Chen Lin sent two more voice transmissions, hoping to ask for some information, but the Girl in the Painting gave no response.
He reached out, intending to take down the scroll and carry it away.
After considerable hesitation, he ultimately decided not to try.
Anything obtained outside the mission channels could not be taken out of the Nightmare Realm. If he actually managed to bring it out, he would instead find himself unable to sit or sleep in peace.
Next, he inspected the half-bunch of grapes. Finding nothing unusual, he took out a specially made box and put them away.
Turning to the node, Chen Lin considered for a moment. Rather than leaving directly, he activated the Shepherd Token.
Without hesitation, he directed his merit into his identity level with a thought.
He raised it all the way to First-Class Subordinate.
His merit drained away in a torrent, dropping by more than four hundred in an instant.
Although he still had nearly a thousand left, Chen Lin did not raise it further. No amount of advancement would bring him to the rank of an official, and this level was sufficient.
His main objective was to obtain permission to use a Level 3 Road Guide. The other was to ensure that, if he was now judged to have failed the mission and punished, he could use Identity-Level Punishment Reduction to lessen the punishment and preserve his life.
He would keep the remaining merit for now. According to the Black Bear Magistrate, merit could also be exchanged for treasures and had other marvelous uses. He could not squander it recklessly.
With nothing more to prepare, Chen Lin put away the Shepherd Token, raised his hand to break open the node, and leaped out with Hua Ruyu.
"My lord!"
Liu Shengyuan had been