仲夏之夜,和風吹起,使人感到清爽舒適。172Please respect copyright.PENANAuBvwUHVDcQ
172Please respect copyright.PENANAsrHj5RP0so
今夜天上萬里無雲,又逢月缺,千百顆閃亮的星星正互相輝映。172Please respect copyright.PENANAN7ltD2m3lu
172Please respect copyright.PENANAoFvvOJjsjq
然而星星之亮,又怎比人間燈火?172Please respect copyright.PENANA3HJOFzPwek
172Please respect copyright.PENANAMphWFzxfFY
在徐州城外北方二百里,龍岡鎮的一個大戶家中,正張燈結彩,大排筵席。172Please respect copyright.PENANAoIPsMndMa2
172Please respect copyright.PENANA27S7kutPBl
這大戶人家姓楊,乃是經營米業的。家中的獨生子楊雲,年方十二,便考得秀才之名回來。許多親友和鄉民都對他寄與厚望,昐日後他能考取功名,替龍岡鎮爭光。172Please respect copyright.PENANABpgo6zLeEo
172Please respect copyright.PENANAVtLxKnSbuX
楊雲的母親楊夫人,牽著楊雲的手,走到一位中年書生面前。172Please respect copyright.PENANA0t8uwn32Lz
172Please respect copyright.PENANA1m3OKxiRqK
楊夫人道:「雲兒,快來叩謝陳老師的教導吧!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAFIn3tg19dN
172Please respect copyright.PENANATROa1KyJXZ
楊雲立即向陳老師跪下來,卻立即被他扶起。172Please respect copyright.PENANAcvNIOUzjeT
172Please respect copyright.PENANATt2bwLTXSA
陳老師道:「楊夫人太客氣了,在下不過讀了幾年書,只考到一個秀才之名而已。如今雲兒初試亦已取得秀才資歷,在下亦不敢以師長自居了!」172Please respect copyright.PENANADumea1OhMz
172Please respect copyright.PENANA9PaoEHZS5Z
楊雲的父親楊龍正忙於招待客人,此刻回頭說道:「老師不用謙虛了,要不是老師你淡泊明志,早已取得官職了,何需屈居本鎮內教書呢?」172Please respect copyright.PENANAr6orcSK0t2
172Please respect copyright.PENANAgMkIXajcQP
陳老師搖頭道:「官場險惡,在下確實無意爭逐名利。可是雲兒天賦聰悟,前途無限,留在本鎮只怕浪費了!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAgeCiOzGlWR
172Please respect copyright.PENANAUastHxuHWN
楊龍慎重地問道:「依老師所說,我們該怎麼辦呢?」172Please respect copyright.PENANAkMDmbtwOdq
172Please respect copyright.PENANAIxpshhtKdy
陳老師回應道:「在下認為,該送雲兒到徐州城的學府讀書。那裡的學習環境較佳,雲兒在那裡自必有更有成就的。」172Please respect copyright.PENANA346ccMTaAi
172Please respect copyright.PENANAmYIhtGKJEF
楊龍和楊夫人對望了一眼,稍作思考,才道:「陳老師所言甚是,我會詳細考慮的了,今晚就請開懷慶祝吧!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAiVJsSqfOnt
172Please respect copyright.PENANA4aEScjeSUX
172Please respect copyright.PENANAepQQ4Q3r4D
三個月後,楊龍決定舉家搬到徐州城內居住,於鎮上的米業生意已轉賣他人。172Please respect copyright.PENANADYZjWCbEML
172Please respect copyright.PENANAk5cdhbBo9H
楊龍亦曾請陳老師同行,只是陳老師意欲留在鎮內教導其他學生,只好作罷。172Please respect copyright.PENANAinRZzRIog8
172Please respect copyright.PENANAIXdGO6lq4E
