甫上任的應天知府杜攸抬起頭,向祭天壇上的太常丞李孜省行了一揖。李孜省也頷首回禮,他與一眾弟子身著白衣,壇上風勁,吹揚了他們的衣袂和長幡,巾帶飄飄,看上去教人誤以為是瞧見了飛升在雲霧中的仙人。320Please respect copyright.PENANAlDh1l2lSR4
320Please respect copyright.PENANAn98rZaM0wg
杜攸雙眼緊盯著栓在壇上的公牛。年輕公牛彷彿聞到不祥的氣息,開始用力噴氣。杜攸焦躁的情緒不斷積累,希望這場祭典能趕緊結束。320Please respect copyright.PENANATqqw3EujhB
320Please respect copyright.PENANAFQiG6pJifN
祭壇搭在玄武湖畔,周圍綠樹成林,杜攸一眼望去,壇下擠滿了人,他們只是些看熱鬧的鄉野村夫,但他仍不免擔憂群情沸騰時,會波及自身安危。320Please respect copyright.PENANAzkVMOKomo1
320Please respect copyright.PENANA3hdfYbDYcJ
自從接任知府一職,府衙官員們毫不避諱地批評他的各種作為,最後總不忘加上一句:要是沈大人還在,絕不會如此倒行逆施。320Please respect copyright.PENANA0jlmo3ntya
320Please respect copyright.PENANAyJiPqXh2bu
他們說得一點沒錯,論才幹、聲譽、人望,他都比不上前任知府沈孟季,而沈孟季棄官求去,他卻官運亨通。320Please respect copyright.PENANACuK2IxnUzv
320Please respect copyright.PENANANVwxmtfQtp
多麼諷刺,他多想當著下屬的面大笑三聲。320Please respect copyright.PENANAU53ivDxejV
320Please respect copyright.PENANA7RXZbqKDpe
旁人不知,他在朝中可是有著堅實的靠山──西廠提督汪直。汪公公曾多次明示、暗示:金陵即將發生不得了的大事,如果杜攸能聽話辦事,加官晉封絕少不了他。320Please respect copyright.PENANA7GNiXJtWCr
320Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZQI6FaVmB
明擺著的好處就在眼前,聽話辦事又有何難?320Please respect copyright.PENANAfu3AiVtqy4
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好生接待李孜省便是其一。320Please respect copyright.PENANANG2f7smVc1
320Please respect copyright.PENANAfk4Sq9eExz
杜攸照辦了,但他很快就發現,這傢伙是個招搖撞騙的江湖術士。320Please respect copyright.PENANAqXiXaVhhIV
320Please respect copyright.PENANAxcvDqXSWWb
李孜省自稱曾在崑崙山修仙,還習得長生不老之術,憑著汪直的如簧巧舌,皇帝與萬貴妃居然相信了,留下此人在宮中,日日煉製可以延年益壽的仙丹。320Please respect copyright.PENANA0gog4a8vvf
320Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4JqgJZRfU
如今玄武湖出現妖龍作祟,皇帝命李孜省前來收妖。這一行人著實不易與,行到金陵城外三十里處,便傳令大小官員出城迎接。杜攸好不容易,風風火火地將這位太常丞大人迎進城,李大人底下的徒子徒孫又不停地向地方官員伸手要錢,一會兒說要上天界和神佛疏通,一會兒說要備置各種祭品,才能降魔伏妖。李大人既是受皇命而來,眾人自然是想盡辦法巴結。只是每回杜攸問起他何時才要開始降妖,他總是晃著腦袋言道:「時候未到,時候未到。」320Please respect copyright.PENANAgInEq6USHe
320Please respect copyright.PENANAb9iarGk4C2
直到日前京中傳來急報,皇宮遭遇天火,要盡速升壇祭天,收服妖孽,以息天怒,李孜省才勉強開始籌辦正事。320Please respect copyright.PENANAiLeWBFIQof
320Please respect copyright.PENANAtdnLLXaNih
此刻日至正中,平靜無波的玄武湖,折射出點點金光,看不出有何妖物棲息湖中。320Please respect copyright.PENANAEniTXVpvDm
320Please respect copyright.PENANAa1XTJKMw9M
司禮官在一旁大喊:「午時已到。」320Please respect copyright.PENANA3bEj9vbIj7
