天色已經黑齊,兩頭老鷹在雲底飛翔而過。伴在白爺旁邊就像站在所打開的雪櫃前頭,源源不絕的溢出涼風。白爺領著小羽和吼天犬穿過一條中式巷弄,沒多久就來到條鵝卵石舖墊而成的寬闊大道,揚手截住一頭馬車。490Please respect copyright.PENANAlrkDgJYvum
490Please respect copyright.PENANAt0wWfwfz3S
一位老馬車伕拉停了韁繩,馬車不偏不倚的停在白爺前頭。「客倌去哪兒?」490Please respect copyright.PENANAfh0DlmPTHV
490Please respect copyright.PENANAfgvTGItF6c
小羽打量著車頭一匹碩大的馬兒,乖乖的完全靜止不動。她拐過車頭,差點給這馬兒嚇了個突!這是頭陶泥造的唐三彩馬匹(難怪沒馬羶味),頸項比真馬粗了一圈,差不多有兩個小羽高,脖子掛著個車牌。490Please respect copyright.PENANAYA1iW2bUY4
490Please respect copyright.PENANAdk4aMKK6H1
「這頭馬怎麼可以在馬路上走?」490Please respect copyright.PENANA9rvVDCKONe
490Please respect copyright.PENANA5WwvqFto1O
「為甚麼不行?」吼天犬示意小羽上車:「馬路本來就是給馬行的嘛,少見多怪。」490Please respect copyright.PENANAKNclV3vGoJ
490Please respect copyright.PENANAEavKGYeFFc
馬車的後座顯然沒有陽間的汽車舒適,甚至令人聯想起泰國的督督。白爺吩咐了目的地,馬車司機還沒動過半分,那頭唐三彩馬就自動自發地向著橫街前進。490Please respect copyright.PENANAlel40jFSRs
490Please respect copyright.PENANAZQl0WudknD
「陰間都是靠這交通工具嗎?」490Please respect copyright.PENANABxOKMkC75r
490Please respect copyright.PENANA7HVkfwo52N
「這大概等於妳們的計程車吧。」白爺懶洋洋的望著車外,顯然沒沾到小羽半點興奮感。「一個人乘的話,我們通常用式神抬的轎。」三彩馬加快腳步,剛好對一頂紅色花轎超車。但那些轎伕不是人類,而是一張人形紙張,薄薄一片卻力大無窮。490Please respect copyright.PENANAYXFBewHtFg
490Please respect copyright.PENANAW4qJMbyUVK
小羽看得出神。另一部大轎在附近落客,那紙張轎伕還懂拉開布幕,恭恭敬敬的向乘客躹躬。490Please respect copyright.PENANAr8IqnZf1PR
490Please respect copyright.PENANAXYZb1dDE37
白爺伸手按著被風吹起的瀏海,極力保持那一絲不苟的髮型:「你就當式神是用符咒驅動的機器人吧。真沒法子不讚嘆日本仔的技術,他們造的木轎和式神轎伕,真的很價廉物美;至於馬車方面,德國馬車性能強勁、意大利的牛車同樣出色。」490Please respect copyright.PENANALNHehz4Gxq
490Please respect copyright.PENANAqe0ss2p00t
小羽望著滿街稀奇古怪的東西,興奮得深怕錯過半點有趣的細節。馬車不消半刻就回到黃炏的住所,小羽把他一同叫下來,把白爺肯相助的事怱怱說了一遍。490Please respect copyright.PENANAw4ofJpePlx
490Please respect copyright.PENANAmWkDcilPIP
「白爺,那以後就多多指教。」黃炏站起來躹躬致謝,卻站不穩跌回去座位中。白爺起先還是為黃炏只是個男版的小羽,想不到他有禮貌太多了。490Please respect copyright.PENANAcpbTplZqIu
490Please respect copyright.PENANAgzMmCQ0fN7
馬車沒幾分鐘就穿過陰暗的住宅區,來到了一條五光十色的步行大街。雙層的瓦頂建築物連綿至看不見的盡頭,無數個紙製的大紅燈籠,正懸浮在半空之中,把街道和兩旁照得熱熱鬧鬧。太陰已經退到水平線邊,天空泛起一陣迷幻的紫藍色,跟大紅燈籠的鮮紅色襯托出來。490Please respect copyright.PENANAcViXTaxc59
490Please respect copyright.PENANAPAuSZPjlv1
白爺還打算扶小羽一把,她卻忘形的從馬車上跳了下來(落地時還差點踏中黃炏的腳)。一座三層樓高的紅色牌坊正佇立在下車的地方,上面寫著「廟街」二字。 490Please respect copyright.PENANArv7OYAcfvm
490Please respect copyright.PENANAigO2owpEyZ
「這裡是廟街夜巿?」490Please respect copyright.PENANASYTxmXSUXI
490Please respect copyright.PENANArCNL1OqwYf
「正是。」490Please respect copyright.PENANAIZ3enCpf4U
490Please respect copyright.PENANA4qpyTYrCja
「這樣子跟陽間相差很遠呢。」490Please respect copyright.PENANAXgen1kSHOb
