鄧堂聽那少年諷刺自己光頭,說是和尚,心中甚怒。少年年紀二十左右,灰色衫褲,滿身污塵;五官尚是端正,鼻子略為短小,雙眼無神;身上沒刀沒劍,身背攜着一把金色短弓,不知用何物繫着,弓臂上露出一個個銀啡色洞孔,甚是陳舊,似乎受鐵鏽所蝕。少年腰後橫插箭三四支。正面看來,不知由何物承着箭支。631Please respect copyright.PENANAsNAokRpgJt
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鄧堂見少年狀貌襤褸,怒意大減,心想:「鄉下獵人不知天高地厚,膽敢在我面前撒野。卻不知外間門友,為何沒攔住此人?」631Please respect copyright.PENANASHXylbPKym
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原來鄧堂所屬的曲江派門人聯合其他派別人士,把住每一條到達海豐派總壇的要道。因此無甚閒人到達武場,比武招賢聚會頓時變成嶺南七派之會。鄧堂問道:「小朋友高姓大名?那裡人士?我們嶺南幫派聚會與你何干?」那少年道:「你當然不想我來,我姓任名峻,是曲江人,想來我們是同鄉。」631Please respect copyright.PENANAkHVNuDbA24
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那少年本名任永,亡命江湖,化名任峻。任永見鄧堂自稱「曲江老頭」,於是信口胡吹,說自己是曲江人。其實曲江派內,不見得全部門人都來自曲江。631Please respect copyright.PENANABJV4sEn2x0
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任永多年來流浪江湖,輾轉各地,以狩獵、賣藝和比武為生。比武在任永三項生計中最為重要。三計之中,狩獵賣皮、賣藝眾前,最少僅賺得錢二三十文、多者近一二百文。唯比武一計,得財最多。任永曾在福寧州福安縣參加比武聚會,奪了個第二,竟也得銀一兩。631Please respect copyright.PENANAiQZAIrTHU0
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任永數日前來到海豐縣。一天前,任永從一間客店出門,前方正有人堆一群,對牆上指指點點。遠遠看去,牆上貼有大紙一張,紙上右方直書一大個「比」字。由於受眾人身形阻擋,任永不知大紙下半部寫了甚麼。或見得「比」字下方有半個「武」字,任永心下大樂:「福安以來,銀錢大多用盡,此間正好補充補充。」631Please respect copyright.PENANAcy81oJKf9Z
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既看不了全文,於是任永詢問村民比武之事。任永問了幾位村男,皆是目不識丁之輩,僅知道海豐派每年舉行比武,村民只是聊聊過往比武大會英雄之事。此時來了個儒生打扮的老人,任永詢問老人比武大會賞銀多少,才知道竟有足足五兩。若再打敗主人家派出的好手一名,又得賞銀五兩。631Please respect copyright.PENANAL3UXERNux4
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任永心中大喜:「奪得第一才能得賞。條件雖苛刻,但值得一試。」又想:「甚麼海豐派的門人,好像十分厲害。我得不到十兩,想來得到五兩,也夠我慵懶江湖多時。」當下問明比武時間與地點,得知比武大會在兩天後舉行,任永便在附近處買了數十支箭矢,然後動身前往。631Please respect copyright.PENANA46NgynJP8B
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走了一天,任永來到一條山道,聽得前方路口爭吵之聲。原來七條大漢擋住去路,不放人行。那七人或持刀、或持戟、或持劍、或持弓。任永不知這些人是曲江、長樂等六派攔路之輩。任永尋思道:「今晚定必經此道而行。若是繞道,明日便錯過比武大會。此七人不知何故在此,似乎個個會武,恐怕難以強行通過。」631Please respect copyright.PENANARwE7DIhEHK
