天寶元年春日,藏劍山莊老莊主傳來消息,說是近期有一純陽宮真人旅經山莊後替之卜卦,竟明言葉家將有災厄降至,便私信命葉鸛速速歸莊承接其職責。54Please respect copyright.PENANA1cvulXviXv
男人顫抖指尖捏緊紙張,久久無法挪開視線。54Please respect copyright.PENANAyXKaW5Bqlz
職責。54Please respect copyright.PENANAaxYZEbiXz5
這兩字如同烈焰灼燒其目。54Please respect copyright.PENANAI5M7gpKTyF
是啊,這幾年過得近乎平順,讓他忘記自己此刻姓葉的緣由。54Please respect copyright.PENANAyCgy7Glfk9
男人將書信壓至櫃底。54Please respect copyright.PENANAvOvfxio2aN
凝望眉頭深鎖的葉鸛,洪九安先沉默輕摸洪蒔的頭,少女立刻知曉母親之意、乖巧起身表示出去練習武學,接著女人疑惑開口:「你怎麼了?這幾天看你魂不守舍。」54Please respect copyright.PENANAs1NYFvXMLW
「我⋯⋯」渾身一震,葉鸛張口猶豫半晌才在女人視線下從實招來:「老莊主傳信來要我即刻歸莊,履行職責。」54Please respect copyright.PENANACDsgNAzHUv
聽聞後洪九安也跟著沈默良久,她自然知曉葉鸛在山莊裡的為難處境,便問道:「你想回去嗎?」54Please respect copyright.PENANAdupOvgtz5Q
葉鸛目光停留在指尖。54Please respect copyright.PENANAyLY7zGsdGN
想回去又或不想回去是如此簡單三言兩語能說清?54Please respect copyright.PENANA65WipZeazY
他並非莫願歸莊,畢竟那雖非其血親家族,卻也供其衣食與遮風避雨處。只是,這兩年在外頭有些自在慣了,若回去要面對的僅有職責與承受厄運,非但過去的恐懼與疼痛會自心底湧出,更參雜許多不甘。54Please respect copyright.PENANANLIKH3iT6v
「我不知道⋯⋯」他喃喃低語闔起雙眸。54Please respect copyright.PENANA7OiJgBDhY6
見狀,洪九安似乎想握住對方的手卻在咫尺內停下,咬著唇思索後說:「若你要回去,需要我陪你嗎?」54Please respect copyright.PENANARirDBQtoxr
不掩訝異神態,葉鸛張開眼與洪九安對視。54Please respect copyright.PENANApzRK8Ug8ea
他們在目光間遲疑試探彼此,或許是想得到某些承諾與肯首,卻終究沒能把話說出口,只怕連允諾都會改變熟悉的一切。54Please respect copyright.PENANAGk29DVSSSU
最終,葉鸛還是搖頭。54Please respect copyright.PENANAxHxh8ZpzSL
他必須自己回去面對。54Please respect copyright.PENANATWs2hWU1tB
男人收拾簡單行囊便準備回西湖,道別時洪蒔貌似想拉住他卻沒動手,看了眼娘親壓在自己肩頭的手,僅是朝葉鸛揚起笑容。54Please respect copyright.PENANAFp5JXraM1H
少女的笑使葉鸛沒忍住出聲應允:「我約莫一月便能回來。」說完像是想確認什麼般直視洪九安。54Please respect copyright.PENANA9pGWmQAFxu
而如此對視讓女人掌心收緊,許久後頷首。54Please respect copyright.PENANAwJ1oJ73xP4
「我們等你回來。」
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久未長時留宿藏劍山莊,因此葉鸛無論面對不甚親近的兄姐、還是名義上為父親的葉孟秋都讓他略有不適,更莫提夜間被養父喚至房內、再三告誡責任。54Please respect copyright.PENANAj66mTIHcpI
「你這幾年於揚州之事尚合乎家裡所盼,也算不愧與對兄姐照護、夫子教誨。」54Please respect copyright.PENANAbmRiYyz3w8
已顯老態的男人仍目光敏銳、丹田發聲有力。54Please respect copyright.PENANAjLqGiMT1ag
「你須護兄姐遠離厄運,便是對家族盡心盡力之舉,沒忘就隨道長去吧。」54Please respect copyright.PENANAr9ERsbTT2H
葉鸛本以為自已能開口述其心中不願,未料在聽葉孟秋所述後仍是垂首接下指令,並隨旁側久駐的純陽道者前往與外隔絕的密室。只是,葉鸛跨出的每步都伴隨耳邊響起過去所聞。54Please respect copyright.PENANA4skEroUkJt
那些害怕再次憶起的一切。54Please respect copyright.PENANAU0ajje81VH
「羔羊尚知跪乳,養你多年就為吾兒分攤厄運。」54Please respect copyright.PENANAqvNLrlhv2c
如無數聲響灌頂、於腦海竄流。54Please respect copyright.PENANABwuYEyUgoe
「這孩子資質駑鈍,恐難成大事,成替災之人倒也不差。」54Please respect copyright.PENANA0TqAVkC9Rl
無論是悲傷、憤怒、指責、批判,或鄙夷。54Please respect copyright.PENANAw9ehNWuemD
