Chapter 463 - 217: Guli Geli

She agreed?

Just like that?

Li Ziyu was genuinely caught off guard. This was way too fast. He had been prepared to give Guli Geli more time to think it over, but she had thrown him for a loop.

He didn’t know what kind of life Guli Geli had lived in the Void Land, but Li Ziyu felt that someone living alone here would surely be highly vigilant. ’Isn’t that how it always is in the movies?’ he thought. Hesitation in the face of his recruitment offer would have been normal. Such a swift agreement actually made him hesitate.

’What is Guli Geli actually thinking? Or does she have some other motive?’

’Whatever, it doesn’t matter. No matter what she’s thinking, I have ways to keep her in check.’ Li Ziyu took out the Soul Contract and, with a gentle push, sent the hovering document drifting toward Guli Geli. "Since you agree to follow me, then sign the Soul Contract."

Li Ziyu could only trust someone after they signed a Soul Contract. Everyone by his side had signed one with him. Simple oaths were worthless; Li Ziyu wouldn’t believe in them.

It wasn’t that he was a control freak, but that you could never truly know another person’s heart. Just because someone hadn’t betrayed him now didn’t mean they wouldn’t in the future. A lack of betrayal might just mean the price wasn’t high enough yet.

When she first saw the contract, Guli Geli looked troubled. She could speak but not read. But when the contract floated before her, she was amazed to find that although she didn’t recognize the characters, she could understand exactly what they meant.

The sensation was novel. After briefly looking over the contract, Guli Geli signed it with almost no hesitation.

With the contract in effect, a satisfied smile spread across Li Ziyu’s face. He spoke gently to Guli Geli, "Welcome to our big family."

Guli Geli’s body trembled. Her heroic, sharp eyes slowly widened, an indescribable emotion welling up within them.

Home.

The word felt so distant to her. She had yearned countless times for a home, for family, for a place to shelter from the wind and rain. A place where she wouldn’t have to sleep with one eye open, or eat in hiding. A place where someone would comfort her when she was hurt, and talk to her when she was lonely.

Ever since her Tribe was destroyed, "home" had become just a word, something that appeared only in her dreams.

She tried desperately to control her emotions, but the phrase "big family" still broke through her defenses. Tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks. Guli Geli raised a hand in surprise to wipe them away, but they just kept flowing.

Seeing this, Li Ziyu was also a bit dumbfounded. ’What’s going on? How did this tough-looking Leopard Woman suddenly burst into such beautiful, tragic tears?’

’Did I say something wrong?’

Li Ziyu scratched his head, asking in complete confusion, "Why are you crying?"

Before, Li Ziyu had been forcing a serious, chuuni-like tone, which was exhausting to maintain. Now that the Soul Contract was signed and Guli Geli was one of his own, he couldn’t be bothered to keep up the act. His manner of speaking reverted to normal.

Guli Geli shook her head, trying to wipe away the tears that just wouldn’t stop. "I don’t know," she choked out. "I don’t know why I’m crying..."

’This isn’t a wild Leopard Woman Warrior at all; she’s just a little girl who found a kind person after getting lost,’ Li Ziyu sighed. Although he didn’t know why she was crying, she was one of his own now, so he had to offer some comfort.

He stood up, walked down from his high platform, and came to stand before Guli Geli. He gently placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair. "Don’t cry. If you have any grievances, just say the word. We Undead won’t let anyone bully you."

The warm hand and gentle words made Guli Geli finally break down completely. She let out a wail and began to sob uncontrollably, her tears falling like a torrential downpour until she could barely breathe.

’My kinsmen, my family, did you see? I... I’m not alone anymore. The little girl you worried about has found a place to belong, a new home. You can rest in peace now...’

’Who am I? Where am I? What did I do to deserve this?’

A series of question marks popped up over Li Ziyu’s head. He watched Guli Geli awkwardly, at a complete loss. As a total bachelor, he really had no idea how to comfort a girl.

’At this moment, countless movie scenes flashed through his mind. I get it! Just hug her and let her cry her heart out, right?’

Li Ziyu opened his arms and hugged Guli Geli, letting her bury her face in his chest. Gently patting the top of her head, he said, "I don’t know what grievances you’ve suffered, but go on and cry. Let it all out. When you’re done, you can start your new life."

Guli Geli sobbed her heart out, but as Li Ziyu stroked her head, he was thinking to himself, ’Her hair is so smooth, it feels really nice. Does this count as petting a big cat?’

An unknown amount of time passed like this. The Guli Geli in his arms fell still. Li Ziyu looked down to see that she had actually fallen fast asleep, letting out the faintest of snores.

"Tsk, what a situation. I wanted to grab a guide to ask how to leave this world, and I end up with a big cat who’s fallen asleep on me," Li Ziyu muttered to himself, but a smile touched his lips. ’This big cat is really beautiful.’

’But I can’t hold her like this forever.’ Li Ziyu decided to just sit down on the ground. He gently placed Guli Geli’s head on his lap and straightened her body, letting her sleep more comfortably.

Guli Geli must not have rested properly in a long time. Even as he repositioned her, she showed no signs of waking, sleeping with exceptional sweetness.