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杜攸上前一步,高聲道:「李大人,吉時已到。」320Please respect copyright.PENANAb0v2tK6aTM
320Please respect copyright.PENANAhabz87uhMq
「知道了。」李孜省朝天舉起雙手。320Please respect copyright.PENANAjDN3e8ostA
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四名差役將公牛拖至湖邊,四周驀地颳起一陣狂風,吹得祭天壇不住搖晃,眾人晃得狼狽不堪,幾幅長幡應聲墜地。320Please respect copyright.PENANAnmygO00UgL
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「這是惡兆,會召來厄運的。」杜攸驚叫。320Please respect copyright.PENANAjb7YAUeHj3
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圍觀群眾面面相覷。320Please respect copyright.PENANAp9nVSIf3vP
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「李大人,不能再拖延,著即開祭。」杜攸急道。320Please respect copyright.PENANAkNk3IO9b9Y
320Please respect copyright.PENANAK7de0qh4Ov
李孜省看似驚魂未定,但在杜攸的催促之下,煞有介事地拿起祭刀比劃了幾下,開始念誦經文。320Please respect copyright.PENANAqe6vpvGRtn
320Please respect copyright.PENANAUcQhcY3fTv
「我本卜祭為民,吾請自當之。」320Please respect copyright.PENANAOwZ7vXo00j
320Please respect copyright.PENANAeb7ZxMBz8p
李孜省手持觚爵,內盛秫酒,禮敬天地四方。320Please respect copyright.PENANA879hcx6K2B
320Please respect copyright.PENANA73aJaMbcGM
其餘弟子手中捧著大觚,將祭酒往各方彈灑。320Please respect copyright.PENANAg3tWXMXkH0
320Please respect copyright.PENANA8WcVs7NYoy
杜攸緊盯眾人,他本不願勞師動眾,搬演這齣收妖大戲,所謂孽龍,不過是幾個莊稼漢喝醉了以後穿鑿附會的鬼話。但汪直交代過,得把戲做足。320Please respect copyright.PENANA5201ndL1KE
320Please respect copyright.PENANAX7sAy5Gxvs
他曾聽汪直的人馬私下議論,繼任皇帝即將遷都南京,若能降伏孽龍,代表金陵王氣再起,可獲取更多民心。320Please respect copyright.PENANAH7Apr8O1iH
320Please respect copyright.PENANAWGW5The3ss
杜攸心知當今皇帝無嗣,哪來的下任皇帝?不過,他這應天知府當得舒適妥貼是千真萬確的。320Please respect copyright.PENANAG1QwH5MUQv
320Please respect copyright.PENANAprphrYGInl
自他一上任就加徵新稅,財稅、地稅、人丁稅,開放酒麴釀造之禁,以加徵酒稅,秦淮河畔的青樓必須全照他的新規,官人們若想召姑娘陪侍,必須先喝幾壺酒。稅收既然多,在官銀上繳朝廷以前,他這個地方官開個花帳,中飽私囊,也屬官場慣例。既是汪太監給了他這個肥缺,就看在銀子的份上,幫他演上一齣降妖伏魔,飛龍在天的美戲,也僅是舉手之勞而已。320Please respect copyright.PENANAUCd2XU7trF
320Please respect copyright.PENANAijvx3lvTWx
「……遊赤水駕驩,越崑崙各霞迎驤……」李孜省仍在吟唱。320Please respect copyright.PENANA93IAL1c92M
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祭詞像是永無止盡。320Please respect copyright.PENANA8cMx08kxA6
320Please respect copyright.PENANAm7GTf03Hqj
杜攸忽覺一陣刺骨寒意,伴隨一股不知從何而來的腥鹹味,天色也倏忽轉暗,壇上的祭品公牛似乎也察覺到了這股莫名的寒意,放聲吼叫。320Please respect copyright.PENANA88udkSVeA1