「弟弟年紀小啊!你是兄長,怎捨得他們離家受苦?」54Please respect copyright.PENANAGvMtZEedAK
還有被迫別離。54Please respect copyright.PENANADsdMwXbYEo
「我們把阿火送去吧?葉大人給得起治病的銀兩啊⋯⋯」54Please respect copyright.PENANA41OCLpU9VS
在這些話語下的葉鸛步伐逐漸遲緩,最終踏入密室前便無法支撐、雙腿跪顫抖跪下。他抬頭起來望見門內的鎖鏈與施咒陣法,引發手腕腳踝陣陣痛楚,趕忙挪開視線、不敢再看,深怕心底的恐懼又會將自己淹滅。54Please respect copyright.PENANAEjFzoAEtVJ
直到某個熟悉嗓音響起。54Please respect copyright.PENANAsTayj27IMM
「需要我陪你嗎?」54Please respect copyright.PENANARTujNJ2JlP
葉鸛猛然回首,本以為洪九安在身後,卻發現不過是空歡喜,僅能獨自撐起雙腿、邁入室中。54Please respect copyright.PENANAhP7WXIV3zP
54Please respect copyright.PENANAs90jIaerpg
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此次承厄做法結束後,葉鸛在山莊偏堂昏迷兩日、還發高燒不退,葉靚衣知曉後連忙派人送來些補品、葉暉也立即差了山莊內的大夫來診,卻無人能斷言是何病,僅能估量是嚴重風寒。54Please respect copyright.PENANAt3DWXX4wxb
終究未有人知曉真相。54Please respect copyright.PENANANvbWyq0fpn
被厄運纏身的葉鸛呻吟不止,在詭譎混亂的夢裡他又成為張火,反覆被爺娘綁在懸崖邊的樹上。54Please respect copyright.PENANA8mcv3F6e6c
途中,他死命抓住娘親的手臂、衣袖,卻終究被她指指扳開,綑於盤根錯節的樹幹,讓生長於此樹巨大又不祥的鳥類將其包圍、被其以不解的目光審視。緊接著狂風作響、暴雨打下,不過是孩童的他毫無遮蔽,父母卻在遠處屋中抱緊幼弟凝望一切。54Please respect copyright.PENANA1BDJWB2tQW
明明連娘親的長相都記不住,遙遠到成為褪色又殘破的肖像,然為何指尖堅決的分離之感卻那麼清晰?54Please respect copyright.PENANAL1ZvbPnle2
54Please respect copyright.PENANAqYyCB9ZpI0
阿娘,不要走⋯⋯54Please respect copyright.PENANAv6WBudw8GP
我會當個好孩子,我不會惹你生氣,我會好好照顧弟妹。54Please respect copyright.PENANAKV09CTLhab
阿爺,不要走⋯⋯54Please respect copyright.PENANAn4YnGMPxze
我什麼都願意做!54Please respect copyright.PENANAi909ImBaSN
不要賣掉我——54Please respect copyright.PENANAvYADHsGByk
不要離開我!54Please respect copyright.PENANAco2IX1BvWk
54Please respect copyright.PENANAZtg2shUNvz
「阿娘⋯⋯」54Please respect copyright.PENANAjOJpy1IDHc
微涼的布條驅散葉鸛額間灼熱與暈眩,半迷茫中他好像感受到有隻手握著自己,伴隨他陷入沉穩的安睡裡,直到夢境雨勢逐漸轉為綿綿細絲,最後終於醒在微亮晨曦間。54Please respect copyright.PENANAnGVXrEDaNO
而他睜眼就看見洪九安坐在床畔,霎那愣住以為仍在夢中,直到對方開口:54Please respect copyright.PENANAKjNg7aVaCD
「呦,醒了?」54Please respect copyright.PENANApvy35uvAdy
女人看起來疲憊目光卻清醒,葉鸛環視後注意到洪蒔也正睡在另側的臥椅上頭,支嗚幾聲才找回聲音、以沙啞的嗓子問:「九安⋯⋯妳怎麼在這裡?」54Please respect copyright.PENANArdpxaRiHJ9
見男人思緒貌似混亂,女人安撫般低語:「你們家小姐表示你剛回來便久病不起,很擔心你,讓人請我來看看,現在如何?」而看著依舊莫敢置信的葉鸛,她忍不住笑出來,卻又怕吵醒女兒收聲表示:「不用勉強起來,想睡就再睡一會吧。」54Please respect copyright.PENANAyau7w88i0a
「我會在這邊。」54Please respect copyright.PENANAh6MjFDvrOW
洪九安相當溫柔。54Please respect copyright.PENANAyB9xcNh5SE
認識多年後葉鸛依舊如此認為。54Please respect copyright.PENANAAezqoRGh91
儘管這說出口會被當成笑話,但他比誰都清楚,洪九安的溫柔並非若大家閨秀般地婉約可人,畢竟她豪放不拘、武功了得、也曾對自己怒吼喝斥,如同所有江湖兒女。54Please respect copyright.PENANAb06yTcAqhX
其溫柔是知曉如何在下墜的夢魘中伸手拉住自己,是當自己傾吐軟弱時也不會出言嘲弄。54Please respect copyright.PENANA7Nxj2TQ4QF
