話說黑毛蠆高順，被二位英雄拿住，不能不說實話了。這才說：「二位大太爺饒命，要問這座廟，叫藏珍寺。兩個和尚，叫月明、月朗，我叫黑毛蠆高順。這裡還有一個賽雲龍黃慶，一個小喪門謝廣。我等是由慈雲觀逃在這廟裡來的。」華元志說：「大概金沙嶺殺死鏢丁，搶劫財物和羅聲遠兩個侍妾杜彩秋、李麗娘，必是你們做的，冒充雷鳴、陳亮。你說實話，饒你不死。」高順說：「不錯，是我們連和尚一共九個人去的，現在走了四個，因為和尚把兩個侍妾霸下，現在夾壁牆擱著。金銀他要多一半，故此分贓不勻，氣走了四個人。一個叫恨地無環李猛，一個叫低著看塔陳清，還有紅毛吼魏英，白臉狼賈虎。這是已往真情實話，二位大太爺要是綠林人，饒我這條命，我日後必有一分人心。」
话说黑毛虿高顺，被二位英雄拿住，不能不说实话了。这才说：「二位大太爷饶命，要问这座庙，叫藏珍寺。两个和尚，叫月明、月朗，我叫黑毛虿高顺。这里还有一个赛云龙黄庆，一个小丧门谢广。我等是由慈云观逃在这庙里来的。」华元志说：「大概金沙岭杀死镖丁，抢劫财物和罗声远两个侍妾杜彩秋、李丽娘，必是你们做的，冒充雷鸣、陈亮。你说实话，饶你不死。」高顺说：「不错，是我们连和尚一共九个人去的，现在走了四个，因为和尚把两个侍妾霸下，现在夹壁墙搁着。金银他要多一半，故此分赃不匀，气走了四个人。一个叫恨地无环李猛，一个叫低着看塔陈清，还有红毛吼魏英，白脸狼贾虎。这是已往真情实话，二位大太爷要是绿林人，饶我这条命，我日后必有一分人心。」
Now, Gao Shun, the Black-Haired Scorpion, had been caught by the two heroes, and he had no choice but to tell the truth. “Spare my life, grand sirs!” he said. “If you’re asking about this temple, it’s called Cangzhen Temple. The two monks are called Yueming and Yuelang, and I’m Gao Shun, the Black-Haired Scorpion. There’s also Huang Qing, the Cloud Dragon’s Better, and Xie Guang, Little Mourning Spirit. We fled here from Ciyun Temple.” “Then the killing of the escort guards at Jinsha Ridge,” said Hua Yuanzhi, “and the robbery of the goods, and of Luo Shengyuan’s two concubines, Du Caiqiu and Li Liniang — that must have been your doing, and you passed yourselves off as Lei Ming and Chen Liang. Tell the truth and we’ll spare your life.” “That’s right,” said Gao Shun. “Nine of us went, counting the monks. Four have left since then. The monks grabbed the two concubines for themselves — they’re shut away inside the double wall now — and they wanted more than half the gold and silver, too. The loot wasn’t split fair, so four men walked off in a temper. One is called Li Meng, Cursing-the-Ringless-Earth; one is called Chen Qing, Looking-Down-at-the-Pagoda; and there’s Wei Ying, the Red-Haired Roarer, and Jia Hu, the White-Faced Wolf. That’s the whole truth of what’s gone on. Grand sirs, if you’re greenwood men, spare this life of mine, and some day I’ll show you I’m not without a heart.”
