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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWElQtCP9P
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNqppcRKi5
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8oe0w7en1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlwDr8an83
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jQe95Vb0x
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyr9EqEkRT
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn8S7NuL9f
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKy9iO46Z7
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobWO3hEQZo
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjk61kSvLJ
多麼諷刺，他多想當著下屬的面大笑三聲。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vwVyMRNte
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbKRVH2Sb1
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN184L1nGW
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9WsgYUCHl
明擺著的好處就在眼前，聽話辦事又有何難？276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68pN2GPipu
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eeS4Jdjuc
好生接待李孜省便是其一。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvljfcc7ucE
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1QW12vLuu
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj4D1HyR6q
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FlaNu8Tkd
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9V7e3LorpL
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMYHUSlfAW
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。」276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC092oKERD
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4J01Othyi
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKtnGnVcqn
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE9EdgPvnj
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ye7nuaVna
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5sbs73hgt
司禮官在一旁大喊：「午時已到。」276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh87yW5FGg1
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoczn5epbp
杜攸上前一步，高聲道：「李大人，吉時已到。」276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahF6mwqHUB
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDiExiho0H
「知道了。」李孜省朝天舉起雙手。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpElDuaHFtB
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziCxlUx36A
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oWyRIfayZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkLHFef1Y0
「這是惡兆，會召來厄運的。」杜攸驚叫。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzRRoMiHTP
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3aiAwAnpj
圍觀群眾面面相覷。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jHTImQbHn
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFOeQiXX6k
「李大人，不能再拖延，著即開祭。」杜攸急道。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOdsYiV22P
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4TwDgL8Yj
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMqxZNDp5R
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvC1eGb8sr
「我本卜祭為民，吾請自當之。」276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhUAjQLBxn
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2FFfsLX02
李孜省手持觚爵，內盛秫酒，禮敬天地四方。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VfmdQgu6C
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquHzri8jem
其餘弟子手中捧著大觚，將祭酒往各方彈灑。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA8I2UPJA3
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtUcZHIrg4
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yPTWzkT2f
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPSBUFPYFo
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmgdfkO0a4
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN7eiaN68V
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjq3Yph2rw
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kW72d8rtD
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5BiIBYtAI
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlkkA4H7nL
「……遊赤水駕驩，越崑崙各霞迎驤……」李孜省仍在吟唱。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIVW4dLukL
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxjkifq5jV
祭詞像是永無止盡。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R382IBdBN
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANf3XnTn5G
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoKSWDMGz0
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRawHht3Nl
李孜省似乎也想盡速了結，揚手召喚。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlYGV6ys5s
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCTJMoEY5q
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuvPwHTUkR
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLzakIDpKG
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzYm2pYwzD
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3foaULbNv
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：276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JdEYyAsQg
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXEDcYQWMG
邦畿千里，為民所止，
肇域彼四海，四海來假，
來假祁祁……276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr48WsVs46
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N6JV1TqP5
杜攸悄悄移開了目光――他討厭見血。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtvnrGlJkn
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKt0mH0bLW
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUUKyjhJvy
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7AiW8YzIh
不對勁啊，杜攸心中暗忖。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJEOXTGSO2
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR5jGG86bV
他從未看過會挪移翻騰的霧。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCBwls5oef
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvs1Q6qqib
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLhIUAUeTS
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAVMeLf2bS
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZU9LwrXIZ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkUJDKxc8j
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYbkPmXrpW
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRfqQ9ZmUh
「什麼人，竟敢擅闖祭儀？」杜攸顫聲說道。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkIAhpC7AB
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrE6oAwjMq
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DjWMtqVVH
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVIGVGVORs
「來……來人，給我拿下！」杜攸驚慌地大喊，腳步胡亂往後退去。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovXcraHs5X
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ9yPEEeb6
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0kxFinGQj
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhiV4aJ1v9
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPvQlPnWoo
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJvjGxyg3N
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQDDwQe1GH
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JatxJlQYX
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bObz8uL79
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99EFscvlLt
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？」276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFfU7Haazn
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcXJHglmUG
男子啐了一口，一腳將杜攸踹翻在地。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVUabyLMxn
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wXnafhT8U
杜攸想起身逃跑，膝蓋卻不聽使喚，連腿都直不起來。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6D1aluTlCO
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDgfsvc39J
「別……別殺我，我給你錢……」276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpcAORA8gJ
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9thDDY5VU
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayzvJ7migI
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRWhsGClRJ
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。」276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwND1uWwUA
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ11x8xkZbr
§276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8C0diiyQq
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0CxbakfD2
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw30CXccp4
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk4y652R1T
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？276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzcVjFzwmN
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbru4haRGpe
李孜省迫不及待地想逃離這祭臺，卻不敢妄動。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSp7kscMUp
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgxbz91YsC
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWb9xwr4PQU
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZkvLyV8sw
莫非……皇帝發現真相，這些人是來殺他的？276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SP2vYfGPe
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2jSbAuCJf
李孜省後悔莫名，他真不該聽信汪直和李子龍。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFDuM1vZsO
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ820TTwTBkq
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOQeMqpQ7F
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6T4cwaDQo
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwKym3T0Xk
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRiLbw7coS
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPw0q8Usin
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSbTV3Dq5H
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRESwzsk7t
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngBxCVLujJ
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8yeY0iiK2
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTQsoezypV
「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。」276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0mXgwaSlC
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ615cwYQP29
男子的聲音恍惚晃蕩，忽遠忽近。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZoX6wS9B6
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoxdSERYWo
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6kopicdCH
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskcaHutYHx
這才是真的仙風道骨，衣不染塵啊！276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Cow3cBasN
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQstjJCCnyM
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！」276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxOycnlCFM
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUUf2z3ORd
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHEdMRAPTY
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6xnpsgiJY
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？」276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuKhlY1uee
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP9Od9yNXH
「或許你永遠無法理解。」那聲音透出來的哀傷情緒，是憐憫？276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXBOR6XR8v
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZmnkYcgP6
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。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrCS93lGjI
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTaLFrpyhY
在他腦中迴盪的最後一個念頭是：原來孽龍是真的。276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRRA5rWfWi
276Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC2DeuJgS4
