第二回 賀鋼先的復甦
如果不找回魔星,賀鋼先就無法徹底復活。33Please respect copyright.PENANAQegEnhfTnI
此刻的他,僅是暫時保有一絲生機而已。
◇
時間回到流星隕落之日。33Please respect copyright.PENANAcaYEInOH3O
龍虎山乃道教聖地,位於江南地區,以秀麗山河聞名。
李秀跋山涉水,終於來到此處。33Please respect copyright.PENANAYSCYKl9AU9
昨日還是艷陽高照,今早卻飄起雪花。儘管路途崎嶇難行,但看著皚皚白雪覆蓋的奇岩怪石,李秀不禁展顏歡笑。33Please respect copyright.PENANAJPctMaOU27
「長安哪見得到這番壯闊美景啊。路遠辛苦,但能到此一遊,心滿意足了!」33Please respect copyright.PENANAjy7PbYKitf
李秀脫下斗笠,任憑夾雜霜雪的寒風吹拂,舒暢地深吸一口氣。33Please respect copyright.PENANAarCgywKbXB
「這位客官,歡迎來到龍虎山,不知您從何方而來?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAQxPElkxEQd
一聲招呼突然響起,李秀轉身一看,只見一輛載貨馬車漸漸靠近。車夫是位戴著鐵冠的年輕男子,他勒馬下車走來。李秀連忙重新戴上帽子,深怕被認出女兒身來。33Please respect copyright.PENANAIOtmHAG9ma
「在下賀雷先,是本地人。要不要我給你帶路?外頭還在下雪呢,不如上車避避寒吧。」33Please respect copyright.PENANA7THMaOShDB
為免聲音洩露身分,李秀壓低嗓音說:「不必了,我奉朝廷之命前來公幹。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAlRGy1z3ToD
聽聞此言,雷先狐疑地打量李秀一番,瞪大眼睛說:33Please respect copyright.PENANAROJg4wMhsi
「公幹?你看著年紀輕輕的,真是朝廷命官?近來盜賊猖獗,還常有人冒充官員呢。該不會是什麼奸細吧,是不是來打探虛實的?」33Please respect copyright.PENANA6pntvgRSo6
「你在妄言什麼!」李秀震驚地喊道。33Please respect copyright.PENANAfIjpl8PWoG
雷先不等她分辯,徑直從車上抽出一根棍子。33Please respect copyright.PENANAO03p4KVobY
「給我滾遠點!別再靠近龍虎山!」33Please respect copyright.PENANAx3eSKdDbuK
烏黑的棍影在銀裝素裹的世界中翩翩起舞。情急之下,李秀伸手到腰後,拔出雙戟架開了棍子,把個雷先嚇了一跳。33Please respect copyright.PENANANUuX4z8s1n
「果然是個賊人!你倒有兩下子,那我就認真起來了!」33Please respect copyright.PENANAGK5Kx0as97
眼見對方勢在必得,李秀也來了鬥志,擺出戰鬥姿態。33Please respect copyright.PENANAS5gKNm83vQ
「我四海為家,全身筋骨都僵了。來吧,讓我好好活動活動!」33Please respect copyright.PENANAfvlKpLJ9Yu
兩人踢起滿地落雪,揮舞兵器互相攻擊。雷先力大無窮,無論遠近都能靈活運用手中棍棒。但李秀也不遑多讓,身手矯捷,在千鈞一髮之際躲過攻擊,瞄準雷先的頭顱和下盤猛烈進攻。33Please respect copyright.PENANAIASf2Xz8wS
激戰三十回合,兩敗俱傷,不分勝負,都精疲力盡地癱坐在路邊石頭上。這時,一封神秘的信函從李秀懷中滑落,看到信函,李秀恍然大悟。33Please respect copyright.PENANAuUBXllsSsx
「啊,通關文牒!我早該拿出來的。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAa7dEwgGaY4
那是一紙由朝廷頒發的過關許可,上面蓋著鮮紅的大印。雷先定睛一看,驚訝地說:33Please respect copyright.PENANAVQBjfSEvEm
「什麼,你真是朝廷官員?剛才差點傷了你!」33Please respect copyright.PENANASGPBD3Gx0T
李秀氣鼓鼓地回道:「哼,下回再隨便動私刑,小心我不饒你!唉,舞刀弄棒的,渾身都熱了。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAslPeYG5oPW
她摘下帽子抹汗,卻沒留意到一陣狂風吹亂了柔順的青絲。33Please respect copyright.PENANAijvidBLnlE
