巫族族長子履已經五年沒離開過天山了,這次他下山,是為了尋人,更是為了盡他身為巫族族長的職責。他將原本握在手中的瓷瓶放進衣袖裡,緩步走向八角形的殿宇,此殿喚作「風澤」,殿內的八面牆各有一扇門,金陵在東南方,青圭示東、赤璋示南,於是他走向鑲嵌著青圭和赤璋的門。他將手平伸,先在思緒中專注於屯堡的位置,再將手貼於門扉上,靜默等待,微光從他的手絲絲滲出,化作一股金色輕煙。344Please respect copyright.PENANAsgRZeG0wDf
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「呀」的一聲,門開了。344Please respect copyright.PENANAmfnslfhYDI
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子履向前,跨進一條狹窄的走廊,兩旁牆壁與地面接合之處,各有一排青圭和赤璋石心,在黑暗的空間裡散發出沉穩的光暈。在他施咒的過程中,土地發出呢喃,對他訴說著風、雨、磐石、滄海桑田、以及滋養萬物的力量,玉石也對他耳語,火焰、熾熱的熔岩、緩慢的歲月讓它冷卻……344Please respect copyright.PENANA86AmoPjSkk
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他伸出雙手,吸取土地和玉石的力量,土地亦回應他的需求,將千里遠的路程縮短到一條廊道之遙。他已有許久沒用這樣的方式離開天山,幾乎忘了轉移的過程總會帶給他些微的昏眩。344Please respect copyright.PENANAhhoVgJ0uSR
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走廊的盡頭是另一扇門,當他打開那扇門,門後將會是他的目的地。344Please respect copyright.PENANAfvZJbMakiC
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金陵城郊湯山屯堡。344Please respect copyright.PENANAFz9qqvCSsl
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他有半個時辰的時間,可以再藉由這兩扇門回到天山。半個時辰不算短,但不知能否勸服一個冥頑不靈的人。344Please respect copyright.PENANA942pdED2Oj
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子履開了門,確認這扇門外也烙著他的金色手印,如此,通道就只有他能開啟。344Please respect copyright.PENANALPOvYMmk9P
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門後是間寬闊的敞廳。屯堡是一座巨大的中空圓柱形城寨,上下共五層,每層五十七間房,敞廳位於空心圓柱的底層正中央,頂上天井引著溫潤的月光灑落。敞廳中橫佈著數張長桌,每一張都擠滿宴飲慶祝的男男女女,他們伴隨著歌聲、喊叫、飲酒,有些人脫了上衣、袒胸露背,喝得全身漲紅,一旁的爐火還不停地烘烤著大塊牛羊肉,還算清醒的人隨著歌聲搖晃身軀。344Please respect copyright.PENANAXvIl7eVJMc
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子履嫌惡地看著這群法外之徒,猜想他們大概是剛賣了一批鹽,如此庸俗的理由就足以讓他們手舞足蹈,酩酊大醉。他實在不明白為什麼他僅存的親人寧可和這群人一起廝混,也不願回天山,回到巫族歸屬的地方。344Please respect copyright.PENANAdlzug75qVk
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敞廳的側邊有一道向上的階梯,他記得子犀的居室在第四層,正準備登樓,一個搖搖晃晃的男子和他擦身而過,不知是因為酒醉或是天生腳跛。344Please respect copyright.PENANA13Ol23pLIl
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「喂,你新來的,我好像沒見過你?」那名男子口齒不清地問著,伸手便要拉扯。子履從容地探出手,術氣輕輕繞著他的手臂旋飛、翻轉,先拉回氣流然後施力反推,突來的力道將男子彈向空中,碰的一聲,墜落在一張長桌上。桌邊男女一陣驚呼,幾個人在慌亂中抓向自己的兵器。344Please respect copyright.PENANAvdxFXuphAz
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「慢著,」一名身著青布長衫的男子步出來,對眾人破口大罵,「你們幾個沒長眼的,得罪二當家的客人,沒死算你們走運。」,344Please respect copyright.PENANAKj3HmUfgZZ
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青衫男子轉向子履欠身行禮,「失禮了,二哥在第三層的偏廳和大哥議事,我送您上去。」344Please respect copyright.PENANASDoa4wCNVY
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子履見過此人,鹽幫三當家楚寧。既然為首的致歉了,他便不好再為難其餘幫眾,當下點了點頭,默然隨他而去。344Please respect copyright.PENANACGQNEMqEIe
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他走進偏廳,見子犀正與鹽幫大當家豫明夷高聲談事,兩人臉都紅了,看來也喝了不少酒。344Please respect copyright.PENANA69yDQ1w1LH