華元志聽明白，這才把高順捆上，嘴堵上，擱在北上房屋裡，將門帶上，說：「武賢弟，隨我到東院去捉拿那四個人。」武定芳點頭答應，這二位也是藝高人膽大，立刻各拉兵刃來到東跨院。堵著北上房一聲喊嚷，說：「好賊人，你等趁此出來，你家大太爺乃是堂堂英雄，你等施展這樣詭計，焉能瞞的了你家二位大太爺？今天你等休想逃走！」屋中兩個和尚月明、月朗同黃慶、謝廣正在吃酒，四個賊人一聽，當時往外趕奔。抬頭一看，見院中站定兩個人，一位穿藍翠褂，一位穿白愛素，俊品人物，各擎著鋼刀，威風凜凜。月明、月朗一看，說：「好小輩，大膽，也敢來到洒家這廟中這樣發威，你也不打聽打聽，洒家有多大能為。你兩個人姓什麼？叫什麼？」華元志說：「賊人，你要問，大太爺姓華名叫華元志，人稱叫燕子風飛腿華元志。」武定芳也道了名姓。二人方要往前趕奔，月明、月朗立刻一念咒，用手一指，說聲「敕令」，當時用定神法將華元志、武定芳二人定住，不能動轉。月明說：「這兩個人，豈不是飛蛾撲火，自來送死。來人，把他兩個人捆上。」賽雲龍黃慶說：「當家的，何必捆他們，我過去手起刀落，把他二人殺了就完了。」月明、月朗說：「也好。」賽雲龍黃慶，立刻伸手拉刀，方要往前趕奔，忽聽四外人聲吶喊說拿，四個賊人大吃一驚。
华元志听明白，这才把高顺捆上，嘴堵上，搁在北上房屋里，将门带上，说：「武贤弟，随我到东院去捉拿那四个人。」武定芳点头答应，这二位也是艺高人胆大，立刻各拉兵刃来到东跨院。堵着北上房一声喊嚷，说：「好贼人，你等趁此出来，你家大太爷乃是堂堂英雄，你等施展这样诡计，焉能瞒的了你家二位大太爷？今天你等休想逃走！」屋中两个和尚月明、月朗同黄庆、谢广正在吃酒，四个贼人一听，当时往外赶奔。抬头一看，见院中站定两个人，一位穿蓝翠褂，一位穿白爱素，俊品人物，各擎着钢刀，威风凛凛。月明、月朗一看，说：「好小辈，大胆，也敢来到洒家这庙中这样发威，你也不打听打听，洒家有多大能为。你两个人姓什么？叫什么？」华元志说：「贼人，你要问，大太爷姓华名叫华元志，人称叫燕子风飞腿华元志。」武定芳也道了名姓。二人方要往前赶奔，月明、月朗立刻一念咒，用手一指，说声「敕令」，当时用定神法将华元志、武定芳二人定住，不能动转。月明说：「这两个人，岂不是飞蛾扑火，自来送死。来人，把他两个人捆上。」赛云龙黄庆说：「当家的，何必捆他们，我过去手起刀落，把他二人杀了就完了。」月明、月朗说：「也好。」赛云龙黄庆，立刻伸手拉刀，方要往前赶奔，忽听四外人声呐喊说拿，四个贼人大吃一惊。
Once Hua Yuanzhi had heard him out, he tied Gao Shun up, stopped his mouth with a gag, left him in the main room on the north side and pulled the door shut behind him. “Worthy brother Wu,” he said, “come with me to the east courtyard and we’ll take those four.” Wu Dingfang nodded. Both of them had great skill and the daring to match it. At once each drew his weapon, and they came to the east side courtyard. Standing in front of the main room on the north side, they gave a shout: “You fine thieves, come on out of there! Your grand sires are heroes through and through. Did you think a trick like yours could fool the two of us? Don’t dream of getting away today!” Inside the room the two monks, Yueming and Yuelang, were drinking with Huang Qing and Xie Guang. When the four thieves heard this they rushed outside at once. They looked up and saw two men standing firm in the courtyard, one dressed in blue and green, one dressed all in white, both of them fine-looking men, each holding up a steel saber, a fearsome sight. “Insolent puppies!” said Yueming and Yuelang. “You’ve got some nerve, coming to yours truly’s temple to throw your weight around like this. Didn’t you even ask around how great yours truly’s powers are? What are your names, the pair of you?” “Thief, since you ask,” said Hua Yuanzhi, “your grand sire is surnamed Hua, and his name is Hua Yuanzhi. People call me Hua Yuanzhi, Swallow-in-the-Wind Flying-Legs (Yanzifeng Feitui).” Wu Dingfang gave his name as well. The two of them were just about to rush forward when Yueming and Yuelang began chanting a spell. They pointed and cried, “By decree!” and with the immobilizing spell they fixed Hua Yuanzhi and Wu Dingfang where they stood. Neither could move. “Look at these two,” said Yueming. “Moths flying into the flame, come here of their own accord to die. Somebody tie the two of them up.” “Abbot, why bother tying them?” said Huang Qing, the Cloud Dragon’s Better. “I’ll go over there — up goes my saber, down it comes — and kill the pair of them, and that’s that.” “Fine,” said Yueming and Yuelang. Huang Qing, the Cloud Dragon’s Better, at once reached for his saber and drew it. He was just about to rush forward when suddenly shouts of “Seize them!” rose on every side. The four thieves were badly startled.