看到她的臉龐,雷先大吃一驚。33Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3PpQ3hNnV
「咦?原,原來你是個女娘子!」33Please respect copyright.PENANAlT6WFEYxBo
「糟糕!」33Please respect copyright.PENANAp2adVrzzLi
慌亂之中,李秀想重新戴回帽子,最後還是放棄了。33Please respect copyright.PENANAgZstc8n7UJ
「沒錯,我因故喬裝男裝。算了,剛才你冒犯了我,就請你帶路去見張天師吧。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAjNcaaT53sm
雷先遲疑地點點頭,「就這麼辦吧。我正好是上清宮的道士,咱們走吧。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAs5AGcchIiX
二人一同乘馬車,很快就抵達了大本堂——上清宮。
◇
上清宮歷代都有一位教主,尊稱「張天師」 ,取其姓氏。現任天師名喚張曉,年屆花甲,法力高強且武藝非凡。此時,他正接見一位太史監派來的使者。33Please respect copyright.PENANAlD5u5Pj1w0
太史監專司天文曆法,眼前這位自稱李秀的使臣雖然男裝打扮,卻原是一名秀麗的少女。33Please respect copyright.PENANAZOfo54eK9E
她懇求張天師開放龍虎山所藏的觀星紀錄供她查閱。張天師回答說:33Please respect copyright.PENANAIrBXWYOzIu
「此乃本山機密,非同小可,除非李秀姑娘有正當理由。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAAw9QmrLJtX
李秀點頭,嚴肅地說:「不好意思唐突來訪。實不相瞞,太史監在整理記錄時,發現天罡地煞一百零八星在50年前就消失於天象,不知張天師可有所悉?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAMcXBb6dSX4
聽到這話,張天師的臉色瞬間沉了下來,「這個嘛,我是聽說過,但看似對世道人心影響不大,所以也就沒特意上報了。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAelJ0UnoeVk
「那麼,還請張天師准許在下覆核貴山記錄。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAi0NT2jRJWl
李秀語氣犀利地提出要求。33Please respect copyright.PENANA5nbvXpGTsC
「……我知道了。」張天師嘆了口氣,吩咐雜役道士前往倉庫取檔案。33Please respect copyright.PENANA7smYdjv82T
當日,龍虎山大雪紛飛,道路泥濘難行。負責雜役的賀氏兄弟抱著厚重的星象志,在風雪中趕往張天師處。33Please respect copyright.PENANA5GU9lpXSQj
日暮時分,天色漸暗,梅花怒放,但他們無暇欣賞。33Please respect copyright.PENANAqfzDK4J71N
兄弟倆帶著冰冷的身軀走下山坡,穿過樹林。突然,雷先指著高空大喊:「你看,是顆流星!」33Please respect copyright.PENANAcm5CUhJYcL
鋼先抬頭望天。33Please respect copyright.PENANAscLKiUfBZ2
「真的耶,這夠資格記進觀星志裡了。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAwvbKjJumqT
然而,鋼先隨即覺得不對勁,「大哥,天上烏雲密布,怎麼看得見流星?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAsWdQrlRQd4
話音未落,一團巨大的光球伴隨震耳欲聾的巨響,直撲兩人而來。33Please respect copyright.PENANAG5ebd0OxMg
「不好,快閃開!」33Please respect copyright.PENANAPEKCavlwJj
鋼先猛力將雷先推開,自己卻被流星撞個正著,頃刻間血肉模糊,氣絕身亡。
「發,發生什麼事了?打雷了嗎?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAcunv508ZEr
遠處的張天師聽到巨響,心生疑竇。他帶著李秀來到外頭察看,眾多道士和百姓也紛紛跑出來。33Please respect copyright.PENANAiusERneCs9
看到長子應究,張天師問道:「應究,剛才的巨響是怎麼回事?莫非出事了?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAQwXeiZYKiB
應究答道:「還不清楚。總之我先去安撫大家的情緒。」33Please respect copyright.PENANADYQfQ4wmK4
將此事交代給兒子,張天師朝聲音傳來的方向走去。只見山腳下濃煙滾滾,竟引發了小火災。張天師和李秀加快腳步前往查看,卻在茫茫白雪中發現一個神秘人影。33Please respect copyright.PENANA79dKYuk15B
定睛一看,是個身材魁梧的武將,懷中還抱著一個人。33Please respect copyright.PENANAbX2f0BHxXX
「那人……是山上的弟子嗎?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAzzyWDKyTMM
李秀問道。張天師搖了搖頭。33Please respect copyright.PENANALP7yE2k5Ld
兩人跑近一瞧,那武將開口說:「這少年剛才不幸身亡。我好不容易才把他的魂魄給攔下。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAeteBX9eV6C
張天師定睛一看,簡直不敢相信眼前所見,「這,這不就是我派去倉庫的小夥子嗎!」33Please respect copyright.PENANA4M67jEF2O8
此時,應究和雷先也趕到了。應究大聲說:「爹,不好了!聽說雷先的弟弟被流星砸中啦!」33Please respect copyright.PENANARubylzyxU4
張天師說:「嗯,人就在這裡……看來是出了大事啊。」33Please respect copyright.PENANA4opL7W2afh
他再次打量那位武將。33Please respect copyright.PENANANhwVCqta6G
「敢問閣下尊姓大名?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAIOSju2OAg9
應究,李秀,雷先也紛紛將目光投向對方。武將抱緊鋼先的遺體,挺起胸膛回答:33Please respect copyright.PENANAplxrVUIBAe
「我乃天魁星,統領天罡地煞一百零八星之首。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAhDE6akbf8k
說著,他以真摯的眼神向眾人致歉。33Please respect copyright.PENANApHbuW4nPkN
「什麼?你,你就是天上那一百零八星?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAbaRgxPSuQ6
張天師聽了,目瞪口呆。心中疑問叢生,但眼下最要緊的是鋼先的情況,於是連忙邀請武將來到上清宮正殿。33Please respect copyright.PENANADlSUpIgCYX
張天師讓人把鋼先平放在供桌上。只見遺體遍體鱗傷,慘不忍睹。33Please respect copyright.PENANAlYBHe9lIdM
「喂,你說你是天魁星是吧?我們剛才還聊到你們呢。話說回來,你怎麼會撞到他?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAipN7aCXVxf
張天師瞪著天魁星。對方恭恭敬敬地行了個禮,說:33Please respect copyright.PENANAJdF69ghdTS
「實在抱歉。因為有種不祥之感,所以才拼命往前飛。」33Please respect copyright.PENANA0Z1CeGXI3X
「就這樣?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAh0XFlNaq50
「是的,就這樣。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAopKvbMKwXm
天魁星又行了個大禮。張天師則氣沖沖地锤著桌子。33Please respect copyright.PENANAYEbgBfCTxa
這時,李秀想借由龍虎山的星象志查個明白。但觀星記錄在剛才的劇烈碰撞下破爛不堪,已無法辨認。她指著自己帶來的太史監記錄說:33Please respect copyright.PENANAW44C4bBayT
「你們一百零八位星君如今都下凡了,所以才不見蹤影。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAHolzRQ6RxT
張天師揮手趕人,憤怒地說:「還不快滾回天庭!把這事稟告西王母,讓你們統統受罰!」33Please respect copyright.PENANAZrJWzJFwN8
就在這時,應究望向窗外,像是發現了什麼,「爹,有一群陌生人朝我們這兒走來了。」33Please respect copyright.PENANA9QwHOUGouV