小鎮之中,並無鏢局,楊龍雖不算大富大貴,但家財還是不少。路途崎嶇,又有山賊作惡,於是他只好請鎮內一些有武功底子的壯士護行。172Please respect copyright.PENANA9Ho8VDrKks
172Please respect copyright.PENANAZXcpgcOkfi
一來楊龍名聲甚佳,二來楊雲是所有鎮民的希望,三來有不少人也希望順道到徐州城去,只有三千餘人的小鎮中,除了從徐州城聘請過來的十四名武師外,自願同行的村民竟有四、五十人之多。不過楊龍生性慷慨,一路上負責所有人的消費,令眾人都感激萬分。172Please respect copyright.PENANAlT8TIcYWxH
172Please respect copyright.PENANADSflIGnpEs
距離徐州還有兩日路程,大伙人經過山下時,突然號角聲響起,叢林中出現了數十名山賊。每個山賊都拿著大刀,瞪著楊龍身邊一箱箱的家財。172Please respect copyright.PENANAY8aHfzoUL0
172Please respect copyright.PENANAaz3uAt59Hj
原來沿途上楊龍人數眾多,早已被強盜們看上了。172Please respect copyright.PENANAUJ00DPXHbV
172Please respect copyright.PENANAHyjza1KXYK
此時楊龍雖已深知不妙,仍強作鎮定,站了出來。他留心山賊之中,有一位外表較威嚴,手上拿著一柄寶刀的大漢,知道是這伙山賊的頭子,便道:「這位便是寨主吧!在下並非大富之戶,家財亦是從正道所賺取。所謂盜亦有道,在下願意付出一半財產,給貴寨兄弟作為生活費,請寨主手下留情,讓我們通行吧!」172Please respect copyright.PENANA5k14TXKZn1
172Please respect copyright.PENANABeqE9ZkRT2
只見那山賊頭子大笑一聲,說道:「嘿嘿,你們休想離開!我早已查得清清楚楚,你的家財都是騙搶回來的。今天財不能過,人更不能過!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAfnjsweO58w
172Please respect copyright.PENANA7svzaqz4N7
楊龍知道他這麼說,是決意要一戰的了!只好把心一橫,說道:「既然寨主要含血噴人,在下亦只好得罪了!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAC5sfi2DnXB
172Please respect copyright.PENANAf9O6d1itVO
楊龍拔出身邊的一把劍,高舉起來。同行的鎮民,亦各自拿起武器。可是各鄉民大多都不會武功,所用的武器亦不過是木棍或短劍,如何抵擋山賊們的大刀呢?172Please respect copyright.PENANA5BwdczqB6u
172Please respect copyright.PENANAqPHRpNsw9M
刀光四起,血流遍地,雖然鎮民都拼命抵檔,亦不過徒然犧牲。楊龍年輕時曾修習劍術,在數個山賊圍攻下,仍能護著妻兒。至於那些財產,卻已盡被搶光了。172Please respect copyright.PENANATvh6wQ5y9Y
172Please respect copyright.PENANAir1A9b1Qmo
楊雲幾次要衝出幫忙,均被楊夫人拉著。眼見鎮民死傷甚重,圍攻楊龍的山賊卻越來越多,楊夫人自知無幸,於是對楊雲說:「雲兒,你聽著,趁有機會便全力逃跑吧!無論如何,都不能回來!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAjY2PhTpLYj
172Please respect copyright.PENANA4J4RsrOn2W
楊雲哭道:「那爹爹和娘親也一起逃吧!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAYr2iGTMyFy
172Please respect copyright.PENANApoZunfIxAe
楊夫人含淚說著:「雲兒,眼前的形勢,只能讓你一個逃走了,你將來長大,倘若能在朝為官,定要帶兵消滅山賊,替爹娘報仇!」172Please respect copyright.PENANA1ekH3eKUo6
172Please respect copyright.PENANAQREkjkOdeA
說話之間,楊龍已被山賊砍傷左臂。他雖然知道必然無幸,卻仍然揮動長劍,只想多殺一兩個山賊,為民除害。172Please respect copyright.PENANApMiF2C7Lxu
172Please respect copyright.PENANAbFsPDA6L3f
楊雲心中雖痛,卻亦明白強留下來,只會愧對父母養育之恩。徒死無益,於是他觀察四週環境,準備逃跑。172Please respect copyright.PENANA8e5zQnRiZQ