書中交代：怎麼一段事呢？凡事要得人不知，除非己莫為。只因濟公看見雷鳴、陳亮、秦元亮、馬兆熊四個人囚車押解趕奔刑部，和尚一想，這件事焉能袖手旁觀呢，自己一想要辦這件事，非得如此這般，這等這樣。想罷，和尚往前走，忽見一人要跳河尋死，見此人有三十多歲，淡黃的臉膛，穿著月白褲褂、白襪青鞋，像買賣人的打扮。剛要跳河，和尚過去一伸手，將這人揪住，和尚說：「朋友，你為什麼要跳河？你跟我說說。」這人嘆了一聲，說：「大師父，你管不了，我告訴你罷，我原本姓楊，名文彬，在錢塘關外開小器作，字號巧藝齋。在莫丞相府應了點活，我在府里做活。莫丞相有一位公子名叫莫文魁，最好養蟋蟀。他有一條蟋蟀原本是蟲王，當初花五百銀子買的，偏巧我一多手，把蟋蟀罐子碰倒了，把他那蟋蟀也跑了。莫公子打了我四十軍棍，叫我賠一千銀子，不賠不行。大師父你想，我賣個家產盡絕，也沒有一千銀子，我莫若一死，也就算完了。」和尚說：「這個事不要緊，你別死，你回小器作鋪子等我，聽我的信，我管保你沒事，你想好不好？」楊文彬說：「和尚，這話當真？」和尚說：「不假。」楊文彬說：「大師父，貴上下在哪廟裡？」和尚說：「我乃西湖靈隱寺濟顛僧是也。」楊文彬一聽說：「原來是聖僧。」趕緊跪倒叩頭，知道濟公名頭高大，乃當世活佛，說：「聖僧長老，你救我罷，我家有老母妻子，但有一線之路，我也不能尋死。」和尚說：「你回頭回鋪子聽信罷。」楊文彬這才自己告辭。和尚往前走，來到大街花一百錢，買了三個蟋蟀，裝在僧帽里。往頭上一戴，夠奔路北一座酒館。
书中交代：怎么一段事呢？凡事要得人不知，除非己莫为。只因济公看见雷鸣、陈亮、秦元亮、马兆熊四个人囚车押解赶奔刑部，和尚一想，这件事焉能袖手旁观呢，自己一想要办这件事，非得如此这般，这等这样。想罢，和尚往前走，忽见一人要跳河寻死，见此人有三十多岁，淡黄的脸膛，穿着月白裤褂、白袜青鞋，像买卖人的打扮。刚要跳河，和尚过去一伸手，将这人揪住，和尚说：「朋友，你为什么要跳河？你跟我说说。」这人叹了一声，说：「大师父，你管不了，我告诉你罢，我原本姓杨，名文彬，在钱塘关外开小器作，字号巧艺斋。在莫丞相府应了点活，我在府里做活。莫丞相有一位公子名叫莫文魁，最好养蟋蟀。他有一条蟋蟀原本是虫王，当初花五百银子买的，偏巧我一多手，把蟋蟀罐子碰倒了，把他那蟋蟀也跑了。莫公子打了我四十军棍，叫我赔一千银子，不赔不行。大师父你想，我卖个家产尽绝，也没有一千银子，我莫若一死，也就算完了。」和尚说：「这个事不要紧，你别死，你回小器作铺子等我，听我的信，我管保你没事，你想好不好？」杨文彬说：「和尚，这话当真？」和尚说：「不假。」杨文彬说：「大师父，贵上下在哪庙里？」和尚说：「我乃西湖灵隐寺济颠僧是也。」杨文彬一听说：「原来是圣僧。」赶紧跪倒叩头，知道济公名头高大，乃当世活佛，说：「圣僧长老，你救我罢，我家有老母妻子，但有一线之路，我也不能寻死。」和尚说：「你回头回铺子听信罢。」杨文彬这才自己告辞。和尚往前走，来到大街花一百钱，买了三个蟋蟀，装在僧帽里。往头上一戴，够奔路北一座酒馆。
A word of explanation: how did this come about? If you don’t want anyone to know a thing, don’t do it in the first place. Ji Gong had seen Lei Ming, Chen Liang, Qin Yuanliang and Ma Zhaoxiong taken off under escort in prisoners’ carts, bound for the Ministry of Justice. The monk thought: how could he stand by with folded arms over a thing like this? If he meant to set it right, he thought, it would have to be done so and so, thus and thus. His mind made up, the monk walked on. Suddenly he saw a man about to throw himself into the river. The man was in his thirties, with a sallow face, and wore a jacket and trousers of pale moon-blue, white socks and black shoes; he was dressed like a tradesman. Just as he was about to jump, the monk went over, reached out and grabbed hold of him. “Friend,” said the