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任永思前想後,生出一計。斜暉照耀,微風處處,任永拿出弓箭,步入山中,想以箭驅來一兩隻老虎,引領牠們到那七人處。任永久有狩獵經驗,又會輕功,知此山樹林多而密。若老虎出沒,密林正是迴避牠們衝擊的好地方。任永爬到樹上,以箭引獸,無甚危險。且以樹林之密,枝幹之粗,任永施輕功從枝頭飛至另一棵樹上,亦是輕易而舉。631Please respect copyright.PENANA1ABrjc5RSM
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不料過了半個時辰,始終找不着半隻虎影。任永身在樹上,心下着急。又過了半個時辰,聽見樹下嚎叫、吠鳴之聲。此時天色已晚,任永在林中目不見物,便拿出火石打火,抽出一箭燃起。見樹下狼隻、大狗合共不下十七八隻,想是快要打鬥一番。631Please respect copyright.PENANAVxILEVZVyZ
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任永想:「天助我也,大畜生老虎怕我神威,躲着我來。退求其次,只好找小畜生幫個大忙。」任永知道狼和狗不同蚊蠅,不會遁火而行,多數背火走避,於是拿出短弓,將兩支火矢上弦,把好方位,一發射出兩支箭。如此連環將火矢射向狼和狗的南、西、北方,驅使牠們奔向東方暗處。任永則在樹上以輕功移位。631Please respect copyright.PENANAKiGQLNGsNR
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箭矢用盡之時,狼群、狗群已被引到那七名大漢的營地。那七人雖有營火在旁,但狼們狗們眼中盡是晚飯,一湧而至。其中兩名守夜大漢急忙叫醒其餘五人,一同奔竄而去。皎月當空,星火萬里,楓楓樹影,陣陣葉響,夾雜着狼嚎狗吠、大漢們慘呼之聲。631Please respect copyright.PENANA2KlAAjUtwu
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任永待眾獸遠去後跳下營火處。此時營火還未燒盡,任永見地上滿是物件,衣衫、銅錢、箭袋一地皆是。任永心中大樂:「歹人落荒而逃,我任永渾水摸魚,大快人心。」當下取了銅錢,拿出箭袋內全部四支箭繫在腰後,向海豐派總壇而去。631Please respect copyright.PENANAXl3eB7Z2Mw
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夜去晨來,任永終在正午前到達目的地。任永本料經昨夜一事,定然見遲。但見武場中兩人正在比手劃腳,比武大會顯然尚未結束。定神後,任永望見場中二人竟以慢動作比武,心下大笑:「這是甚麼比試?看來這五兩銀我要定了。」但隨後又想:「會不會是此間主人訂下的古怪規矩?如此慢打,我的取巧法門便無用。」631Please respect copyright.PENANAl4gv7WaXcl
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其後聽見光頭老漢鄧堂以眾對一之言,任永對他的意圖明白了七八分,於是出言譏諷。631Please respect copyright.PENANAPCRSwmEueX
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任永聲稱來自曲江,鄧堂心中一怒:「你一出口,老夫便知你本地廣府話口音不純。山野獵人來此班門弄斧,也不害羞。」口中說道:「閣下來消遣老夫,想必有驚人藝業,想以一人,勝過我們三位。」631Please respect copyright.PENANAlrUl1VfSbW
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任永雖以武為生,但此見情勢,亦不禁一慌:「以一對三,大是不妙。」欲轉身逃去,但賞銀不得,甚是可惜,於是道:「我跟這位蘇姑娘是舊識,就讓我和她兩人對你們三位高手。」舊識之言,也是任永信口開河。先前鄧堂言語中說過海豐派主持大會的女子姓蘇,任永不知這位蘇姑娘武功如何。多一幫手下,任永自料可施各種巧計,未必便輸。631Please respect copyright.PENANAdmpeut3PWT
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那名剛才與鄧堂「比武」的「陳仲俠」陳雙忽道:「慢着,此處規定,客人比武勝出者,方可挑戰主人家。蘇姑娘是主人,想必待客公道。」任永大諷鄧堂光頭時,蘇寧雪大感寬慰:「此人搗亂,最好不過。不知他是友是敵,會否藉故探知喬老故居的消息。」待聽到任永以二對三之議,便欲下場,解決當下之急。然而陳雙發言後,蘇寧雪想:「此人狡猾無比、巧智機靈。」其實陳雙乃一莽夫,想說便說,話前沒有詳加思考。631Please respect copyright.PENANAPsyWiFGaq7