490Please respect copyright.PENANA0zfHFodGr5
小羽放眼過去,熱鬧的巿集兩旁都是些特色小店和食肆,令小羽不禁聯想起台灣的夜巿。遊人都穿著古裝打扮的布袍,而且頭頂上都飄著個微微發亮的光環。490Please respect copyright.PENANAWq9Bx4207D
490Please respect copyright.PENANAsYkGbNs0D6
「哇靠,一街都是鬼!」小羽興奮得跳上跳下。在這熱鬧氣氛底下,幽靈變得一點也不可怕。490Please respect copyright.PENANA1hwQiB1fRb
490Please respect copyright.PENANAjIFN5JCuLj
「他們大部份是鬼魂,也有一些是人形的妖怪。」白爺指一下遠處一所按摩店門前兩位骨瘦如柴的知客,她倆頭上就沒有光環。「那兩個是白骨精。」490Please respect copyright.PENANAo9BTXhRu3Q
490Please respect copyright.PENANA5LacfC6gLU
一位老婆婆捧著一疊傳單走過來,熱情的給小羽手上送上張宣傳單張:「小姑娘,我們孟婆靚湯就在街口轉角。最新推出的湯券套餐正在特價酬賓,買十送一...」490Please respect copyright.PENANAHryKcgnl7f
490Please respect copyright.PENANAnbTS1I54Rd
她看看手中傳單大大隻爆花寫著:490Please respect copyright.PENANAccgjHOu1c3
490Please respect copyright.PENANAQRB1bPCEMd
二十四小時營業,我們連下班都忘了!490Please respect copyright.PENANAr1iG0aF97M
隨時忘掉昨日傷痛。一天、一週、一個月、一年多種配方任君選擇。款款忘憂靚湯,等候您品嚐。490Please respect copyright.PENANAa8VmMivbsc
輕輕一口可以把東西忘記得一乾二淨!490Please respect copyright.PENANAdY3nsGi0Bh
490Please respect copyright.PENANAH4MobMR6be
白爺接走她手上的傳單,示意小羽繼續前行。黃炏挖苦的道:「我看小羽妳還是少喝這個為妙,妳已經夠大頭蝦,喝得太多孟婆湯會變得更溫溫吞吞。」490Please respect copyright.PENANAdy8YcwxCEr
490Please respect copyright.PENANAyyXtPeOFIp
他們向著夜巿十字路口的中心進發,短短的步程卻花了大半小時。小羽差不多每行十步就被有趣的店子吸引住,要黃炏又哄又拉才肯離開。490Please respect copyright.PENANAvvgFxmQ1SW
490Please respect copyright.PENANAGiDoXXSpcz
「哥哥這個錦袋襯我嗎?」小羽盯著件精美的小包包:「白爺,那五百兩銀是時候找數,我想買點東西。」490Please respect copyright.PENANAEcDEhFGbvA
490Please respect copyright.PENANAaRUWhqjyxa
「哈哈,任務的報酬需要在酒場那邊領取啊。況且這時候給妳銀兩,我們沒三個時晨都走不完這條街。」白爺往小羽手板放下一枚銅錢:「給妳一文錢,買串冰糖葫蘆好走了。」490Please respect copyright.PENANA6nxXwkj3Uh
490Please respect copyright.PENANAC5bOogRnfy
小羽扮個鬼臉:「孤寒鬼。」隨即把手中銅錢據為己有。490Please respect copyright.PENANAUkjPdogKDL
490Please respect copyright.PENANAlPO1sqqXim
十字路口處是個空曠的大牌檔,圍著中一所像千與千尋湯屋的建築物,戶外擺滿了上百張木造的圓桌。飄浮在半空的紅燈籠沒有步行街般密集,透出後頭清朗夜空的繁星。490Please respect copyright.PENANAL35lGYiaMI
490Please respect copyright.PENANA0atannPIH1
「我的朋友黑爺就在這裡工作。」白爺引路走向這所室外餐廳的中央,簷眉上兩個裝飾用的大鼎泛起橙黃色的火光,照亮著塊氣派的招牌:灶君樓。490Please respect copyright.PENANAdJiClaIgFu
490Please respect copyright.PENANAioQUoCCaJE
「這是靈界最好吃的餐廳!」白爺像是這裡的老熟客,逕自在一張小桌子坐下。490Please respect copyright.PENANA4nRKlJMpaN
490Please respect copyright.PENANAUzng4RYpDI
「白爺,來找黑爺嗎?」一名老伙記還沒等他們點菜,就先放下套雅緻的紫砂茶具招呼他們。白爺點了些餐前小吃,自己卻只添了杯清茶,靜靜等待他那重份量的朋友。490Please respect copyright.PENANAqmdyxwM9Vr
490Please respect copyright.PENANAHmyO7WS0bk
穿著店小二裝束的大嬸推著木頭餐車行過,蒸籠內都是小巧精緻的點心。黃炏看著大嬸跟茶客忙著串門子,著實比一張張點心紙多了份人情味。 490Please respect copyright.PENANActZoO7TO6a
