The next day broke with Nie Li rising early, swiftly getting ready before making his way to the bustling breakfast hall.

The air was alive with the sound of conversations and the clinking of utensils, a lively backdrop to the start of his day.

His gaze swept across the room, searching for one face among the many.

Then, he saw him.

A boy of average height, with spiky dark hair and grey eyes, who was absently toying with his meal.

Nie Li walked over and took the seat opposite him.

"You know, food is meant to be eaten, not played with," he said, a light note in his voice.

The boy looked up, his expression one of mild annoyance mixed with curiosity.

"Eh, aren't you that guy who was staring at me yesterday? Just so you know, if you're gay, I'm not interested," he retorted with a careless shrug.

Nie Li couldn't help but laugh.

"Sorry about yesterday. Everything just got a bit too much for me," he explained.

"That's rough, buddy," the boy replied, his tone slightly softer now, "Sucks to be you."

Sitting there, a thought crystalized in Nie Li's mind.

This boy before him, he'd consider him anew, distinct from the Lu Piao of his past life.

It was the only way to truly move ahead, to not let the shadows of what once was dictate the now.

This realization brought a sense of peace, a comfort amidst the storm of his emotions. Yes, this was the right path.

"Who are you?" the boy then asked, his interest piqued.

"I'm Nie Li," he answered with a smile. "And you?"

"Lu Piao," the boy said, nodding slightly.

"So, you're from the Lu Family then?"

"Yeah, my dad's the head of a branch family. And you're from the Heavenly Marks Family, right?" Lu Piao guessed.

"Right, I'm the heir," Nie Li confirmed.

"Really? I thought your family head was pretty old," Lu Piao said, surprised.

"He is," Nie Li admitted, a playful tone in his voice.

"How does he have a son your age?" Lu Piao asked, genuinely puzzled.

"I'm not his son," Nie Li clarified, enjoying the conversation.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"Then how are you the heir?"

Nie Li shrugged. "There are other ways to be an heir than by blood."

Lu Piao's eyes sparkled with mischief. "So, I can just quit being an heir?"

Nie Li couldn't help but laugh.

Lu Piao was the same as ever, trying to dodge his responsibilities.

It felt good to have something familiar in this new life.

"Seriously, how do you become an heir without being related?" Lu Piao leaned in, eager for the secret.

"It's a long story," Nie Li replied, smiling.

"Like what? Do you have to win some kind of competition?" Lu Piao pressed on.

"Kind of," Nie Li said, keeping the details vague.

"Let's just say it's about proving yourself."

Lu Piao groaned and slumped back in his chair.

"Sounds like too much effort. I was hoping for an easy way out."

Laughing, Nie Li shook his head.

"Nothing worth having comes easy."

Lu Piao sighed but then attacked his meal with new enthusiasm.

"Well, I'm still holding out for the easy life," he declared, making Nie Li laugh again.

"So, Lu Piao, if you could be any kind of demon spirit, what would you be?" Nie Li asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Easy, a Sloth Spirit," Lu Piao answered without missing a beat.

"Imagine all the sleeping I could do, and no one would question it because it's just my nature."

Nie Li chuckled.

"A Sloth Spirit? Really? I always pictured you as a Parrot Spirit – you know, all talk and no action."

Lu Piao feigned offense.

"Hey, I'll have you know my words are as powerful as a thousand warriors... when I'm not too lazy to speak, that is."

"Right, and when was the last time your words did anything but get you out of chores?" Nie Li teased.

Lu Piao thought for a moment, then shrugged.

"Point taken. But speaking of chores, if you're the heir and all, does that mean you can get someone to do your homework?"

Nie Li laughed.

"You're looking for a homework spirit now? I don't think that's how it works."

"More's the pity," Lu Piao sighed dramatically. "Imagine a spirit that could do all your assignments. I'd be the first in line to get one."

Nie Li grinned. "And here I was thinking you'd use a spirit for something like cultivating or fighting."

"Nah, that's what friends like you are for, right?" Lu Piao said with a wink.

"So, Lu Piao, seen any girls at the institute that caught your eye?" Nie Li teased, knowing his friend's laid-back nature.

Lu Piao pretended to ponder deeply.

"Well, there's one girl who really stands out. She's got these beautiful, long... braids. And when she walks, it's like... slow motion."

"Slow motion, huh?" Nie Li raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Are you sure you're not just half asleep when you see her?"

"Hey, it's a special skill to see the world in slow motion. It makes everything more dramatic," Lu Piao retorted with a grin.

Nie Li chuckled.

"I guess in your slow-motion world, you have more time to come up with your legendary pickup lines?"

"Exactly!" Lu Piao exclaimed.

"Like, 'Hey girl, are you a demon spirit? Because you've possessed my heart.'"

Nie Li burst out laughing.

"And how many times has that line worked for you?"

"Still waiting for the first," Lu Piao replied with a theatrical sigh.

"But I'm sure it's just a matter of time."

"Yeah, a matter of a very, very long time," Nie Li joked.

Lu Piao pretended to be deep in thought again.

"Maybe I need a line more... poetic. How about 'If beauty were time, you'd be an eternity.'"

Nie Li shook his head, still laughing.

"That's so cheesy, it might just work. Or get you thrown out of the room."

"Hey, there's a fine line between cheesy and romantic," Lu Piao defended his approach.

"A line that you've clearly crossed and left far behind," Nie Li quipped.

Their laughter and jokes echoed through the breakfast hall, drawing glances from nearby students.

After a while, Nie Li, asked, "What class are you in?"

Lu Piao looked up, a bit of sauce on his chin. "Fighter Apprentice class. You?"

"The same," Nie Li responded with a nod.

"Great! We can be class buddies then. Just don't make me do any of the hard stuff," Lu Piao said with a grin.

Nie Li rolled his eyes playfully.

"I wouldn't dream of it. I know how much you love taking it easy."

"Exactly! You get me," Lu Piao said, finishing his meal with a satisfied burp.