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那黑劍紫袍,來自蓬州派的洛先生叫道:「賊小子要麼快快逃走,做隻烏龜,要麼留下來縮着頭尾看咱們三人大勝姓蘇的。」631Please respect copyright.PENANAagbh9gSfe5
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任永氣上心來,說道:「你罵我是縮頭烏龜,很好。本大爺上場和你們比武,看看誰是龜蛋!」心中想着大不了被打至重傷,反正海豐派定會救援。屆時海豐派必會感恩,數兩銀子不問自來。任永若是得勝,賞錢必得。如此想來,無論勝負,最終也是會賺。631Please respect copyright.PENANAqdfK1taSHg
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任永心下有了計較,走到武場東首邊緣,說道:「快快站到對面,我數到三,比武立即開始。」曲江派光頭老翁鄧堂、龍門派「陳仲俠」陳雙、黑劍紫袍的蓬州派洛先生三人走到武場西方。任永見三人站位稍近武場中央,又道:「何謂對面?我靠邊而站,你們也得靠邊而站。你們別想拖延時間。」三人均想:「死到臨頭,姓任的拖延時間,反過來說我們。」於是三人退至場邊。631Please respect copyright.PENANAaf7uRQ8OSa
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艷陽高掛,任永朗聲道:「一、二、三。」數至「三」的一剎那,眾人聽得兩聲輕響,場中兩人應聲而倒,慘叫不絕。631Please respect copyright.PENANAWGtHARJgu2
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海豐派人眾呼聲不斷,六派之徒一時靜默。631Please respect copyright.PENANA8PCVfAgMrO
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原來任永自忖正面交鋒,必敗無礙,於是自薦倒數,又與三人遠距而立。任永數到「一」、「二」之際,語速甚慢,「二」、「三」之間,語速突然加快。任永說「二」之時,左手飛快地從身背拿出弓來,手臂直伸,左拳持弓置於腰間前;右手從後腰抽出全部四箭,兩支扣在右手無名指與尾指之中,箭頭凸出於兩指間;右手姆指同時牢按另外兩箭箭尾。箭身搭在弓臂右方,上弦拉弓。「三」響的剎那,任永舉弓便射,發出兩矢,正中洛先生左手手臂和右手手腕;同時將置在右手無名指與尾指間的其餘兩支箭矢,換作姆指扣着,上弓便發,射中陳雙右臂和右腿。631Please respect copyright.PENANATlwp1XbbI6
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任永抽弓、拿箭、扣手、上弦、發箭、換扣、再發箭,二矢射出,另外兩箭又來,動作甚是迅捷。旁人注視二人倒下,卻瞧不見任永如何射擊;另一些人目視任永發箭,無暇看見二人倒下之際。洛先生雙手中箭,口中大罵,忍痛抽出手上箭支,擲在前頭;陳雙坐倒地上,左手拔箭,擲在一旁。兩者同黨皆上前為二人治療。海豐派群徒見任永閃電射退二敵,一時間歡聲雷動。631Please respect copyright.PENANAUqNSZgI5AC
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陳雙和洛先生兩派幫眾紛紛抽出兵刃,正欲發難。任永卻道:「老和尚,我們說好以一對三。你們要是以二十人對付我一位,自破規矩,我們就不用再比。我逃之夭夭,你們快快回家。」其實任永早已手下留情,不傷兩人要害。要是射殺了人,恐怕對方人眾當場翻臉。631Please respect copyright.PENANAsoxtujMGgo
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六派門人均想來得此處,必不可空手而回。若自破規矩,蘇寧雪便有藉口逐客,於是紛紛將目光轉向鄧堂,看他如何對付任永。631Please respect copyright.PENANAzQdj2DQM1c