320Please respect copyright.PENANANWeDXpXkVM
李孜省似乎也想盡速了結,揚手召喚。320Please respect copyright.PENANA5P1vjKBIXb
320Please respect copyright.PENANApcR630lIrL
幾名弟子走上前去,奉上祭刀、祭酒,被四名士兵綑綁拉扯的公牛興許意識死期將至,不住地掙扎,企圖甩脫士兵的控制,士兵們必須竭力,才能將牠按在定位。320Please respect copyright.PENANAIYiAw4m7gm
320Please respect copyright.PENANAcRpYbsnQJn
李孜省手執祭刀,口裡讀誦著祭語,一名徒兒將祭祀用的玉碗貼在公牛喉頭下方,準備承接牲品的鮮血。李孜省停頓了一下,端詳這隻潔淨的牲畜,牠嘗試衝向前以掙脫束縛,卻被繩索拉扯。李孜省緊握祭刀,切開了公牛的咽喉,將頸部鮮血注入玉器。公牛睜著困惑大眼,發出痛苦的嚎叫,直到耗盡最後一絲氣力,這才頹然倒地。320Please respect copyright.PENANA8oJDd7Voo3
320Please respect copyright.PENANA0q2LBdyuUT
李孜省手捧盛有祭牲鮮血的玉器,緩緩將牲血傾倒湖中,同時吟誦:320Please respect copyright.PENANASV2zuCGhjQ
320Please respect copyright.PENANA06gh84Lf3u
邦畿千里,為民所止,
肇域彼四海,四海來假,
來假祁祁……320Please respect copyright.PENANATI4p5xL81D
320Please respect copyright.PENANAn2yv32sihz
杜攸悄悄移開了目光――他討厭見血。320Please respect copyright.PENANAEGXf0R5MRn
320Please respect copyright.PENANAjz94djnqpu
沒來由地,忽有幾股霧氣自湖面升起,似漣漪般地向外擴散,不久整座玄武湖全壟罩著厚重的霧靄。320Please respect copyright.PENANAO9rg5307DZ
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不對勁啊,杜攸心中暗忖。320Please respect copyright.PENANAVssVwAoeeX
320Please respect copyright.PENANAlMB9LonLED
他從未看過會挪移翻騰的霧。320Please respect copyright.PENANAbv6T6NcIga
320Please respect copyright.PENANAqgPbT4weJk
圍觀群眾見狀,隨即一哄而散,唯有府衙的差役不得擅離職守,死死盯著霧氣中以防看不見的敵人忽然冒出來。320Please respect copyright.PENANAeolqUHC1dp
320Please respect copyright.PENANA8JSt3piZkp
杜攸也想逃跑,但見霧氣不停在他周圍凝聚,不一會兒,所有人的視線都被一片死白的霧牆所遮蔽。320Please respect copyright.PENANAUjDNNKDIzm
320Please respect copyright.PENANAE6f6SfxR23
猶如白霧攏成水滴,一縷黑影自霧中乍現,黑影聚成一名黑衣男子,逐步向杜攸靠近。320Please respect copyright.PENANABcEB1qpu57
320Please respect copyright.PENANAmkYlPvKZDV
「什麼人,竟敢擅闖祭儀?」杜攸顫聲說道。320Please respect copyright.PENANAPh11OmvFph
320Please respect copyright.PENANArUl912UxiX
男子睨了杜攸一眼,不理會他的叫喊,逕自跨步走來。男子身形壯碩挺拔,雙眼霍爍著焰火,手中大刀已挑明此行來意。320Please respect copyright.PENANAYitWwBBunG
320Please respect copyright.PENANAGbimOKUbrB
「來……來人,給我拿下!」杜攸驚慌地大喊,腳步胡亂往後退去。320Please respect copyright.PENANASEVfHy7MUv
320Please respect copyright.PENANAONiTof2Hgw
幾名手握長矛的護衛又疑又懼,不敢擅動,欲先確定來者究竟是人是鬼。320Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZkkeWX0jn
320Please respect copyright.PENANAZlvcLhUCZW
