天色已經黑齊，兩頭老鷹在雲底飛翔而過。伴在白爺旁邊就像站在所打開的雪櫃前頭，源源不絕的溢出涼風。白爺領著小羽和吼天犬穿過一條中式巷弄，沒多久就來到條鵝卵石舖墊而成的寬闊大道，揚手截住一頭馬車。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODiTdgAa4z
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeIKb2c4Wm
一位老馬車伕拉停了韁繩，馬車不偏不倚的停在白爺前頭。「客倌去哪兒？」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvEctjVfwu
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQahyPascV
小羽打量著車頭一匹碩大的馬兒，乖乖的完全靜止不動。她拐過車頭，差點給這馬兒嚇了個突！這是頭陶泥造的唐三彩馬匹（難怪沒馬羶味），頸項比真馬粗了一圈，差不多有兩個小羽高，脖子掛著個車牌。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO8gLAF3bV
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRuUkySqxX
「這頭馬怎麼可以在馬路上走？」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2Af2NImD2
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutRoAQINYY
「為甚麼不行？」吼天犬示意小羽上車：「馬路本來就是給馬行的嘛，少見多怪。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnMWYMOENn
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE1AeLXdit
馬車的後座顯然沒有陽間的汽車舒適，甚至令人聯想起泰國的督督。白爺吩咐了目的地，馬車司機還沒動過半分，那頭唐三彩馬就自動自發地向著橫街前進。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnptAassPq
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHqUw9PiD4
「陰間都是靠這交通工具嗎？」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOMaJuP6Z3
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc2CgOvjdX
「這大概等於妳們的計程車吧。」白爺懶洋洋的望著車外，顯然沒沾到小羽半點興奮感。「一個人乘的話，我們通常用式神抬的轎。」三彩馬加快腳步，剛好對一頂紅色花轎超車。但那些轎伕不是人類，而是一張人形紙張，薄薄一片卻力大無窮。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQQaW84SHp
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pMXtWQBYM
小羽看得出神。另一部大轎在附近落客，那紙張轎伕還懂拉開布幕，恭恭敬敬的向乘客躹躬。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2llqYHZJ6
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOjMnY013y
白爺伸手按著被風吹起的瀏海，極力保持那一絲不苟的髮型：「你就當式神是用符咒驅動的機器人吧。真沒法子不讚嘆日本仔的技術，他們造的木轎和式神轎伕，真的很價廉物美；至於馬車方面，德國馬車性能強勁、意大利的牛車同樣出色。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGw6iBlWX1
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXtqbOHcx1
小羽望著滿街稀奇古怪的東西，興奮得深怕錯過半點有趣的細節。馬車不消半刻就回到黃炏的住所，小羽把他一同叫下來，把白爺肯相助的事怱怱說了一遍。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0JNhUmQlX
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3558mmMfo7
「白爺，那以後就多多指教。」黃炏站起來躹躬致謝，卻站不穩跌回去座位中。白爺起先還是為黃炏只是個男版的小羽，想不到他有禮貌太多了。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEDTG85XTC
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGczYdNdUC
馬車沒幾分鐘就穿過陰暗的住宅區，來到了一條五光十色的步行大街。雙層的瓦頂建築物連綿至看不見的盡頭，無數個紙製的大紅燈籠，正懸浮在半空之中，把街道和兩旁照得熱熱鬧鬧。太陰已經退到水平線邊，天空泛起一陣迷幻的紫藍色，跟大紅燈籠的鮮紅色襯托出來。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaPYef5HGN
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVD0gsVtuX
白爺還打算扶小羽一把，她卻忘形的從馬車上跳了下來（落地時還差點踏中黃炏的腳）。一座三層樓高的紅色牌坊正佇立在下車的地方，上面寫著「廟街」二字。 527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTPOeuG6Hk
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jZxqkGsh7
「這裡是廟街夜巿？」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYBz040FdW
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR0OEwYjam
「正是。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yT5sUuENu
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0rsHMZG0m
「這樣子跟陽間相差很遠呢。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOywRRYMtDk
