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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCMNFc9ZL5
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBXIDjChRa
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuexAgWtVfw
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Yg4gqZz7e
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XPxyl2LfG
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GrkmkvQT5
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIdZEtpoBD
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouLMj16ID7
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPVdjAK0ss
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqom7Zk2vTe
多麼諷刺，他多想當著下屬的面大笑三聲。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgiBMn0AKq
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1tpgh5CLz
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCKkFg5cK2
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnlFB0kf5e
明擺著的好處就在眼前，聽話辦事又有何難？259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudkQfSjJLe
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Qkd48zTxU
好生接待李孜省便是其一。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmkYVrlqsL
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S32HRzPqF
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXs3gxBkIh
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1v1GQY2SE
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XGfXbIr81
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfwHllUWrv
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。」259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4paoVNWg5f
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90dAjo4cNL
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwJPq2u6XG
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87aR1cEj9v
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6gfaEv2B7
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpI8kBzV8Cg
司禮官在一旁大喊：「午時已到。」259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkva3Dcg7a
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlOjg77XFi
杜攸上前一步，高聲道：「李大人，吉時已到。」259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipX2Pagsqo
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHVLMdLeUl
「知道了。」李孜省朝天舉起雙手。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVDrNHeiCG
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK4lAANmYA
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIJzKCU88s
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgl4AkY5QU
「這是惡兆，會召來厄運的。」杜攸驚叫。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCFNUG9rN8
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP7BNyEhKO
圍觀群眾面面相覷。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AfFxN5bX0
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaqopjrkaC
「李大人，不能再拖延，著即開祭。」杜攸急道。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzFdy9dqHa
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4HiLrvsEK
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9BDwYcdtj
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8wKg9GusZ
「我本卜祭為民，吾請自當之。」259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsYRx8tm34
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSnBeyuwh4
李孜省手持觚爵，內盛秫酒，禮敬天地四方。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy3SFebFeR
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdPU7kud70
其餘弟子手中捧著大觚，將祭酒往各方彈灑。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4beVgaXGz
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zagmifTx6
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhyPW5waXv
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK5v5HRC3n
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQfi5hnN4o
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyNXzIuvSP
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgx4f4ldNQ
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgiUK5k190
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJmegoNkT0
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC45eOQDxRD
「……遊赤水駕驩，越崑崙各霞迎驤……」李孜省仍在吟唱。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXOHDBKcdn
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7qS9XM77T
祭詞像是永無止盡。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPubyu1naO
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYagzMhH4R
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLgjg4uH3j
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstDD84CNQ4
李孜省似乎也想盡速了結，揚手召喚。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIMTc5f8tJ
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqahENUzVo8
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt2jVsMKsF
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeKUCwbgrt
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4TaTGrbUL
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJo7Y84c0U7
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：259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPep2TdSzDM
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiHq3eTolq
邦畿千里，為民所止，
肇域彼四海，四海來假，
來假祁祁……259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPYLiteKBW
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0C1KMJubv
杜攸悄悄移開了目光――他討厭見血。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATw2ZJlgmN
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZbumANfr7
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbQQZB1lbL
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErq9Rq21gJ
不對勁啊，杜攸心中暗忖。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfRAbHn20M
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8U9asoEYr
他從未看過會挪移翻騰的霧。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW80gSEN9C
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtICdFqEP6r
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuaJUY9yIV
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOxHOPJQDt
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDB2lRa06cL
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6gjgvFI6q
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GGHB33Yd5
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCwSU5ypKt
「什麼人，竟敢擅闖祭儀？」杜攸顫聲說道。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfRj90YD2d
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS4jOa4A37
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLybP0AcktT
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGfli8Kv4j
「來……來人，給我拿下！」杜攸驚慌地大喊，腳步胡亂往後退去。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzscIRye5Ty
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgCNZm33Rw
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4rsuTqrVE
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwt7C93xVB
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxN0q0nTqEl
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KXToc31nY
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadPiIjIOqm
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZ4RvVFdOl
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoCMPKkSni
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQVMo5OgAZ
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？」259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7kl3SahcI
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIOAQ2qR6L
男子啐了一口，一腳將杜攸踹翻在地。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL43jtf9vP
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoLByR5BHn
杜攸想起身逃跑，膝蓋卻不聽使喚，連腿都直不起來。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLypW4is7e
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDeUsfRM6D
「別……別殺我，我給你錢……」259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVRzVCOy64
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX452cIOuAi
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsFhsYH9oc
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9iB7VQV1A
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。」259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyK2rTO5x5
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwT17AkYKO
§259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEHcB8IPyk
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESkGzke4Gg
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXqYu1be91
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYU9PYpj98c
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？259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN7S6OzqsE
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchFnrojwZs
李孜省迫不及待地想逃離這祭臺，卻不敢妄動。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKREq7C5oL
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkliu537d2N
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpkaPqAZGi
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDA2m5N82W
莫非……皇帝發現真相，這些人是來殺他的？259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNVv4hVJaC
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00UVxcFulp
李孜省後悔莫名，他真不該聽信汪直和李子龍。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCIcnZvnX8
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlYloHVV9v
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mKQybnPeX
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKXyPkljhC
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoA5DKlo7Eh
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKEbqcrG30
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy1Q3oUQwM
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJutxZ8b1ld
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMiLok0STT
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlGV75m8FG
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP3yjVNy6P
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMcqvsDQVh
「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。」259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK4uJuqYcZ
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjI7DLidhK
男子的聲音恍惚晃蕩，忽遠忽近。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8UDAg4lYH
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IClMDfh2w
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayKVKgjqHx
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVRdxUomzS
這才是真的仙風道骨，衣不染塵啊！259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08W1mJLl9o
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4nWkbDugM
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！」259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPL3CdPlUz
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOlJrScTHi
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGIuXcYKUz
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCtHKWZGiX
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？」259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDsocNXAw4
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1zOMtvGOR
「或許你永遠無法理解。」那聲音透出來的哀傷情緒，是憐憫？259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9qJcsrWSi
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bo5I7w0ni
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。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDQCyTslWV
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5Dx4y0zI0
在他腦中迴盪的最後一個念頭是：原來孽龍是真的。259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOo9IxQfS5
259Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsjxLpr8LB