172Please respect copyright.PENANAXlUxVJNVoS
楊龍手臂雖傷,卻越戰越勇。山賊頭子發出命令,讓山寨各人不必和他作困獸鬥,只待楊龍氣力不繼,再拿他的性命。172Please respect copyright.PENANAlHWbwkhRHF
172Please respect copyright.PENANAx0AFKYAVww
突然間,楊夫人拿出匕首,衝向她身後那些山賊之中。楊雲緊隨其後,只見他母親大喝一聲,刺向其中一人。那山賊見她勇桿,倒不敢和她拼命,閃在一旁。卻不料楊夫人一刺不中,仍回身再刺。山賊們拔刀來擋,在楊夫人臂上拖出了一道長長的刀痕。正當那群山賊想活捉楊夫人時,才發覺楊雲早已衝出重圍。山賊頭子作賊心虛,立即率領三個手下追趕。172Please respect copyright.PENANAEkFDD07DZz
172Please respect copyright.PENANA8fd7FxTS3g
楊雲雖然不會武功,但自小讀書之餘,亦有跟隨爹爹鍛練體魄,身手倒也敏捷靈巧。而且他一直挑狹窄的小道逃走,穿石過林,一時間令山賊們亦追趕不上。
172Please respect copyright.PENANAAVqoEkNlUM
楊雲一邊跑,一邊張望四周環境,發現幾個捕捉猛獸的陷阱,心念一動,走往那些方向。172Please respect copyright.PENANA7uoztI84qN
172Please respect copyright.PENANAcNEi5hmEKO
山賊們見楊雲越走越慢,只道他氣力已盡,心中暗喜。豈料忽然腳下一空,竟跌進了那些陷阱之中。陷阱是獵人捕捉猛獸所佈下的,洞下放了尖剌,上面蓋著禾草。本來路人一看便知是陷阱,只是山賊們全力追趕,沒留心地上情況。只聽得山賊們慘痛大叫,恐怕即使能保住性命,卻免不了身受重傷。172Please respect copyright.PENANAs9asoJWWch
172Please respect copyright.PENANA1xNixfpWWW
但見一條人影,從洞穴中飛升上來。原來山賊頭子也不是等閒之輩,遇險不驚,踏著另一位山賊臂膊,從下跌之勢中躍了上來。172Please respect copyright.PENANAItly65nPJ6
172Please respect copyright.PENANASNpgnQbDz1
楊雲本以為可以逃脫,看到這情境卻不禁驚慌起來,於是立即轉身逃走,並沒有絲毫停頓。172Please respect copyright.PENANAkxfFvhedrz
172Please respect copyright.PENANA5woloOLT5j
楊雲一直逃走,山賊頭子卻緊追著。本來一個小孩子逃脫,也不算甚麼大事。可是這山賊頭子貪得無厭,不接受楊龍的贈半之議,有違盜亦有道的規矩。為免被綠林同道所不齒,無毒不丈夫,寧可斬草除根。172Please respect copyright.PENANAASnfuPnw1O
172Please respect copyright.PENANAsR3fv6HPvU
在前方不遠處,看到幾個乞丐,幾位官差一同坐在涼亭中休息。楊雲不想連累他們,大叫道:「山賊要殺人喇,快逃吧!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAtiVCQP3RuY
172Please respect copyright.PENANAwvtwrdJkpU
其實不用他說,官差們看到山賊頭子拿著大刀,早已溜得遠遠。172Please respect copyright.PENANAFAqmR5CfIY
172Please respect copyright.PENANAZHyVdBduDp
楊雲不說話還好,一開口,呼吸立時不順,雙腳便不受控制,倒了下去。172Please respect copyright.PENANAsB4XyXuSba
172Please respect copyright.PENANAHXDJRqmllz
只見一柄青龍刀在眼前一閃,將要砍下來。
172Please respect copyright.PENANAxptzGuvoJd
楊雲心道:「罷了!」然後閉目待死。172Please respect copyright.PENANATTOHn27pG5
172Please respect copyright.PENANAQHeF0hUeDb
噹!172Please respect copyright.PENANA1AoD8mN7Qm
172Please respect copyright.PENANAPKNuiCR1rb
楊雲張眼一看,只見青龍刀跌在地上,似乎是被一塊小石擊飛的。172Please respect copyright.PENANAmEuR4e71tm
172Please respect copyright.PENANA3yZ85dgIca
