Chapter 111: There Really Is Retribution

Chapter 111: There Really Is Retribution

Deputy Commander Han saw Xin You's cold and hard attitude and waved his hand without any courtesy. "Go and bring out the printing blocks for *Painted Skin*. Don't leave a single one behind!"

"Yes," the officials responded and left to carry out their orders.

At the Printing House, Manager Zhao, with great reluctance, opened the door to the warehouse where the *Painted Skin* printing blocks were stored. Watching box after box of printing blocks being carried out, he was in tears.

These printing blocks were painstakingly carved by hand under his watchful eye, eventually bound into volumes that became highly sought-after storybooks.

How did it come to this!

"Be careful, be more careful!" Manager Zhao couldn't help shouting.

"Get out of the way!" An official who found him obstructing the path elbowed him aside and walked past carrying a box.

Manager Zhao staggered and nearly fell, but fortunately, two craftsmen nearby caught him.

"Is Manager Zhao alright?" one craftsman asked.

Another craftsman, watching an official carry away a box, started crying. "Manager Zhao, is our Bookstore going to close down?"

"Don't talk nonsense; we have the owner!" Manager Zhao, unwilling to give up, ran after them.

Some craftsmen followed silently.

The joy from receiving rewards yesterday, like celebrating the New Year, vanished completely. At this moment, everyone at the Bookstore felt incredibly heavy-hearted.

In front of the Bookstore, the crowd grew larger, and someone shouted, "They're coming out! They really brought them out!"

Those officials didn't know how to handle things gently; some threw the boxes on the ground, causing a loud noise as the printing blocks inside bounced out.

Shitou burst into tears.

Liu Zhou, fearing trouble for the Bookstore, cursed inwardly.

Manager Hu's lips trembled, and tears streamed down his face.

Xin You looked at the scattered printing blocks on the ground, her eyes turning cold.

Although she had another purpose for opening the Bookstore, she had put her heart into its operations, especially with *Painted Skin*. She had been involved in every step of its creation.

Despite being mentally prepared, seeing the printing blocks, which the craftsmen had meticulously carved, being treated so carelessly still filled her with pain and anger.

Xin You lifted her gaze and looked at Deputy Commander Han. "Spreading knowledge and enlightening minds cannot be separated from books. Doesn't Sir Han fear retribution for doing this?"

"Retribution?" Deputy Commander Han laughed loudly upon hearing this. "It's just a book for entertainment. Miss Kou, do you think it's a sacred text? Retribution? What a joke!"

He laughed arrogantly, noticing others' frightened expressions. When he realized something was wrong, intense pain struck him.

Everyone watched as an official carried a box towards Deputy Commander Han, slipped, and the box flew out, landing on him and then heavily on his foot.

Seeing this scene, Xin You felt both surprised and unsurprised.

Unsurprised because she had just witnessed a similar incident, except the one who caused the accident changed from a craftsman to an official. Surprised, because even with an official moving the boxes, one still slipped.

It seemed this person was destined for such a fate.

Deputy Commander Han's scream echoed through the sky, causing a commotion among the crowd.

"What happened? What happened?" a short person pushed back by the crowd anxiously asked.

"An official slipped and dropped the box, hitting the official sir right on the foot."

"Tsk tsk, that must have hurt badly, right?"

"Yes, those boxes look quite heavy."

"Oh, do you remember what Miss Kou said earlier? Is there really retribution for mistreating books?"

For the onlookers, they didn't care about the official's injuries; the worse the better. But if mistreating books led to retribution, they had to take it seriously.

So, *Painted Skin* can't be burned!

"Sir, are you alright?" several officials gathered around him.

The official who knew he had caused trouble was terrified and knelt down. "Sir, I didn't mean to do it."

Deputy Commander Han struggled to control his urge to scream, leaning on one of his subordinates, staring at his injured foot.

He wore white-soled black leather boots. The blood seeping through the shoe had already stained the white sole red.

Veins bulged on Deputy Commander Han's forehead, and the overwhelming pain twisted his expression as he roared, "Smash all these printing blocks!"

Upon hearing this, the officials exchanged glances, and no one responded immediately.

They weren't disobeying orders but had heard the crowd's discussion about retribution, causing them to hesitate slightly.

Could there really be retribution?

Seeing his subordinates not moving, Deputy Commander Han shouted fiercely, "Are you all deaf?"

The officials finally moved.

Xin You watched expressionlessly, but deep down, she wasn't upset.

If the printing blocks were destroyed, they could always be recarved; it would merely cost some money. This unexpected incident and the resulting discussion were a pleasant surprise.

Of course, Deputy Commander Han's suffering also served as a form of retribution for the printing blocks that were about to be destroyed.

"Wait a moment." A cold voice came from the crowd.

The crowd stirred.

"It's the Jinlin Guard!"

A group of Jinlin Guards, armed with waist knives, approached with stern faces. Leading them was He Qingxiao, the Chief of the Jinlin Guard.

In this situation, his expression was particularly cold, making his complexion appear even paler and his eyes darker. His striking appearance left onlookers breathless.

Xin You watched as the man in crimson robes approached, her eyes flashing with surprise.

He Qingxiao gave Xin You a slight nod before walking up to Deputy Commander Han.

"Lord He." Deputy Commander Han bowed slightly to He Qingxiao.

Xin You frowned slightly.

In terms of rank, there was a significant gap between a Deputy Commander of the Military Commandery and the Chief of the Jinlin Guard. In terms of power, the difference was even greater. Yet, observing from a distance, Deputy Commander Han seemed only mildly respectful towards Lord He.

Could it be that Deputy Commander Han has some other background?

He Qingxiao lowered his gaze, scanning the scattered bookblocks on the ground, his eyes filled with sorrow.

The complexities between people had led to the innocent books suffering.

"What is Deputy Commander Han doing here?" He Qingxiao asked coolly.

Deputy Commander Han, despite the pain in his foot, had to restrain his arrogance in front of He Qingxiao. With a pale face, he said, "This bookstore sold heretical texts, causing panic among the citizens of the capital and leading to numerous fires. It is our duty at the Military Commandery to maintain order, so we came to confiscate the books."

"Heretical texts?" He Qingxiao raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the onlookers. "Those who have bought *Painted Skin*, do you think it is a heretical text?"

Those who met his clear, piercing gaze quickly shouted, "No way! How could *Painted Skin* be a heretical text?"

"Not at all! *Painted Skin* is definitely not a heretical text!"

Joking aside, what if saying *Painted Skin* was a heretical text brought the same misfortune as what happened to this official surnamed Han?

Deputy Commander Han's face twisted with anger upon hearing these words.

These troublemakers weren't saying this earlier!

Xin You lowered her eyes, a hint of amusement in them.

Lord He must have heard those discussions.

He Qingxiao then looked back at Deputy Commander Han. "It seems Deputy Commander Han has misunderstood."

Deputy Commander Han gritted his teeth and asked in a low voice, "Is Lord He really going to interfere in this matter?"