Chen Lin asked this to test whether the old man acted according to fixed rules or possessed an independent consciousness.
This distinction was crucial.
In his experience, any Nightmare Realm Creature with an independent consciousness was an existence of boundless power, absolutely impossible to defeat head-on.
Niuniu went without saying. Every resident of Guardian Hut Village was unfathomable, while beings such as the Traveling Merchant, the Golden Toad at Gambling Fortune Lake, and even the Wooden Chicken and Nian Qing at Demon-Suppressing Temple were all mysterious and powerful.
If they were merely puppet-like creatures governed by rules, however, the danger would be much lower.
Cracking the rules would be ideal, but even if they could not, his and the Silver Fairy's strength might keep the situation from becoming certain death.
"Certainly! One premium room, five Nightmare Coins a day, with breakfast included. Pay twenty coins up front, honored guest. Any excess will be refunded, and any shortfall made up!"
The old man shouted at the top of his lungs.
Then he looked at Chen Lin with a half-smile and held out his hand.
Chen Lin froze.
This man was no "puppet," but an independently conscious being like the Traveling Merchant!
His heart sank at once. The very thing he least wanted had come knocking.
He and the Silver Fairy were certainly no match for such an existence. Worse, the man clearly had no intention of giving him a chance to object, having already decided that he would be staying.
Most critically, he did not have twenty Nightmare Coins. Otherwise, he could have agreed for now and figured something out later.
Seeing Chen Lin's expression, the old man sneered. "Once a room at my Surplus Money Inn has been booked, there are no cancellations. If you cannot pay, honored guest, you