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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA5mvXvAO9Uh
146Please respect copyright.PENANA23z3Xg2RGk
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAAUdrFpBxnh
146Please respect copyright.PENANASirOrZFIlZ
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAz42A9x2zyf
146Please respect copyright.PENANAsDuJODKbcR
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAWSDf2TbCds
146Please respect copyright.PENANA4WXkrCx28E
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA8fIlWUEinM
146Please respect copyright.PENANAXsiqBHjXnm
多麼諷刺,他多想當著下屬的面大笑三聲。146Please respect copyright.PENANAJtIEW5QepY
146Please respect copyright.PENANAT20CVRsyVS
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAh0nmP9XbYa
146Please respect copyright.PENANAZFV49qQqgd
明擺著的好處就在眼前,聽話辦事又有何難?146Please respect copyright.PENANAioSV3D0lxv
146Please respect copyright.PENANAqskCi6nT9a
好生接待李孜省便是其一。146Please respect copyright.PENANAlJYrch1Ked
146Please respect copyright.PENANAOZReG9f2fn
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAwv5moNBfXJ
146Please respect copyright.PENANAjqDGnKRlt5
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAoTV0GunxmM
146Please respect copyright.PENANAaI3FE7koiA
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。」146Please respect copyright.PENANADik686rFxP
146Please respect copyright.PENANAmGLGkQmB9l
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANArSgDMYzMQ2
146Please respect copyright.PENANACiTd3RAeW8
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAMbJrwWjp88
146Please respect copyright.PENANAr9nBqZsW9i
司禮官在一旁大喊:「午時已到。」146Please respect copyright.PENANAX9PrZwTn6i
146Please respect copyright.PENANAXScEhSGNw9
杜攸上前一步,高聲道:「李大人,吉時已到。」146Please respect copyright.PENANAuMklJckXX1
146Please respect copyright.PENANAkvSDolOEaG
「知道了。」李孜省朝天舉起雙手。146Please respect copyright.PENANASxS3QhgSYj
146Please respect copyright.PENANAibM0pkWIBl
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA0DsPlIM4GZ
146Please respect copyright.PENANAwQrqE5mzIC
「這是惡兆,會召來厄運的。」杜攸驚叫。146Please respect copyright.PENANAYhiUQzvlsr
146Please respect copyright.PENANAN1xqyUyZDE
圍觀群眾面面相覷。146Please respect copyright.PENANA2si6nVtWsy
146Please respect copyright.PENANAyIMPDLzZc5
「李大人,不能再拖延,著即開祭。」杜攸急道。146Please respect copyright.PENANAy45J4D2Bfz
146Please respect copyright.PENANAUgSXsHKQuH
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAAV3eduihud
146Please respect copyright.PENANAcwG7i6poAB
「我本卜祭為民,吾請自當之。」146Please respect copyright.PENANABhJYtuSxtl
146Please respect copyright.PENANAlB5oeZe8TQ
李孜省手持觚爵,內盛秫酒,禮敬天地四方。146Please respect copyright.PENANA2X64i8h1Pe
146Please respect copyright.PENANAMIFiG7V3tH
其餘弟子手中捧著大觚,將祭酒往各方彈灑。146Please respect copyright.PENANA3Q0U9AM4mW
146Please respect copyright.PENANA5G5ydLpMVb
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAcZPkhFHIU7
146Please respect copyright.PENANAoqoFS8oS20
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAfYsUJ1HpWA
146Please respect copyright.PENANAWomXkDXFKJ
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAlQTNRvnaOv
146Please respect copyright.PENANAlj4meI0AAC
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA1VNWtsqXjc
146Please respect copyright.PENANAAiNYLmfTKO
「……遊赤水駕驩,越崑崙各霞迎驤……」李孜省仍在吟唱。146Please respect copyright.PENANAvskQY72UaC
146Please respect copyright.PENANAxapKME9hyt
祭詞像是永無止盡。146Please respect copyright.PENANAlLfkizf2Nk
146Please respect copyright.PENANAA3iH2LoNvu
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAa4s21nFdr2
146Please respect copyright.PENANApGsnO6pO3e
李孜省似乎也想盡速了結,揚手召喚。146Please respect copyright.PENANAixTxEzYPRN
146Please respect copyright.PENANAyEBBdqFBPT
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAT01TnBFbIA
146Please respect copyright.PENANAroeWtmmfGh
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAmDM4ypucgA
146Please respect copyright.PENANAe8r1QDvgGQ
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:146Please respect copyright.PENANAbR2IFbQG46
146Please respect copyright.PENANAW5Wk1vZaX2
邦畿千里,為民所止,
肇域彼四海,四海來假,
來假祁祁……146Please respect copyright.PENANAjWELP35RF3
146Please respect copyright.PENANAb27fETNSq1
杜攸悄悄移開了目光――他討厭見血。146Please respect copyright.PENANAUU0I6dwAX8
146Please respect copyright.PENANAttgqgviF0x
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA9MmDXlPc8W
146Please respect copyright.PENANAn5OoNRLuBg
不對勁啊,杜攸心中暗忖。146Please respect copyright.PENANAwo00JHjT1M
146Please respect copyright.PENANAMCQJ34e4Xs
他從未看過會挪移翻騰的霧。146Please respect copyright.PENANAoNJslG9lTZ
