging. "But while they laugh, we build."
The system chimed softly.
"Ding! Main Task 'Lecherous Prince Facade' complete. Reward—Enhanced Diplomatic Influence + Hidden Mission Unlocked: 'Rise of Foreign Shadows.'"
I set my cup down and looked out the window at the starlit streets. The music of the Pavilion drifted from afar, light and careless.
"Let the nations dream I'm harmless," I murmured. "When they wake, the world will already have changed."
And Yue Zhilan, standing behind me like a silver statue of patience, whispered, "Then play your part, my lord. The stage is yours."
That night, laughter rang again through Cloud Jade Pavilion. Outside, unseen spies recorded every foolish grin and every spilt cup—never realising that under the laughter hid the quiet mind of a ruler already ten steps ahead of them all.