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「二哥,你有客人。」楚寧說道。344Please respect copyright.PENANAcaBLztoOmJ
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「族長,」子犀眼色一黯,全身緊繃,語氣中透著防備,「你來幹什麼?」344Please respect copyright.PENANAVXcnCcglDQ
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子犀是個形容瀟灑的男子,即使已經三年不見,他的外表並沒有明顯的變化,根據他自己的轉述,女人都為他傾倒,那也是他一直不肯回天山的主因。344Please respect copyright.PENANAn8psgdHGKM
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「我有事想跟你私下談。」子履說著,絲毫不在意廳中另外兩人投來的懷疑眼神。344Please respect copyright.PENANAXy1BlWTurL
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子犀一揚手,神色帶著理不清的煩躁,「有事就直說吧,反正我和他們兩人之間沒有祕密。」344Please respect copyright.PENANAGbEpzVQGbE
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子履掏出袖裡的瓷瓶,放在三人圍坐的案桌上,「你也到了該做決定的時候。」344Please respect copyright.PENANATNSc2MgET2
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「這是什麼?」楚寧偏著頭,好奇地問。344Please respect copyright.PENANAkePCVCjMPT
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「虹飲――九天玄女血,喝了可延命百年。」子犀不耐地回答。344Please respect copyright.PENANAgGFgpmkw5H
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子履不滿子犀輕忽的態度,但他不想在外人面前發作。344Please respect copyright.PENANAlJg0KPGBsb
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巫族正走向滅絕,族人逐漸凋零,土地伏藏的靈氛日漸消逝。當留存的少數人不足以繁衍後代、祭祀祖靈,族中長老決定,所有族人都必須喝下第一代族長九天玄女之血,以延壽續命,直到生下繼承人為止。這是身為巫族人的責任。子履自己二十五歲那年就喝了,到今年七十六歲,外貌和體能都停留在二十五歲。344Please respect copyright.PENANAtkAE3S8KMi
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「如此神效,」楚寧忍不住對那瓷瓶多瞧幾眼,興致勃勃地說:「二哥,那你還不趕緊喝。」344Please respect copyright.PENANA7xlQx89XWS
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子犀依舊一副漫不經心的模樣。344Please respect copyright.PENANAxm5rHSnZxG
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「你今年三十了吧,」子履耐下性子,幽幽地說,「正當盛年,現在喝下,就能保持現在這副外貌,要是再等個幾年,不免視茫茫而髮蒼蒼……」344Please respect copyright.PENANAfa8wfiOAA2
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「到那時,姑娘們必會對你棄若敝屣。」楚寧促狹地說,嘴角還泛著一抹殘忍的竊笑。344Please respect copyright.PENANAupWZWu3Cvf
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「讓我考慮考慮。」子犀敷衍地說。344Please respect copyright.PENANAMIuexEk5Cc
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「二弟,你有什麼顧慮嗎?不妨說來聽聽。」一直保持沉默的豫明夷問道。344Please respect copyright.PENANACaX2xlLTt9
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「長生不死,簡直是無味至極啊,」子犀大搖其頭,悠然說道:「所愛之人一一死去,只剩下孑然一身,這份孤絕的滋味,子履你不是最清楚嗎?」344Please respect copyright.PENANAIWHx0RoBIZ
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豫明夷使力一拍腿,「說的是,把每天當作此生的最後一日,淋漓盡致地活,這才痛快。」344Please respect copyright.PENANA44iYO6bMJz
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子履瞥了他一眼,豫明夷十分高壯,世間女子或許會形容他是粗獷英俊,即便如此,子履還是無法理解為什麼子犀寧願與這麼個粗人稱兄道弟,也不願回天山,和他一起振興巫族。
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