146Please respect copyright.PENANAETlI2rvMww
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAjiCEFbF19g
146Please respect copyright.PENANAlvKVrStnM9
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAb3lzPL09NG
146Please respect copyright.PENANApz3lD5VbFV
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA8uZ3azGN9V
146Please respect copyright.PENANA7ag1Ip3GVk
「什麼人,竟敢擅闖祭儀?」杜攸顫聲說道。146Please respect copyright.PENANAcoFoHMp1Zw
146Please respect copyright.PENANAtEO5rCFgB8
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAwgZzmSSTE7
146Please respect copyright.PENANAwMDaFPzl4D
「來……來人,給我拿下!」杜攸驚慌地大喊,腳步胡亂往後退去。146Please respect copyright.PENANApyPmntFJ9V
146Please respect copyright.PENANADUnr6uTnnW
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAyd9RR6iKsS
146Please respect copyright.PENANA88BkrldsMo
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAj6e1X67MaT
146Please respect copyright.PENANA8Puiqcs55Y
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAcmc4Jm6mWI
146Please respect copyright.PENANAI9HVxRmJJK
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAV2mRQRXZ6G
146Please respect copyright.PENANAyWYZ91ZA1N
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?」146Please respect copyright.PENANAGDrqNIQxfS
146Please respect copyright.PENANAktnVSlwek2
男子啐了一口,一腳將杜攸踹翻在地。146Please respect copyright.PENANAT0DeHvqqg5
146Please respect copyright.PENANAG5pB3yNTJC
杜攸想起身逃跑,膝蓋卻不聽使喚,連腿都直不起來。146Please respect copyright.PENANA93MvicUvlb
146Please respect copyright.PENANAEcu9C2DOPq
「別……別殺我,我給你錢……」146Please respect copyright.PENANAStscOFXnox
146Please respect copyright.PENANALaG5n4OKQn
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAJesGrfCf4k
146Please respect copyright.PENANATU74QWyfR9
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。」146Please respect copyright.PENANAlCtSg69fQE
146Please respect copyright.PENANAYzofW1nn3B
§146Please respect copyright.PENANAxdV8w5BQ55
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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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAONAQ0GADuY
146Please respect copyright.PENANAbkip9XNsFr
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?146Please respect copyright.PENANAFiEU44J5Zj
146Please respect copyright.PENANAy0j7mOYLzf
李孜省迫不及待地想逃離這祭臺,卻不敢妄動。146Please respect copyright.PENANAMko7X3iqwU
146Please respect copyright.PENANAFvETVDbC9j
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAHR0TTBu1ph
146Please respect copyright.PENANAkVnKzz6S5Q
莫非……皇帝發現真相,這些人是來殺他的?146Please respect copyright.PENANAJHMwNtMZTo
146Please respect copyright.PENANAQDekYeDcXm
李孜省後悔莫名,他真不該聽信汪直和李子龍。146Please respect copyright.PENANAwbzsBPDrsf
146Please respect copyright.PENANAbVSuRfYtow
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAWsR4B2RSGW
146Please respect copyright.PENANAmsZSr2eaS6
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA8HWAqXTVYd
146Please respect copyright.PENANAINAezTmeT5
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA7Rd9u3kSuq
146Please respect copyright.PENANAlthVUcsIv9
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAXAWC98mgOf
146Please respect copyright.PENANAaoLRuJL7aP
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA47o8SjAqlG
146Please respect copyright.PENANAi3dhSI2gwa
「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。」146Please respect copyright.PENANA4wNCxYAqxG
146Please respect copyright.PENANAbZEJf1DH50
男子的聲音恍惚晃蕩,忽遠忽近。146Please respect copyright.PENANAWzUf88EbT7
146Please respect copyright.PENANAECFLK5m0I3
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAzmqevMKzly
146Please respect copyright.PENANARN5nw1yAW3
這才是真的仙風道骨,衣不染塵啊!146Please respect copyright.PENANAK1PGGkjlH1
146Please respect copyright.PENANAPds66wFVqE
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!」146Please respect copyright.PENANAYXDGuVGii7
146Please respect copyright.PENANA39SKfLZNdk
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANAHC0Cn5HKGO
146Please respect copyright.PENANAx3j05gkyDs
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?」146Please respect copyright.PENANAOk3FnZeesf
146Please respect copyright.PENANAvi6SSQ7i3D
「或許你永遠無法理解。」那聲音透出來的哀傷情緒,是憐憫?146Please respect copyright.PENANA1PfetJCnx4
146Please respect copyright.PENANAOEidwO5YeN
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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA3mlLSWxKG6
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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。146Please respect copyright.PENANA4X9xbKnzOD
146Please respect copyright.PENANATW3ZORcCKL