話說安天壽把四個賊婆殺死，到屋中要救小姐，焉想到蹤跡不見，安天壽一看就愣了。自己正在發愣之際，忽聽外面有人喊嚷「拿賊」！
话说安天寿把四个贼婆杀死，到屋中要救小姐，焉想到踪迹不见，安天寿一看就愣了。自己正在发愣之际，忽听外面有人喊嚷「拿贼」！
Now, An Tianshou had killed the four serving women and gone into the room to rescue the young lady — and who would have thought it? — she had vanished without a trace. An Tianshou stood staring, dumbfounded. Just as he stood there at a loss, he suddenly heard someone outside shouting, “Catch the thief!”
書中交代：王勝仙自從鎮江府打了他四十板子，他來找秦魁。同風月公子馬明，帶領家人來到門首。往裡面一回稟，秦魁一聽叔叔來了，趕忙往外迎接。來到外面給王勝仙行禮，王勝仙給風月公子馬明一引見，大眾往裡夠奔。來到大廳，王勝仙一看，這裡坐著一個老道。王勝仙就問：「賢侄，這位道爺是誰？」秦魁說：「這是我師父混天老祖，教給我鍊金鐘罩鐵布衫。」這個老道會妖法，說在這裡住著，他會配各樣的耍藥。金槍不倒，美女自脫衣等藥。秦魁雖愛煉，可也是酒色之徒，故此拿老道敬為上賓，立刻給王勝仙一引見，說：「這是我師父，他老人家善會呼風喚雨；撒豆成兵，搬山倒海，五行變化，前知五百年，後知五百年，能掐會算，善曉過去未來之事。」王勝仙說；「這就是了。」秦魁說：「叔叔今天從哪來？」王勝仙說：「別提了，我原本要上金山寺去出善會，走在江口，碰著一個美貌的女子，船上插著海潮縣正堂的旗子。我要到她船上去，不想被她手下一個能人，將我踢下江去，幸虧我命長，也不知怎么會上來了。鎮江府知府趙翰章趕上這件事，我跟他一道名姓，他倒反打了我四十板子。我這口氣不出，美人也沒得到手。這個美人我真愛的了不得，我來找你給我想個主意。」
书中交代：王胜仙自从镇江府打了他四十板子，他来找秦魁。同风月公子马明，带领家人来到门首。往里面一回禀，秦魁一听叔叔来了，赶忙往外迎接。来到外面给王胜仙行礼，王胜仙给风月公子马明一引见，大众往里够奔。来到大厅，王胜仙一看，这里坐着一个老道。王胜仙就问：「贤侄，这位道爷是谁？」秦魁说：「这是我师父混天老祖，教给我炼金钟罩铁布衫。」这个老道会妖法，说在这里住着，他会配各样的耍药。金枪不倒，美女自脱衣等药。秦魁虽爱炼，可也是酒色之徒，故此拿老道敬为上宾，立刻给王胜仙一引见，说：「这是我师父，他老人家善会呼风唤雨；撒豆成兵，搬山倒海，五行变化，前知五百年，后知五百年，能掐会算，善晓过去未来之事。」王胜仙说；「这就是了。」秦魁说：「叔叔今天从哪来？」王胜仙说：「别提了，我原本要上金山寺去出善会，走在江口，碰着一个美貌的女子，船上插着海潮县正堂的旗子。我要到她船上去，不想被她手下一个能人，将我踢下江去，幸亏我命长，也不知怎么会上来了。镇江府知府赵翰章赶上这件事，我跟他一道名姓，他倒反打了我四十板子。我这口气不出，美人也没得到手。这个美人我真爱的了不得，我来找你给我想个主意。」
A word of explanation: after Wang Shengxian had been given forty strokes of the board at Zhenjiang Prefecture, he went to find Qin Kui. With Ma Ming, the Young Master of Wind and Moon, and a train of servants, he arrived at the gate. Word was taken in, and when Qin Kui heard that his uncle had come, he hurried out to greet him. He came out and paid his respects to Wang Shengxian, Wang Shengxian introduced Ma Ming, the Young Master of Wind and Moon, and they all headed inside. When they reached the main hall, Wang Shengxian saw an old Daoist sitting there. “My good nephew,” Wang Shengxian asked, “who is this Daoist master?” “This is my master, the Heaven-Muddling Patriarch,” said Qin Kui. “He’s teaching me the Golden Bell Armour and the Iron Cloth Shirt.” This old Daoist knew sorcery. He was living here, so it was said, and he could compound every kind of pleasure drug: Golden Spear Never Falls, Beauty Strips