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyX0JOfdpe
小羽放眼過去，熱鬧的巿集兩旁都是些特色小店和食肆，令小羽不禁聯想起台灣的夜巿。遊人都穿著古裝打扮的布袍，而且頭頂上都飄著個微微發亮的光環。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOheQZTrxSQ
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLkH2l6YKp
「哇靠，一街都是鬼！」小羽興奮得跳上跳下。在這熱鬧氣氛底下，幽靈變得一點也不可怕。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbtPW41j4D
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrRvo4Omlz
「他們大部份是鬼魂，也有一些是人形的妖怪。」白爺指一下遠處一所按摩店門前兩位骨瘦如柴的知客，她倆頭上就沒有光環。「那兩個是白骨精。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSAMQNB7km
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWsmXIVr8S
一位老婆婆捧著一疊傳單走過來，熱情的給小羽手上送上張宣傳單張：「小姑娘，我們孟婆靚湯就在街口轉角。最新推出的湯券套餐正在特價酬賓，買十送一...」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRWFhvD0cs
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWrjfXH76c
她看看手中傳單大大隻爆花寫著：527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PANxTRq00
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQwwF1GGM8
二十四小時營業，我們連下班都忘了！527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswiHGbVr3L
隨時忘掉昨日傷痛。一天、一週、一個月、一年多種配方任君選擇。款款忘憂靚湯，等候您品嚐。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD1me5UF9j
輕輕一口可以把東西忘記得一乾二淨！527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8p8QL3ygeY
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ3a6546YJ
白爺接走她手上的傳單，示意小羽繼續前行。黃炏挖苦的道：「我看小羽妳還是少喝這個為妙，妳已經夠大頭蝦，喝得太多孟婆湯會變得更溫溫吞吞。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcJudeZf7c
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3bD599MQd
他們向著夜巿十字路口的中心進發，短短的步程卻花了大半小時。小羽差不多每行十步就被有趣的店子吸引住，要黃炏又哄又拉才肯離開。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA30oEPSGr
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h2De3H4wn
「哥哥這個錦袋襯我嗎？」小羽盯著件精美的小包包：「白爺，那五百兩銀是時候找數，我想買點東西。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cIGCdecyb
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qCvf0Buaf
「哈哈，任務的報酬需要在酒場那邊領取啊。況且這時候給妳銀兩，我們沒三個時晨都走不完這條街。」白爺往小羽手板放下一枚銅錢：「給妳一文錢，買串冰糖葫蘆好走了。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe09Hf0rR7c
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfJbgGezZh
小羽扮個鬼臉：「孤寒鬼。」隨即把手中銅錢據為己有。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd3e5Iie4F
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEdeX6e4CC
十字路口處是個空曠的大牌檔，圍著中一所像千與千尋湯屋的建築物，戶外擺滿了上百張木造的圓桌。飄浮在半空的紅燈籠沒有步行街般密集，透出後頭清朗夜空的繁星。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3l5WURWnpI
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOtkAgPldT
「我的朋友黑爺就在這裡工作。」白爺引路走向這所室外餐廳的中央，簷眉上兩個裝飾用的大鼎泛起橙黃色的火光，照亮著塊氣派的招牌：灶君樓。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtchuYK8ZtS
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7r06PGsnY
「這是靈界最好吃的餐廳！」白爺像是這裡的老熟客，逕自在一張小桌子坐下。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzx4OoHuAK
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD6W7kCzB3
「白爺，來找黑爺嗎？」一名老伙記還沒等他們點菜，就先放下套雅緻的紫砂茶具招呼他們。白爺點了些餐前小吃，自己卻只添了杯清茶，靜靜等待他那重份量的朋友。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP5c1Mugra
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD7abNCU87
穿著店小二裝束的大嬸推著木頭餐車行過，蒸籠內都是小巧精緻的點心。黃炏看著大嬸跟茶客忙著串門子，著實比一張張點心紙多了份人情味。 527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdBtvnqKM8
