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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1newxPnsaL
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHImzZCn0J2
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw4m5SZZ0f
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMdjgPAHoM
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCIB68NyeK
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYZnDvfpki
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vNO4jjjkV
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOeg0WoYqZ
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCurnV4Vfx
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a1TRzHPBc
多麼諷刺，他多想當著下屬的面大笑三聲。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulxXjuvlow
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK627SMilFY
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ767BaycZHI
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVGQuvaujT
明擺著的好處就在眼前，聽話辦事又有何難？324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TT3JfOMTY
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFSKijmFyD
好生接待李孜省便是其一。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc14PVw6OHo
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD03Qz3Gs9i
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8QOvf0yv9
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaDBTt5ln3
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQBvVVGQIx
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PHZ9mkUtX
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。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV4xX9VshM
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jr8GOgqSU
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRXKx7UqKn
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM6M7I8WCi
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbywoQJR25Z
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyFR7f0ZmQ
司禮官在一旁大喊：「午時已到。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsde458Lra
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5sIV2Uj64
杜攸上前一步，高聲道：「李大人，吉時已到。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2AK5yeJyC
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDMcBlOvFJ
「知道了。」李孜省朝天舉起雙手。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vDF0IXsAd
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDxSvDZEm3
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1bxd6kRpX
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYQSJG2d5P
「這是惡兆，會召來厄運的。」杜攸驚叫。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZD8P6uMyB
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7BflexW4F
圍觀群眾面面相覷。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTh9FhnTzcJ
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseDNrCPD3t
「李大人，不能再拖延，著即開祭。」杜攸急道。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYPwMyfX46
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaS9Orz5HJ
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoo1jNrjtL
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeBQr3yBZA
「我本卜祭為民，吾請自當之。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItmZ89zVOD
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdwwubJKLK
李孜省手持觚爵，內盛秫酒，禮敬天地四方。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5TNiXNOb7
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYGxbt0Rrd
其餘弟子手中捧著大觚，將祭酒往各方彈灑。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEvm7O1ynJ
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIoy0N0hoi
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHBjcEgJKl
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWosa0bkBor
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkr4yYOt8c
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL2SiRplaa
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtGg7E3OYg
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG80Xe70DHV
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmz1EIszjg
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmPqMn22nQ
「……遊赤水駕驩，越崑崙各霞迎驤……」李孜省仍在吟唱。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSN3ulalzK
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHruBHdPX5
祭詞像是永無止盡。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1em3WgXpI
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mDnAC96aZ
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kz8MEBRQx
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJL2VmZlBhB
李孜省似乎也想盡速了結，揚手召喚。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHBR5P38t2
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrCMQsLCfO
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbgBhzUu5k
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn3GXqaxPV
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvupzjn9d8g
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03pZQK0mBz
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：324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhl1j1pg5e
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrc681NbSv
邦畿千里，為民所止，
肇域彼四海，四海來假，
來假祁祁……324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA5HKPZAtw
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMzm5ELncQ
杜攸悄悄移開了目光――他討厭見血。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi3wWqFXUp
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5KcpRuSKv
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PKYOycrn1
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBv8qNQ0dt
不對勁啊，杜攸心中暗忖。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB81qaJyBM
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0i2eTDqF7
他從未看過會挪移翻騰的霧。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5MjBhwtEL
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq2QDoNaPE
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwpel55XVB
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC23DkpEdvt
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ygPoORzfu
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VxZMKx8qQ
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu15AanQrrI
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAijDUzJCxn
「什麼人，竟敢擅闖祭儀？」杜攸顫聲說道。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2rxUvTODY
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3H9Zt5RQt
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ452V4liQJ7
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7ZzJUvTc5
「來……來人，給我拿下！」杜攸驚慌地大喊，腳步胡亂往後退去。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXPeaYEgz1
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tyGPN8Vr7
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNCwtFjIDY
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7mZnXMsdC
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgajG5s0w0
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW66TOXvkB
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVknNsy7pz0
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKtZfy9XgJ
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFD22P2f7p
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkt7t9QukQk
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？」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKolouMzMmB
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKbs2HWiMW
男子啐了一口，一腳將杜攸踹翻在地。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFaxmMPHZx
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYBz1oygTJ
杜攸想起身逃跑，膝蓋卻不聽使喚，連腿都直不起來。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5Sr3NsqKA
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHaNLt0hUH
「別……別殺我，我給你錢……」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzfckwKkzU
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoTmz4WwxE
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUtCoSMCox
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTAnW8ksWI
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。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQ5FKyw1K7
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQT3TKr3lE
§324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcAqnYR80P
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7P55JdRQz
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGdTrAYv0t
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9TLheGjrp
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？324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl4vIncRfn
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgj2KMypu0
李孜省迫不及待地想逃離這祭臺，卻不敢妄動。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6MUKFIzQr
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVTP0ClvYv
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC67JhSQy0
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67174NaHMp
莫非……皇帝發現真相，這些人是來殺他的？324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjh9bctX1Z
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1tXs8RfUU
李孜省後悔莫名，他真不該聽信汪直和李子龍。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4zCLlLfrY
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHXIrUddRC
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX7H0A0ae8
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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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRpGA1jLJZ
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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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBL7dTXeop
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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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMV9TfwzIC
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsxRK5cMO4
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TNI9U8Sav
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「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。」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZ7YYDFMWU
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男子的聲音恍惚晃蕩，忽遠忽近。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp5QU2Oq0s
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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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV349UjnfoD
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這才是真的仙風道骨，衣不染塵啊！324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBRuaCjV8B
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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！」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cyzaPk0Hf
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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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08bEKXAKv6
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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？」324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5V1tWjvncM
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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？324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4yWLqEB3Z
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ9Zb5faWd
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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTxGTEmVOM
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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。324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimvXXOk1UJ
324Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63bZvjMl1R