山賊頭子吃了一驚,知道此小石乃眼前一位老乞丐所發的。於是暗自提防,並說道:「這位大慨是丐幫的前輩吧!我們素來河水不犯井水,請閣下還是少管閒事,讓我帶這小鬼離去,不然別怪本寨主不客氣了!」172Please respect copyright.PENANABfahPdx4fq
172Please respect copyright.PENANAdlEOE4Gp5M
那老乞丐哈哈一笑,對他不作理會。卻走向楊雲身邊扶起了他,問道:「小朋友,你叫甚麼名字?他是為甚麼要追殺你?」172Please respect copyright.PENANAbOo4fihORU
172Please respect copyright.PENANA1tplaMMAd9
楊雲急道:「我叫楊雲。他是山賊的頭子,搶了我家的財產,還要殺人滅口!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAfv6eqhgPHV
172Please respect copyright.PENANAfJSl3z7iR5
楊雲話未說完,那山賊頭子拾起青龍刀,偷偷揮刀向那乞丐砍去!老乞丐大怒,喝了一聲:「混蛋!」
172Please respect copyright.PENANAiQPQsjgsOJ
老乞丐反手施展一記劈空掌,登時刮起一陣大風。172Please respect copyright.PENANAyZxbSGamLL
172Please respect copyright.PENANArRLs7I8pZN
只聽到噹的一聲,大刀分成兩截,那山賊頭子已經吐血身亡!172Please respect copyright.PENANAEZFEvXU9uu
172Please respect copyright.PENANAixlpVWOp6T
楊雲見這老乞丐厲害,立即道:「我父母還未脫險,請先生幫忙!」立即跪下一拜,並指向剛才遇劫的地方。172Please respect copyright.PENANAoJ2frjYMjm
172Please respect copyright.PENANArplumGNHez
那老乞丐向其餘數人招一招手,便抱起楊雲,依著他所指方向衝去。172Please respect copyright.PENANABoryEJyMVr
172Please respect copyright.PENANAV8vBs4JKp0
沿途經過剛才那陷阱,隱若聽到幾聲山賊們的叫喊聲,老乞丐向身後其中一人揚手,那人便停下來,處理那些跌進陷阱之中的山賊。172Please respect copyright.PENANAiZ8m1W41vr
172Please respect copyright.PENANAH3WrMxu5UY
頃刻間眾人便回到剛才的戰場,可是山賊們已經離去,地上滿是屍首。172Please respect copyright.PENANANJX1fg0R41
172Please respect copyright.PENANALzUgeYLqtP
楊雲走到他父母那處,只見父親身上數十條刀痕,早已氣絕。而其母用匕首穿胸自刎,亦無法再救活。其餘武師及鄉民均倒在地上,沒有一聲呻吟之聲,竟已悉數死去。172Please respect copyright.PENANAA2JGgirmW4
172Please respect copyright.PENANAQqflcDnIcg
山賊們雞犬不留,刀下全無活口,而搬運家財的箱子亦全不見了。172Please respect copyright.PENANAmbZMTvbmpe
172Please respect copyright.PENANAyMJtjriunq
看著所有鎮民和父母死去,楊雲跌坐下來,一聲不響,沒有放聲大哭,卻是傷心欲絕。172Please respect copyright.PENANAfsZp0KTRdf
172Please respect copyright.PENANAARTdBau0Nf
那老乞丐走過去,把他扶起來。172Please respect copyright.PENANAVxX6RYRxrU
172Please respect copyright.PENANAwKyMswZoLe
半晌,一位中年的乞丐的向這老乞丐說:「幫主,先把他們埋起來吧。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAO83TyuYzus
172Please respect copyright.PENANAb6SSJ02FAU
原來這人正是丐幫幫主關達。他正準備前往徐州主持三年一度之丐幫大會,卻巧合的救助了楊雲。172Please respect copyright.PENANAVpABAL4TmI
172Please respect copyright.PENANAQQLPZMF19y
丐幫弟子合力挖了一個大坑,準備把各人的屍首埋葬。關達問起楊雲身世,知道他原來已考獲秀才之名,但此刻已無其他親人在世。
172Please respect copyright.PENANAcnujvMnCx2