葉鸛凝望洪九安,內心浮現慾念。54Please respect copyright.PENANAtucsTOtFZq
他一生未敢奢求什麼,然而今日卻想要⋯⋯得到她。54Please respect copyright.PENANAb3T8frvP5a
要她永遠在自己身邊。54Please respect copyright.PENANAwIk2ziwq3S
他忍不住想向女人伸出手抓住她,如同當初用盡全力攫緊離去的娘親那般。然而,男人尚未碰到洪九安便與其四目相接。54Please respect copyright.PENANAVavLFKxF0I
在那雙眸子凝視下,葉鸛腦中驀地浮初見的她、與其發生爭執的她、現喝醉時欲泣的她,緊接是被無數口舌評價的她,霎時交疊。54Please respect copyright.PENANAiVLel94ujF
我為什麼有這麼可怕的想法?54Please respect copyright.PENANAm3bT5UbFTi
洪九安並非物品,他又何能得到她呢?54Please respect copyright.PENANAE2RMIGuiFi
我到底真正想要的是什麼?54Please respect copyright.PENANAQbygHKNhpx
「傻甚麼啊?」洪九安瞧葉鸛怔著模樣如剛睡醒的洪蒔,便沒忍住如對洪蒔般輕拍男人頭。54Please respect copyright.PENANAJLUYGDJdqx
只是她才撫上男人的髮絲便愣住,葉鸛亦同。54Please respect copyright.PENANA2iAWo8vxND
沉默蔓延,兩人皆下意識撇過頭,而洪九安本要抽回僵直的手卻被葉鸛握住。54Please respect copyright.PENANArTrazu7bph
其實葉鸛長久來都不清楚女人到底怎麼看自己,但此刻他知道那雙纖細又長年練武的掌心沒有騙人。54Please respect copyright.PENANAnohM6Dgz6e
女人跟自己相同。54Please respect copyright.PENANAqeZCnFOqqN
想靠近卻又畏懼。54Please respect copyright.PENANARxF8bHEgNq
「九安⋯⋯」54Please respect copyright.PENANAdCbCNEqERh
他有些膽怯,仍輕聲呼喚。54Please respect copyright.PENANAo68nRoW9ls
「我⋯⋯」54Please respect copyright.PENANAyvQ8nhZCtD
稍微掙脫被握著的手,洪九安打斷葉鸛接下來要說的話語,垂首沈思,良久起身到桌上拿起藥酒斟滿兩盞,並將其中一杯遞給葉鸛。54Please respect copyright.PENANAD3ALygy9lr
那酒味甚淡,是葉鸛能接受的濃度。54Please respect copyright.PENANAOBWiAKE51g
「阿鸛⋯⋯」54Please respect copyright.PENANAqVbL16KfA9
她忽然呼喚其名。54Please respect copyright.PENANAeGSOnLMMvV
「突然很想說,這些年也謝謝你了。」女人邊講邊舉杯道:「有時候會覺得雖說爺娘走得早,但上天也待我不薄,讓我仍然擁有家人。」54Please respect copyright.PENANAmLIgkRJKHI
講到這,洪九安露出晴朗笑意,如同張鸛遇見洪蒔那天看見的朝陽,把他心中的海面染成金碧輝煌,炫目移不開視線。54Please respect copyright.PENANA63JsWsTVk0
家人⋯⋯54Please respect copyright.PENANAwZMqXWjBg8
那是其從沒理解的關係,更是未曾聽過的言語。54Please respect copyright.PENANA4YvZ4KZqUT
生於張家開始,到被放棄賣到葉家成為姓葉的某人,葉鸛總覺自己無依無靠,如同大樹上的枯枝,即使遭蟲蛀或被風吹雨打落也不會有人在乎。54Please respect copyright.PENANAUJPoSYSNWX
可此刻眼前的女子卻突然出現,將他從地上撿起、攜其同行、踏上朝向未知江湖的旅程,仿若於最幽暗之時提起明燈,指引迷津。54Please respect copyright.PENANAzMXhLxQ1RO
因此即使有些惶恐,葉鸛仍伸出手托住酒杯和洪九安的杯緣相碰。54Please respect copyright.PENANAHLP1mqAHPj
「讓我們敬能共飲於這江湖中吧。」54Please respect copyright.PENANAj41ZKghdIF
他不是很懂,但若與君共行或許某天能找到答案吧。54Please respect copyright.PENANA30zUQLrEDC
兩人雙雙仰頭飲下。
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泰阿姥仰望天幕。54Please respect copyright.PENANAkWRPE6bK6i
雙星同生,能燒毀彼此亦能互相照耀。54Please respect copyright.PENANAhjHIHvrVyb
她所擔心之事並未發生,看來果真否極泰來。思及此,老婦人露出欣慰又帶點哀傷的笑容拿起酒壺。54Please respect copyright.PENANA6rFLQOZ70Z
朝天敬酒。
(正文完)54Please respect copyright.PENANAhFwrkqTYzA