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任永如此神技,鄧堂心下駭然:「此張弓搭箭之法,定是箭藝行家。一眼不看,腰間舉弓即發,似是北方人射擊法門。」幸而任永的目標不是自己。其實任永昨夜所奪箭矢僅有四支,深知一發不能確保一名敵人下場,於是向陳雙和洛先生各射兩箭,務使二人退場。陳雙和洛先生正值壯年,鄧堂年紀最大,於是任永把目標放到陳洛二人身上,留下鄧堂。631Please respect copyright.PENANAxRwfekp9sC
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鄧堂料想打敗任永後,又要再戰蘇寧雪,實在大大不妙。任永用此狡計,鄧堂斥喝一番,也許任永會知恥而退。鄧堂厲聲責道:「山野獵夫如此卑鄙,暗施偷襲,不依江湖規矩。快快退下,老夫恥於和你一戰。」631Please respect copyright.PENANA68x50Jq7Bb
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任永射中兩個活耙,洋洋得意道:「老和尚,我們公平競賽。這位洛先生持劍,我也得用用兵器。你大可問問這位蘇姑娘,海豐派比武大會,有一條不可用弓箭的規矩否?」任永再罵鄧堂是和尚,鄧堂心中之氣又加幾分,說道:「暗箭傷人,還在狡辯。」任永笑道:「我這技巧,乃是明箭,亦是聖人之法。」631Please respect copyright.PENANAWxqUiZkuBL
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鄧堂罵道:「甚麼聖人之法?那有聖人像你這般無恥。」任永大笑道:「剛才箭矢在身,發了箭後,自然無矢。」任永玩弄字眼,改「無恥」作「無矢」,海豐派群徒連聲喝彩,六派門人皆大罵。任永又道:「你自稱在寧海一間孔廟中殺敗三人,用的是甚麼功夫?」631Please respect copyright.PENANAz1Ad9jbVYP
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鄧堂心道:「我用甚麼功夫與臭小子何干?且嚇他一嚇。」鄧堂挺起胸膛,朗聲說:「小子聽好,老夫所懷絕學『六丁開山掌』,能斷山裂石,碎金裂玉,打倒嶺南、福建不少好手,山野匹夫皆望風而逃。」話中抬舉自己,亦不忙諷任永一番。任永狡獪地道:「你身在孔廟,怎麼不用聖人的功夫?」鄧堂怒道:「難道你要老夫說書退敵、大談堅賢之道?縱使孔夫子再生,亦未必能以理退蠻。」631Please respect copyright.PENANAte8XKK1KBY
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任永笑道:「老和尚拐彎說我是蠻人,我說你才是野人,竟不知道孔夫子有六大本領。」鄧堂說:「甚麼本領?」任永哈哈大笑,說道:「禮、樂、射、御、書、數。敢問閣下,『射』所指何技也?」《周禮》所列「六藝」,老嫗能道。鄧堂本想大諷任永以箭傷人,現下任永抬出孔子提倡的「六藝」,說明射術也是聖賢傳揚之技,鄧堂一時語塞。其實孔子僅是提倡「六藝」,孔子本人亦未必真的具有此六大本領。631Please respect copyright.PENANAim4JsUYPPA
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鄧堂勸不退任永,多說亦無益,心道:「小子長於弓術,善於鬥嘴,定無真實本領。現下他箭矢已盡,必敗無疑。」於是上前幾步,說道:「好。老夫在此領教你的『聖人武功』。我若敗於『聖人武功』下,我們六派當下便退,不再打擾。」六派門人大聲叫好,鄧堂兩番強調「聖人武功」四字,心下想道:「任峻無箭,如何能施『聖人詭計』來?」631Please respect copyright.PENANAMV4EVTNRzb
631Please respect copyright.PENANABNqAr1wSHB
631Please respect copyright.PENANAiaomKsPsWm
蘇寧雪在旁坐着,一直聽他們二人對答,自己身為主人家,反倒被冷落。及至鄧堂叫陣,蘇寧雪想:「任峻弓術再厲害,無箭可發,恐怕不能打倒鄧堂這個老江湖。」自思任永一傷,便即搶出拖救。現下二人相鬥,亦可看清鄧堂真實功夫,以備一戰。631Please respect copyright.PENANAFG5NYyEghR