一把粗豪的聲音嚮起，講話好像有點黐脷筋：「唏！白兄，幹麼來找我也不先通知一聲？」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9G1ytNjsE
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaffiT7XDSZ
「黑爺。」白爺站起來，跟老朋友先拍一拍肩膀，仍坐在摺椅的吼天犬也低頭躹躬。這個黑爺比小羽還矮上一兩公分，身子卻比兩個人加起來還要厚，穿了件滿是破洞的白底衫，豐滿的下巴長滿一圈粗野的大鬍子，口裡叼住支沒點上的香煙。看黑爺一身造型，加上肚皮上的餸菜污漬，想必是這裡的廚子。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWwAjh1iZy
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFcyFxduR8
那黑爺一屁股坐下來，從腰間拔出個葫蘆酒瓶，二話不說就把酒乾了。他用手拈起枱上兩件炸點，直接送往口裡。「Urhhhhh——— 」黑爺突然來個超級響的飽嗝，聲音吵得像行雷。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gABTD03xH
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmK2wWpcQH
小羽暗地傻笑，這粗魯的大叔竟然就是黑無常？527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQOrGk0ypB
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4LXiXbKhG
「甚麼風吹白爺你過來...還帶著個男孩和小妮子？」黑爺的鬍子沾到白酒，說話的時候灑得枱面一桌口水花。黃炏正想把這陣子的事一五一十地再說一遍。白爺卻凝重的語氣搶白道：527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkShVSA0Xy7
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuhp7PqLQs
「黑爺，這兩個年輕人已經是見習死神。這小女孩說想要當閻羅王唷，你有興趣幫她嗎？」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk6Ry72d45
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm6CqgEjub
「閻王？」黑爺嗆得把口裡的酒噴出來。他隨手執把白布抺走穢物，坐前身子挖了挖耳朵，確定自己沒聽錯。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXbkqZwZ7s
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UEEYXMEIA
「對。」白爺喝一口清茶，向老同伴介紹道：「她叫黃小羽。她哥哥的靈魂在陽間被貪狼捉住，幸好成功逃跑了。身體被火化掉，只剩下這片靈魂。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVkzMYtMjs
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerzGhehwXr
「從貪狼口中逃跑嗎？這小鬼頗了不起呢。」黑爺一手再抓一把炸雞翼，就算十天沒吃沒喝，也不可能餓成這樣子吧。黑爺用手背抹一下鬍鬚上的油漬，轉向望著老拍擋問：「為甚麼會有妖怪去到陽間？」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMV2DIpXq3Q
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNdahFpmMv
「誰知道，所以我想去調查一下。」白爺微笑道：「我們重操故業，一起重出江湖，好嗎？」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG7r9e3QTs
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs54p5Gir4K
「呃...」黑爺支支吾吾：「我很想幫忙，可是我行不開...」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuF9YV2Ece
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf7E4miSx9
黑爺放下食物，嘆一口霉氣搖搖頭道：「老兄吶，你也知我現在的底細...我只是個寄人籬下、苟且偷安的廚子。別說甚麼國家大事了，我就連自己的收支平衡也處理不了。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebdNzk7Q3Z
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk5x3QXpSx
黃炏兩兄妹不懂插嘴，可是心裡冒起了千個問號：明明黑爺白爺都是退休死神嘛，奇怪為甚麼白爺穿戴光鮮，黑爺卻要窮困潦倒到在餐廳幹粗活。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIUOQ7njOL
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE71aluYpmi
「十賭九輸呀...早叫你收斂些。」527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1qaAJG4ls
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzNzIlAIb8
黃炏兩兄妹打個眼色，原來是衰爛賭。527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXZRqE8l4v
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiCAvzhxK6
「我現在已經騎虎難下了。要是不放手一搏，我還要幾百年才夠還清欠灶君老頭的債。」黑爺的頭愈垂愈下，幾乎是對著白爺的腳踝說話：「要是我有天還了我的債...我再來找你吧。」 527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4S9ELGCR7t
527Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcthUbvWbC5
