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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4VWZLmFf2
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrvdwiIR4B
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLCKgN8jSs
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrpJsa6CBV
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShkM3FIVs7
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aPVRw56fH
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8mcXrrhsy
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69EJF7tyL1
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh0S7HNOhW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBEVRv06bM
多麼諷刺，他多想當著下屬的面大笑三聲。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFv1KpQ3Ms
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFwfQVf61z
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeESqSHoXnI
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN3p7bsfjw
明擺著的好處就在眼前，聽話辦事又有何難？236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgr2OlpUFc
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCrGaxRWBm
好生接待李孜省便是其一。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddsm9ZDmfE
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NO9MhAIVP
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0QhSDX2u8
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KiZibfNV9
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFunvbGxdAK
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2uFUdvFkV
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。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkszZB73zfN
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGM9t4U8qq
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOePYMrcJ91
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QoLw1qWsr
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXQeRHX55s
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNmRZOF41V
司禮官在一旁大喊：「午時已到。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MfDl4oeiY
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51M972uTrh
杜攸上前一步，高聲道：「李大人，吉時已到。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC0EU4ik9N
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgffT02ndmK
「知道了。」李孜省朝天舉起雙手。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FG1EMgkjG
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYFMeVWyF6
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarqIcXnt9q
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7wZs4vg9f
「這是惡兆，會召來厄運的。」杜攸驚叫。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCwXnZ68sG
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46Y9g34BZp
圍觀群眾面面相覷。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOqUg5E2mu
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8r3NlLYlP
「李大人，不能再拖延，著即開祭。」杜攸急道。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcgXTSI0jT
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59SNsyFOJN
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTv8nImcV2
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGaKDJHheM
「我本卜祭為民，吾請自當之。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGRlLbMYLN
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5DkuQnEz2
李孜省手持觚爵，內盛秫酒，禮敬天地四方。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkvAWE3tXv
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsWtjUAxhp
其餘弟子手中捧著大觚，將祭酒往各方彈灑。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcxKUTzlaM
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFVdfQ4g7N
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLx8U71oam
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7V8KAVcTB
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpidz7HJnoP
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDmV8XemSb
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIqb2YJDTf
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QEneW1IwA
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2a6bewGxyb
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrpC5njBTB
「……遊赤水駕驩，越崑崙各霞迎驤……」李孜省仍在吟唱。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rJ3vQRPjY
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCSXStCiRK
祭詞像是永無止盡。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw6NbS95Sc
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4pVn3Elge
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaf0v1OpvVN
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNzBKyf4WD
李孜省似乎也想盡速了結，揚手召喚。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC1wvR3j6y
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWae7xinzk
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhtVNEqlOT
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Y1d3sFtej
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNfe19GVYj
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4viKUMFNk
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：236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamzeQj9h3Z
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLe3HnoIhf
邦畿千里，為民所止，
肇域彼四海，四海來假，
來假祁祁……236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY80vsqNd0
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JUxo2uSbj
杜攸悄悄移開了目光――他討厭見血。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQlhd1iwFl
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYshVzeojFB
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzPTCTqztk
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHQT0XIorl
不對勁啊，杜攸心中暗忖。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUwHV27UW3
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F34jnvyhD
他從未看過會挪移翻騰的霧。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtAZeTcqPL
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dtQZWRfzj
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoCtpSVlSF
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgQil0atTJ
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSuakH90B0
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SpjV0RHym
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDgPwfTklB
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhtl11ZN3I
「什麼人，竟敢擅闖祭儀？」杜攸顫聲說道。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5whiIdB7H
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPeEm4NAkL
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl1n2cI07x
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qQoxU5KXT
「來……來人，給我拿下！」杜攸驚慌地大喊，腳步胡亂往後退去。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEExYN6CqhU
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyaW7Lv8ZS
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQBdY9L1VV
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmjjRbMykB
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKafC1qporI
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoWjQ2ZlWB
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSjM0zubSW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbZwmyWQq8
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzQJHVYwa1
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcHJ846IlM
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？」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxNfRtjHpn
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNThAZTU8Bb
男子啐了一口，一腳將杜攸踹翻在地。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNofkex7vK
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbhJcNjStz
杜攸想起身逃跑，膝蓋卻不聽使喚，連腿都直不起來。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y1W6QBxuq
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC7BfCWodO
「別……別殺我，我給你錢……」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrCENyldIn
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwL2o9t4ss
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdLTjgqT2T
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vtnOEYMIi
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。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcZAaB76SW
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o9wEh1H0m
§236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF3mRHy7jh
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmivRhtJJop
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnLYlpxsZG
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aphKxVTIG
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？236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugyeBCrQ7q
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0BynV2eqZ
李孜省迫不及待地想逃離這祭臺，卻不敢妄動。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQLB4YRjmv
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVHMGJVyAs
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb2M0lzsk0
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS0eL3Z6zR
莫非……皇帝發現真相，這些人是來殺他的？236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZdJscEpcF
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiIWkKYPJw
李孜省後悔莫名，他真不該聽信汪直和李子龍。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S39P0hDIh
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IqAu55ImL
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NhusGoy4S
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCShDcQBPG
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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F0pxg2JcN
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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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxN9kRxBwAZ
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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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbqgPNGA31
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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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7CkE7O6AJ
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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。」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRlCFbzTXG
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男子的聲音恍惚晃蕩，忽遠忽近。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFGl6M25Pp
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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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCEbC6eVHp
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這才是真的仙風道骨，衣不染塵啊！236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhIx1OpSLM
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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！」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP20aNCDCyL
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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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VquqT8DMX
236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusjKyfvQCH
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？」236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q5tkxzLeg
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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？236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0eFpkSQuB
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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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXO9Fxv2xk
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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。236Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0kxmwsKgA
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