631Please respect copyright.PENANADy0vQ26oze
631Please respect copyright.PENANAeDtyKzQw34
鄧堂話後施輕功向前疾衝。任永吃了一驚,本想答話,想不到他說打便打,口中叫道:「無恥……」鄧堂逼近任永面前,任永無暇說話。鄧堂右掌向任永一推,下盤大步闊虎。鄧堂氣勢如洪,右掌擊向任永左胸,掌胸之距極近。受任永射傷的陳雙見狀,不禁大喜,尋思道:「鄧老爺子這手漂亮,小賊萬難閃避。」631Please respect copyright.PENANAnjzntik5pe
631Please respect copyright.PENANAfEQFkPszJg
631Please respect copyright.PENANAZspYkFhijW
怎料任永突然棄掉武器,金色短弓掉向鄧堂,同時全身上下撲向無人的右方,倒在地上,像是腳跟踩了石頭跌倒的模樣,狼狽至極。鄧堂左手揮掌拍開短弓,但受此物一阻,任永已閃過一擊,鄧堂卻慢了一步。本想擊任永左胸,如擊不成,順勢轉掌為劈,劈向任永右胸。豈料任永如狗吃屎般全身臥倒,使鄧堂一掌劈空。在這瞬間,任永撲倒地上,背向鄧堂,手中沒了兵器。鄧堂左足往前一踢。任永全身滾開閃避,叫道:「奸人施襲……」631Please respect copyright.PENANAWeFkdYoDqP
631Please respect copyright.PENANA0xuiXauobD
631Please respect copyright.PENANATi6bM0l9LS
受傷在旁的洛先生叫道:「剛才某人自言倒數,示意比武開始,可沒有說暫停。鄧師傅愛打便打,怎算施襲?」任永連遇險招,不停在地上滾來滾去,無法翻身站立。鄧堂不斷伸足,或踢或踏。二人一進一退,均沒聽清楚洛先生的話。就算聽得清楚,任永亦無可能完整地回話。蘇寧雪見狀,不禁為任永擔憂:「鄧堂長於掌法,任峻逼他用腿,原是不錯。不過從此下去,任峻定然要輸。」當下默默盤算待會退敵之法。631Please respect copyright.PENANArHSg3xhsHE
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631Please respect copyright.PENANAhyVMlbL39h
海豐派眾徒均叫道:「鄧老匹夫,好不要臉。」六派中一人叫道:「對付無恥之徒,不需使用上乘武學。此所謂以其人之道,還治其人之身。」海豐派幾位門人反擊道:「下流,無恥。」任永和鄧堂對招之際,兩派幫眾對罵起來。631Please respect copyright.PENANAnySOB0bAAJ
631Please respect copyright.PENANA5VhyzWfF6L
631Please respect copyright.PENANA1rOrQzbdCP
鄧堂潛運內力,不斷伸腿攻擊,只需一足踏中任永,那怕命中一臂,定讓對方痛入心扉,不能動彈。鄧堂不斷前進,任永不住向後。此況持續下去的話,鄧堂勢必將任永迫入武場邊緣、牆壁之前,屆時任永無可再退,勝負之勢立定。631Please respect copyright.PENANAedaLfHs8x1
631Please respect copyright.PENANAXmMaAzowq8
631Please respect copyright.PENANAtRecerfJnE
任永突然翻身坐地,兩手收於背後,欲以雙手撐起身子,再站起來。鄧堂大喜:「你自送死,怪不得我。」原來鄧堂行走江湖日久,對敵經驗甚多,雖是勝劵在握,亦一直思索對方反擊之法,加以防備。任永閃縮之法雖捷且巧,但不肯正面迎擊,終究不是頂尖高手。以任永武功,如要反擊,須得站起,然後或以輕功退開,或以身法繞到鄧堂背後。於是鄧堂凝神留意,決意在對手站起的一瞬擊出一掌,逼對方以真力相拼。鄧堂自料掌法厲害,對方若敢與自己重掌相擊,必定重傷。631Please respect copyright.PENANAELfyO7Fhur
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此時鄧堂俯身往下,推出右掌擊向任永。不出鄧堂所料,任永坐在地上,從身背抽出左掌,迎去鄧堂一擊。只聽「阿」的一聲慘呼,兩掌相對、血跡四濺,顯然已有一人受傷。631Please respect copyright.PENANAXbrndbSiox
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