黑衣男子一閃身,先踢飛面前兩名差役,另一人想從後方偷襲,矛尖直指男子後心,誰知他背後也長了眼似的,從容地探手奪去長矛、朝背後肘擊,這一記撞碎了差役的鼻梁,血流滿面。320Please respect copyright.PENANAceZVQY4E55
320Please respect copyright.PENANAYl5CuaMJxe
其餘差役不敢靠近,紛紛對黑衣男子擲出手中的長矛,男子揮動手中大刀,毫不費力地將飛過來的長矛一一擊落,招式如行雲流水,游刃有餘。320Please respect copyright.PENANAi2LcPYfn1Z
320Please respect copyright.PENANA7tUUOcqJ21
差役們眼見不敵,索性放下兵器逃命去了,沒人想為一名怕死的貪官賣命。320Please respect copyright.PENANARBQlJDZJDo
320Please respect copyright.PENANAPWUveddfXK
杜攸驚恐莫名,雙手在空中亂揮,口裡嚅囁著:「來者何人?為……為什麼要殺我?」320Please respect copyright.PENANA32nU7o8Dcd
320Please respect copyright.PENANAxnZ4EdQB7B
男子啐了一口,一腳將杜攸踹翻在地。320Please respect copyright.PENANAWZz9YDvZEr
320Please respect copyright.PENANAIH70oHBtHV
杜攸想起身逃跑,膝蓋卻不聽使喚,連腿都直不起來。320Please respect copyright.PENANAeUFPKwy74x
320Please respect copyright.PENANAcl1o7IrfHv
「別……別殺我,我給你錢……」320Please respect copyright.PENANAWESgAuFHsa
320Please respect copyright.PENANAZhOSWzwanY
男子不理會杜攸的叫喊,長刀橫劈向前。杜攸只見刀上閃射的光,絲毫感覺不到利刃砍進頸脖,他的頭顱飛在半空,久久才落地。320Please respect copyright.PENANAaxY6iiPU7B
320Please respect copyright.PENANA3eQEDBoBWd
所以他當然聽不到黑衣男子舉起染血長刀,向祭天壇一字一頓地大喊:「鹽幫豫明夷,為金陵,誅、此、賊。」320Please respect copyright.PENANAS6qnqC05xj
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§320Please respect copyright.PENANAiPxzDeC8Q7
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空中傳來詭異迴聲,巨風湧動,李孜省髮冠皆亂,寬大的衣袍在風中颯颯作響。320Please respect copyright.PENANAEcM4WdfIiQ
320Please respect copyright.PENANAGtNaOx9hhc
好端端的祭天儀式,莫名地冒出一團迷霧,忽而混沌,忽而清明。該不會是甚麼地方出錯了,而遭天地之靈反噬?320Please respect copyright.PENANAABnxQy3nuG
320Please respect copyright.PENANAdTaTxMzsdO
李孜省迫不及待地想逃離這祭臺,卻不敢妄動。320Please respect copyright.PENANANiwd6xMRGz
320Please respect copyright.PENANArlNdQ5qZsV
迷霧中甚麼也看不清,隱隱聽到遠處兵刃相交的劈砍聲,還有傷者的哀號,壇下到底怎麼了。320Please respect copyright.PENANAlSqxgJJp5n
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莫非……皇帝發現真相,這些人是來殺他的?320Please respect copyright.PENANAoqJ7Ay1SsM
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李孜省後悔莫名,他真不該聽信汪直和李子龍。320Please respect copyright.PENANAhMdpM5Gpf0
320Please respect copyright.PENANAVoc5ZjMSk3
方士李子龍是他的族兄,據傳當年在崑崙仙山得授仙法,於是他從老家前來京城投靠李子龍,起初幫著畫符念經,還煞有介事。後來李子龍不知怎地搭上了宮裡的大太監汪直,汪太監提議李子龍率其親信進宮,加入西緝事司,還特別舉薦李孜省為太常丞,專責為皇帝誦念經文祈福。此等好事,眾人自是一口答應。320Please respect copyright.PENANAzbQkDtVYll