monk, “why do you want to jump in the river? Tell me about it.” The man sighed. “Reverend Master, it’s nothing you can help with. But I’ll tell you. My surname is Yang and my name is Wenbin. Outside the Qiantang Gate I run a small woodcraft shop, the Qiaoyi Studio. I took on some work for Chancellor Mo’s mansion and was doing the work there in the house. Chancellor Mo has a son, Young Master Mo Wenkui, who loves nothing better than keeping crickets. He had a cricket that was a real cricket king; he paid five hundred taels of silver for it. And as luck would have it, my hands got careless: I knocked over the cricket pot and let his cricket get away. Young Master Mo gave me forty strokes of the military staff and ordered me to pay him a thousand taels, and there’s no getting out of it. Think about it, Reverend Master: if I sold off everything I own down to the last stick, I still wouldn’t have a thousand taels. I’d be better off dead, and that would be the end of it.” “That’s nothing to worry about,” said the monk. “Don’t die. Go back to your woodcraft shop, wait for me and wait for word from me. I guarantee you’ll come to no harm. How does that sound?” “Monk, do you really mean that?” said Yang Wenbin. “No lie,” said the monk. “Reverend Master,” said Yang Wenbin, “may I ask your honored name, and which temple is yours?” “I am none other than Crazy Ji of Lingyin Temple by West Lake,” said the monk. When Yang Wenbin heard this he said, “So you’re the holy monk!” He hurried to kneel and knock his head on the ground, for he knew Ji Gong’s great fame: he was a living Buddha of the present age. “Holy monk, Elder, save me!” he said. “I have an old mother and a wife and children at home. If there were the slimmest way out, I’d never be seeking death.” “Go on back to your shop and wait for word,” said the monk. Only then did Yang Wenbin take his leave. The monk walked on to the main street, where he spent a hundred cash on three crickets and tucked them inside his monk’s cap. He set the cap on his head and made for a tavern on the north side of the road.