一把粗豪的聲音嚮起,講話好像有點黐脷筋:「唏!白兄,幹麼來找我也不先通知一聲?」490Please respect copyright.PENANAFjUWOUIZFg
490Please respect copyright.PENANAGuSn2AyoRJ
「黑爺。」白爺站起來,跟老朋友先拍一拍肩膀,仍坐在摺椅的吼天犬也低頭躹躬。這個黑爺比小羽還矮上一兩公分,身子卻比兩個人加起來還要厚,穿了件滿是破洞的白底衫,豐滿的下巴長滿一圈粗野的大鬍子,口裡叼住支沒點上的香煙。看黑爺一身造型,加上肚皮上的餸菜污漬,想必是這裡的廚子。490Please respect copyright.PENANAn3LvVxILCK
490Please respect copyright.PENANA6sntuCJK4D
那黑爺一屁股坐下來,從腰間拔出個葫蘆酒瓶,二話不說就把酒乾了。他用手拈起枱上兩件炸點,直接送往口裡。「Urhhhhh——— 」黑爺突然來個超級響的飽嗝,聲音吵得像行雷。490Please respect copyright.PENANAdqcXaZKDPZ
490Please respect copyright.PENANAibpc8Ofv8n
小羽暗地傻笑,這粗魯的大叔竟然就是黑無常?490Please respect copyright.PENANAKFff60Cmp2
490Please respect copyright.PENANAmzLlmaTzbP
「甚麼風吹白爺你過來...還帶著個男孩和小妮子?」黑爺的鬍子沾到白酒,說話的時候灑得枱面一桌口水花。黃炏正想把這陣子的事一五一十地再說一遍。白爺卻凝重的語氣搶白道:490Please respect copyright.PENANAiiG5PdJk8D
490Please respect copyright.PENANAo3SP2YZZTE
「黑爺,這兩個年輕人已經是見習死神。這小女孩說想要當閻羅王唷,你有興趣幫她嗎?」490Please respect copyright.PENANAxlgMlWhv00
490Please respect copyright.PENANANB6qdnlBlP
「閻王?」黑爺嗆得把口裡的酒噴出來。他隨手執把白布抺走穢物,坐前身子挖了挖耳朵,確定自己沒聽錯。490Please respect copyright.PENANANVoOktzPJK
490Please respect copyright.PENANAqBfLUcFqZm
「對。」白爺喝一口清茶,向老同伴介紹道:「她叫黃小羽。她哥哥的靈魂在陽間被貪狼捉住,幸好成功逃跑了。身體被火化掉,只剩下這片靈魂。」490Please respect copyright.PENANAX4PfiXbKg7
490Please respect copyright.PENANApV55VWfdoH
「從貪狼口中逃跑嗎?這小鬼頗了不起呢。」黑爺一手再抓一把炸雞翼,就算十天沒吃沒喝,也不可能餓成這樣子吧。黑爺用手背抹一下鬍鬚上的油漬,轉向望著老拍擋問:「為甚麼會有妖怪去到陽間?」490Please respect copyright.PENANAMR6Zwllw9H
490Please respect copyright.PENANACQPhSUdwlb
「誰知道,所以我想去調查一下。」白爺微笑道:「我們重操故業,一起重出江湖,好嗎?」490Please respect copyright.PENANAr1nTCi3cFg
490Please respect copyright.PENANAZJ1RDFZ9El
「呃...」黑爺支支吾吾:「我很想幫忙,可是我行不開...」490Please respect copyright.PENANAYSCFjXPXFO
490Please respect copyright.PENANA8EevnCEeCi
黑爺放下食物,嘆一口霉氣搖搖頭道:「老兄吶,你也知我現在的底細...我只是個寄人籬下、苟且偷安的廚子。別說甚麼國家大事了,我就連自己的收支平衡也處理不了。」490Please respect copyright.PENANAWFlhsGI1HL
490Please respect copyright.PENANAM6ZW5yTfiL
黃炏兩兄妹不懂插嘴,可是心裡冒起了千個問號:明明黑爺白爺都是退休死神嘛,奇怪為甚麼白爺穿戴光鮮,黑爺卻要窮困潦倒到在餐廳幹粗活。490Please respect copyright.PENANAX1nL8ju2Eb
490Please respect copyright.PENANAShBwfkvnBu
「十賭九輸呀...早叫你收斂些。」490Please respect copyright.PENANAsKbvNr1w0X
490Please respect copyright.PENANArMnc86CivZ
黃炏兩兄妹打個眼色,原來是衰爛賭。490Please respect copyright.PENANARY3NzUgtDD
490Please respect copyright.PENANAB6aJNkCMnb
「我現在已經騎虎難下了。要是不放手一搏,我還要幾百年才夠還清欠灶君老頭的債。」黑爺的頭愈垂愈下,幾乎是對著白爺的腳踝說話:「要是我有天還了我的債...我再來找你吧。」 490Please respect copyright.PENANAsmyFyTiyNs
490Please respect copyright.PENANAsdtChFFbgr