眾人趕緊來到外頭,只見一支隊伍排成一列,為首的是位身著華服的女子,架勢不小。33Please respect copyright.PENANACqWSXFmDnI
「這是什麼情況?該不會是哪家貴婦吧?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAZUqGRVjxhr
雷先剛說完,張天師便皺起眉頭,「不,不會吧,沒想到連她也來了。」33Please respect copyright.PENANATZjH0TVpeE
「誒?天師認識他們?」33Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZlboFmWZg
「豈止認識啊,她可是西王母的使者—— 英貞童女。只是不知她此來何意……」33Please respect copyright.PENANAaAxgNwGTpJ
沒錯,來者全是女眷。33Please respect copyright.PENANANB7uicNSuJ
兩名侍女向張天師行禮,退到隊伍兩側。英貞童女款款而來,雖稱「童女」 ,卻是位美貌絕倫的仙姑。33Please respect copyright.PENANAxpV8T8qlPg
她說:「別來無恙,張天師。聽聞貴處來了一位天魁星?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAiVXwIOwc5o
張天師趕忙還禮,說道:「正是。那星君從天而降,不慎撞死了本山一名弟子。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAwfqdPmVTZT
英貞童女睜大眼睛,「竟,竟有此等荒唐事!這是何時發生的?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAihf7BFGos9
「就在剛才。唉,不勝唏噓啊。」33Please respect copyright.PENANASfbbDjgLNt
張天師嘆了口氣。英貞童女瞥見鋼先胸前微弱的光芒,搖頭道:33Please respect copyright.PENANAbtfTw0mmCj
「天師寬心,此人魂魄尚在。容我設法。九天玄女,六合慧女,速速準備法器。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAyN1u8I21OX
她朝身旁兩名下屬吩咐。33Please respect copyright.PENANAWUByrPQWY9
九天玄女答道:「遵命。就由我施法吧。六合,妳來幫我的忙。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAMUeAQIE6rc
「好的,姊姊。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAIrT62whdtP
眾目睽睽之下,九天玄女走進正殿,取出葫蘆往鋼先身上灑水,又脫下外袍蓋在他身上。接著,她從六合慧女手中接過護符,置於鋼先身上,隨即結印念咒。法事完畢,她長吁一口氣。33Please respect copyright.PENANAPIeE8xeZJW
「這是在做什麼?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAxvdlXoKroT
張天師問道。九天玄女整了整衣襟,答道:33Please respect copyright.PENANAUSsV4CoIfp
「我用靈水修復他的肉身,這樣可以多爭取一些時日。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAPQ9eVpikIz
「妳,妳的意思是,能讓他起死回生?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAfvme3dgv7X
英貞童女搖了搖頭。33Please respect copyright.PENANA6kKYDtMRzs
「目前還不行。靈魂一旦出竅,就難以長久附體。據說人間有一種靈藥名叫『返魂丹』,服了就能重塑魂魄。但尋找此藥需時頗久,在這期間,必須有人進入他的身體,暫時維繫魂魄。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAlaeEsywwC7
「這,這怎麼可能?」33Please respect copyright.PENANAdHf9j1qKqR
張天師滿臉狐疑。九天玄女解釋道:33Please respect copyright.PENANA2be69shcM9
「這是極其罕見的秘法,就連天界也只有屈指可數的仙人能施展。利用旁人的魂魄牽引目標靈魂。但若是凡人,其中一方就會失去肉身。所以這任務非得由天界眾完成不可。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAgX31P8cWoC