關達問道:「楊小兄弟,你今後有何打算?」172Please respect copyright.PENANAOU63XdssiT
172Please respect copyright.PENANA0AReR5VzdR
楊雲回想剛才官差們貪生怕死的樣子,已感到官府無能,了解到陳老師為何寧可在小鄉村教導孩童,也不願投身官場。刹那間,想到即使回去龍岡鎮,此役傷亡慘重,也無臉目再見那些寡婦孤兒。再說被山賊們弄得家破人亡,說甚麼也要報仇雪恨。他記起剛才山賊頭子稱這老乞丐為幫主,便心生一個念頭。172Please respect copyright.PENANApPUG6I1G0m
172Please respect copyright.PENANAzCMTFk4mnA
楊雲忽然跪下,向關達拜了一拜,道:「老前輩,楊雲孤苦無依,懇請老前輩收留!」172Please respect copyright.PENANA7YsIKCzp2Z
172Please respect copyright.PENANALZADEJLIFD
關達再次扶起了他,苦笑道:「你可知道我是丐幫的人?我們雖然行俠仗義,自由自在,可是既要受風吹雨打,三餐不飽,又要受盡人間的白眼冷待,你這少爺出生的小秀才,又怎能承受得起呢?」172Please respect copyright.PENANA7iUJNjt269
172Please respect copyright.PENANADiGTEeVqom
楊雲垂下頭道:「我已是無家可歸,若老前輩不願收留,也只有留落街頭,成為小乞丐了。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAN3gyW9XRYv
172Please respect copyright.PENANAilJbVqWS7s
關達哈哈一聲,道:「這麼說,無論我收不收留你,你也會成為乞丐了。看你聰明伶利,根骨也好,若不嫌棄,作我這老乞丐的義子如何?」172Please respect copyright.PENANA93GZ2DruqQ
172Please respect copyright.PENANACSyqbIPvAz
楊雲聽到這話,再次跪了下來,拜道:「謝謝義父!」172Please respect copyright.PENANAWkKF4A9oWL
172Please respect copyright.PENANA9vnsIp0ybR
半個月後的丐幫大會上,幫主關達交代了各方的指示後,正式宣佈收楊雲為義子。各丐幫弟子見楊雲文質彬彬,弱不禁風的樣子,雖然感到奇怪,亦替幫主高興。172Please respect copyright.PENANAv6y7ZbDDGV
172Please respect copyright.PENANAyxjkcJ44kW
其後丐幫弟子回報,襲擊楊龍一行人的那批山賊,已被丐幫中人追尋著了,而已也找回當中大半的財產。關達向楊雲望了一眼,正要說話,楊雲卻搶先道:「請義父替我把一半的錢賠償給龍岡鎮的未亡人,其餘的都換成酒水,當作小弟孝敬幫中各位大哥吧!」群丐均大讚一聲,無不敬佩這小楊雲的豪氣。172Please respect copyright.PENANAJXLxOutORH
172Please respect copyright.PENANAwoBDJEmKlp
轉眼間,已過了十個年頭。楊雲一直跟在關達身邊,勤修武功,更憑著過人的機智和觀察力,擢升為丐幫的七袋弟子。平日亦會協助處理幫中要務,是關達的得力助手。
172Please respect copyright.PENANAfKxq2czcXo
自他辦妥幾件大事後,也漸漸闖出名聲,江湖中人稱他為「丐諸葛」。172Please respect copyright.PENANAAhRoXM6LR1
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這一日,傳來了一些消息,洛陽分舵的兄弟發生內鬨,幾乎就要動手相鬥。可惜關達正要往楊州處理該處舵主病逝後的接任事宜,無法立即抽身前往。172Please respect copyright.PENANAQsDo3HWOTh
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楊雲道:「請讓我代義父前往洛陽吧!倘若我無法解決,再請義父前去不遲。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAhCqfbl5B2p
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關達關心的說道:「這樣也好,可是內鬨之事務需小心處理,否則必然有損我們丐幫的威名!」說罷,從懷中取出一個令牌,又道:「要是他們當真難以勸服,你可使出此令牌,執行幫規。」172Please respect copyright.PENANAdSI0OxZiCP
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楊雲道:「義父放心,孩兒理會得。」