莫庸與劍星兩人拉開草廬門口竹簾,首先入眼的,是木製架高地板,以及滿屋的曬乾藥材。也許有些人會被這麼濃郁的藥材氣味給醺得身心不適,但對這位身著黑色劍裳的銀髮少年而言,則像是回到了家裡一般舒適。254Please respect copyright.PENANAvpxy4BW5oy
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「兩位請坐。」254Please respect copyright.PENANAcmUnBAo8GL
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一位有著灰白厚重頭髮,身形壯碩的紫服老者,以略顯沙啞的聲音提出邀請。那人白髮蒼蒼,膚色白慘,臉上到處都有歲月刻下的痕跡,但整體不怒自威,頗有一門宗長應該有的氣魄。他等劍星與莫庸兩人落座之後,取出兩隻形狀歪扭的陶杯,在其中倒入清澈酒液。254Please respect copyright.PENANAnQl4DnxXvV
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幾乎是在此同時,草廬裡酒香橫溢,彷彿已是酒神降臨。若非有些修行的人,恐怕在聞到當下就要失去意識。254Please respect copyright.PENANARB5cdHn5P4
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「此為谷中新釀,請兩位貴客試飲一杯。」話說完,酒老將酒壺往自己嘴裡一倒,閉上眼細細品味。254Please respect copyright.PENANAQGXB5gHu1a
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劍星與莫庸互望一眼,隨即雙手端起酒杯,高舉眉間,「酒老有請。」隨即雙雙一飲而盡。烈酒入喉,卻毫無窒礙,溜過舌間、喉頭,隨即像是神仙瓊漿一般帶來令人歡悅的氣息。他們將喝乾的酒杯倒扣在木桌上,給這位年邁的修道人拱了拱手。254Please respect copyright.PENANAMrew2DPRBC
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「好酒。」莫庸笑道。254Please respect copyright.PENANAYeAmuSTccA
「好膽色。」酒老則微笑著彎下了腰。254Please respect copyright.PENANAhplf31OyTU
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正當他彎腰行禮時,周遭有黑色棉絮紛然起舞,隨後漸漸凝聚為兩個人。他們都是頗有歲數的模樣,其中一位是老嫗,另外一位則是又皺又小,看上去已然遲暮的老者。254Please respect copyright.PENANAwOqMF6qZUy
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「兩位長老好身法,久聞鴆籠谷『棉身絕影』精妙無比,名聲顯赫,今日一看果然不同凡響。」莫庸也分別向他們抱了拳,語調平和,氣息分毫不亂的樣子,看得那位老嫗深深嘆了口氣。254Please respect copyright.PENANAb6EbX9LXlp
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「客套話就免了,從進屋以來,少俠和這位女俠便已將一身劍意對準我們兩個老東西。」老嫗淡淡說道。254Please respect copyright.PENANAVqGEuG1w5D
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「可兩位沒有下手。」身材皺縮的老者呵呵笑了起來,「看來,我等老怪是連動手的價值也沒有囉。」254Please respect copyright.PENANAOmF31CGNRr
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「三位前輩切莫這麼說,晚輩只是認為──世道所謂正邪,對我來說不值一提而已。是正是邪,我願以此身相問。」莫庸直起脊梁,態度坦然,「我更希望統合魔道,一舉向正派扣問。是誰決定了必須相鬥,是誰規定了邪派總是哪種作派。」254Please respect copyright.PENANApZYOlFuSsG
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「那麼就少俠看來,我鴆籠谷究竟是正是邪?」酒老帶著笑意問道。254Please respect copyright.PENANAphnYaAEpk5
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莫庸歪了歪頭,「我還看不明白。」254Please respect copyright.PENANAiix9zFIaYk
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三長老聽了,轟然大笑起來,就連莫庸與劍星也不自覺跟著笑了出來,一時之間草廬裡歡笑不絕,弄得守在門外的鴆籠谷士心底七上八下,個個都感到不踏實。254Please respect copyright.PENANAG9eZFcnSMG
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「唉……老朽們活了這大半輩子,很久沒有看到你這樣的人物。精誠、持正、只相信眼前所見……」酒老笑得眼淚都流了出來,拿出更多陶杯,給客人與兩位長老也倒了新酒,「遑論正派魔道,要說有幾個敢大口喝我們鴆籠谷的酒,世上還真沒有幾個。且問少俠與這位女俠,你等所飲之酒,是何滋味。」254Please respect copyright.PENANAQL0aDnKqgf
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不約而同的,莫庸與劍星答道──254Please respect copyright.PENANA0nhTpyrKiN
「甜的。」254Please respect copyright.PENANAb5IIVsGKvn
「苦的。」254Please respect copyright.PENANA1VKJpEK5Oy
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爾後面面相覷。254Please respect copyright.PENANAdrJE3eHCv9
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酒老一拍大腿,興致高昂得很,「此酒為鴆籠谷最好的酒,也是最誠的酒。只需稍加調製,能殺人亦能醉人,甚至更能辨人。少俠所喝的酒是甜的,這表示您曾中過鴆籠谷的毒。女俠喝的酒是苦的,這意味著閣下和鴆籠谷未曾交過手。」254Please respect copyright.PENANAua9fewk9Go
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「而少俠撐過了毒,非但不計前嫌,更登門造訪,幫了本門中人。閣下已是鴆籠谷的朋友,從今往後,能喝一輩子甜酒。」那老嫗歪了歪嘴,彈了顆藥丸給莫庸道:「請服此藥以解餘毒……老婦我乃是藥老,您這朋友,我交。」254Please respect copyright.PENANAI7ZOPevvrr
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「毒老兒我啊,也對少俠很有興趣。」那又皺又小的老者啜了一口酒,樂呵呵地笑著說道:「敢問少俠高姓大名,是如何撐過本谷劇毒?就那毒韻看來……若非本門高徒,是不可能用得此毒,你應該早已身死道消,斷不能活才是。」254Please respect copyright.PENANASHr0t5iq5D
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莫庸與劍星兩人又一次交換了眼神,悠悠地吁了口氣。254Please respect copyright.PENANAOqQ28m9bad
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「實不相瞞……」於是他們就著美酒,襯著爐裡非出的星火,向三長老娓娓道來。254Please respect copyright.PENANA2PD0CHW110
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在震驚與慨歎之中,這場酒席,一直喝到很晚很晚,一屋子人暢談過夜半,久久不散。