天魁星忽然站了出來,自告奮勇道:33Please respect copyright.PENANAUNW7MMMblq
「鋼先之傷,乃我一時失手所致。這項任務就交給在下了。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAx6cbo9cWOU
「什,什麼?」33Please respect copyright.PENANATFNkWFrmsj
張天師等人面面相覷,一臉不安。英貞童女卻苦笑著說:33Please respect copyright.PENANAR6xsGh3Ns0
「張天師雖有所顧慮,但眼下也只能如此了。天魁星為人魯莽,但忠厚老實,責任心強,此事就交給他比較穩妥。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAFBlcVv3a1Z
張天師趕緊說:「哪,哪裡的話。我明白了。只要童女及時備妥返魂丹,就沒問題。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAcevDvFjB7i
然而李秀卻一臉疑惑地打岔道:「可是這樣不要緊嗎?太史監的記載顯示,一百零八星有聚合的趨勢。若讓天魁星附身,恐怕會……」33Please respect copyright.PENANAZiC9EA6ydU
英貞童女心領神會,點頭接話:「餘下一百零七星會被鋼先吸引過來,是吧。他們居然偷溜下凡,明明早有禁令不許擅闖人間。」33Please respect copyright.PENANABCv5o5IFbN
天魁星在英貞童女的注視下,趕忙躬身賠罪。33Please respect copyright.PENANAxJlGxfWpoa
英貞童女嚴肅地說:「對鋼先而言雖然不太公平,但還是要麻煩他協助尋回一百零七星。恐怕那些星宿已經附在凡人身上逍遙法外了。為了阻止這一切,鋼先必須踏上星宿尋訪之旅。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAjtkoFO48vN
聽到這唐突的要求,張天師驚愕地說:「這,這……鋼先又沒犯什麼滔天大罪,怎能受此奇冤。」33Please respect copyright.PENANALQJDo1Kimj
見張天師為難,雷先站出來說:「天師,只要弟弟還有一線生機,不管多危險,我都會陪他走下去的!」33Please respect copyright.PENANAIJQZuWZ98m
「這樣啊。既然如此……」33Please respect copyright.PENANAD8sr7HteGN
張天師終於點頭同意。正當眾人鬆了口氣,英貞童女卻要大家迴避。33Please respect copyright.PENANACgIACcPYyc
「接下來天魁星要與鋼先合體,屆時會迸發強光,恐傷了在座各位的眼睛,還請迴避。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAmbfGgQwo8C
張天師等人退出正殿,關上大門。藍白色光芒透過門縫激射而出,在雪地上反射出炫目光暈。33Please respect copyright.PENANAwJavXvX4O8
過了好一會兒,大門終於打開。英貞童女和六合慧女走出,對眾人說:33Please respect copyright.PENANAYuDQJP6RMb
「法術十分高深,或許要持續到明早。諸位無需在此久候,請先行歇息吧。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAZpPNvWfMuL
眾人聽罷,便各自散去。
◇
然而不久,張應究折返正殿,恭恭敬敬地施了一禮。33Please respect copyright.PENANAyuWWoFvZ68
「天師張曉之長子張應究,有要事求見英貞童女。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAyquiKwAixg
英貞童女和六合慧女應聲而出。33Please respect copyright.PENANABj96UwKab0
「何事?法術尚未完成呢。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAafQzJfpPIx
「非常抱歉……關於方才尋找一百零七星之事,晚輩有一事相求。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAo3NiPJE4ci
「但說無妨。」33Please respect copyright.PENANAFF1ljAOBP7
「是。那麼……」33Please respect copyright.PENANAgXK0gj1pMk
應究壓低聲音說了幾句,再次一揖,離開了正殿。
33Please respect copyright.PENANAU5lbQuIIdK
33Please respect copyright.PENANAcXMobMUNG8