320Please respect copyright.PENANAUKs6dmfDhd
進了皇宮以後,李孜省才發現這差事不如想像這麼簡單。汪直不知如何在皇帝面前說得天花亂墜,說他會收妖降魔,還會煉製長生不老的丹藥,皇帝龍心大悅,便留他在宮中,要他日日煉丹,盡管他只是假裝焚香燒爐,呈上由李子龍所煉製的丹藥,也不免憂心,萬一被人發現,那是欺君大罪,要殺頭的。320Please respect copyright.PENANAQp3dRZUDnZ
320Please respect copyright.PENANAihB0X53GD1
爾後金陵出現妖孽,皇帝又降旨命他前來除妖,雖說汪直要他儘管帶著眾弟子來裝模作樣即可,妖物甚麼全是假的。320Please respect copyright.PENANABGnnPGAZby
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誰知一切都亂了套,李孜省知道事跡敗露後他必遭問罪,一陣暈眩,頹然坐倒。320Please respect copyright.PENANA7uSvrWfNaw
320Please respect copyright.PENANAd3GOtFibG4
當他略為警醒,霧氣已然退去,他身在湖畔,天穹像是被洗滌過的清亮透徹,玄武湖波光粼粼,一切紛擾復歸平靜,正當李孜省放鬆心神,一名身穿白色氅衣的男子踩踏在湖面上,緩緩向他走來。320Please respect copyright.PENANAssO4sgXDZ1
320Please respect copyright.PENANAOLZuYx4T3U
「殷商巫族,向來不干預世人假借巫術之名,行偷搶拐騙之事,」男子聲音溫潤,步伐輕柔,就像雲朵一樣浮著,「只是,你可能有所不知,方才進行的不是祓除邪穢之術,而是召喚之術。」320Please respect copyright.PENANA9CoeWiygv9
320Please respect copyright.PENANAz5VLeS2YrP
男子的聲音恍惚晃蕩,忽遠忽近。320Please respect copyright.PENANAR3wAGNndf9
320Please respect copyright.PENANAeRHYvjgk98
李孜省抬起頭與這名陌生男子對望,日光在湖面閃爍生輝,男子的身形染上一層金光。一股暖意慢慢融進李孜省的胸口,他放下戒心,單純地被男子高潔的氣度所鎮服。320Please respect copyright.PENANAVQxBMNIk6w
320Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8CUbqvNzZ
這才是真的仙風道骨,衣不染塵啊!320Please respect copyright.PENANAapQeOUwOe0
320Please respect copyright.PENANAee4i0UFuPa
男子走到他的跟前,嘴角漾出一抹神秘的微笑,「至於你召喚出來的東西,你就自個看著辦吧!」320Please respect copyright.PENANASSX7VT0pk2
320Please respect copyright.PENANAAkOEp3OUgW
湖面泛起小小的漣漪,男子現出溫潤的微笑,使人如沐春風,李孜省只想沉浸在此刻的寧靜平和,忘記世間險惡,因此未曾發現湖面的漣漪已轉變成深廣的漩渦。320Please respect copyright.PENANA8uanaz1wXT
320Please respect copyright.PENANACwjjRdB9fq
李孜省望著湖裡蕩漾的水草,陡然感到一陣暈眩,身體像是微醺般輕飄飄的。當他瞧見水中一雙鎔金色的雙眼時,忍不住問:「我這是怎麼了?」320Please respect copyright.PENANA7F2YfS48H6
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「或許你永遠無法理解。」那聲音透出來的哀傷情緒,是憐憫?320Please respect copyright.PENANALGalI72uHm
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白色的身影隨即消失,湖中赫然出現一個巨大的身影,他還來不及細想,一個覆著青綠色鱗片的巨大龍頭迎面其來,口裡的黑牙就和匕首一樣長。他欲張口呼救,卻發不出聲。320Please respect copyright.PENANAQS8Va4HogT
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在他腦中迴盪的最後一個念頭是:原來孽龍是真的。320Please respect copyright.PENANAtNJKTI5vk3
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