Herself and the like. For all his love of training, Qin Kui was also a slave to wine and women, and so he treated the old Daoist as an honoured guest. At once he introduced him to Wang Shengxian: “This is my master. The old gentleman is skilled at calling up wind and summoning rain, scattering beans and turning them into soldiers, moving mountains and overturning seas, and all the transformations of the Five Elements. He knows five hundred years back and five hundred years ahead; he is a master of divination, and he understands all that is past and all that is to come.” “So that’s how it is,” said Wang Shengxian. “Where have you come from today, Uncle?” said Qin Kui. “Don’t ask,” said Wang Shengxian. “I was on my way to Jinshan Temple for the charity feast, and at the river mouth I came across a beautiful girl. Her boat was flying the flag of the chief magistrate of Haichao County. I wanted to go aboard her boat, but one of her people, a capable fellow, kicked me into the river. Lucky for me my life’s a long one — I don’t even know how I got out again. Zhao Hanzhang, the Prefect of Zhenjiang, happened on the business. I told him my name, and he turned round and gave me forty strokes of the board instead! I can’t swallow this, and I haven’t got the beauty either. I’m dreadfully in love with her. I’ve come to you to think up a plan for me.”
旁邊混天老祖哈哈一笑，說：「這乃小事一段。大人打算要這個美人容易，我去施展法術，將她帶來，不費吹灰之力。」王勝仙一聽，喜出望外，說：「祖師爺要真能把這女子給我得來，我必有重謝。」老道說：「既然如是，大人等著，我去去就來。」老道出了葵花莊，在江口一等，工夫不大，見海潮縣這隻船來了。老道口中念念有詞，立刻一陣狂風大作，老道上船將婆子丫環殺死，在小姐天靈蓋上打了一迷魂掌，小姐糊裡糊塗，老道施展法術，風裹著把小姐帶回來，交與婆子，叫婆子給燒了一道符灌下去，等小姐明白過來，慢慢勸解。老道來到大廳說：「王大人，我山人已將美人給你得來。」王勝仙千恩萬謝，在大廳擺酒，大家開懷暢飲。依著老道，今天先不叫王勝仙跟小姐入洞房。王勝仙喝醉了，一定要入洞房。如其那女子不依從，今天叫人把她捆上，也別管她答應不答應。老道說：「既是王大人今天要入洞房，如果她不從，我給你一粒藥給她吃了，管保叫她自廂情願。」王勝仙樂的了不得，趕緊叫家人先去問問婆子勸的怎么樣，答應沒答應？家人來到這院中方要說話，見地下四個婆子被殺。家人連忙跑到大廳，說：「可了不得了，那院裡四個婆子都死在院裡，被人殺了，有一個人進了屋子。」秦魁一聽，說：「趕緊叫二位護院的拿賊，別放賊走了。」他這家中兩個護院的原是西川路的兩個賊，一個叫雞鳴鬼全得亮，一個叫造月蓬程智遠。家人給一送信，二人各拉兵刃，吩咐鳴鑼聚眾，一直來到東跨院。安天壽在屋中找小姐沒有了，找了半天，方轉身出來。全得亮一聲喊嚷：「好賊，你往哪裡走！」
旁边混天老祖哈哈一笑，说：「这乃小事一段。大人打算要这个美人容易，我去施展法术，将她带来，不费吹灰之力。」王胜仙一听，喜出望外，说：「祖师爷要真能把这女子给我得来，我必有重谢。」老道说：「既然如是，大人等着，我去去就来。」老道出了葵花庄，在江口一等，工夫不大，见海潮县这只船来了。老道口中念念有词，立刻一阵狂风大作，老道上船将婆子丫环杀死，在小姐天灵盖上打了一迷魂掌，小姐糊里糊涂，老道施展法术，风裹着把小姐带回来，交与婆子，叫婆子给烧了一道符灌下去，等小姐明白过来，慢慢劝解。老道来到大厅说：「王大人，我山人已将美人给你得来。」王胜仙千恩万谢，在大厅摆酒，大家开怀畅饮。依着老道，今天先不叫王胜仙跟小姐入洞房。王胜仙喝醉了，一定要入洞房。如其那女子不依从，今天叫人把她捆上，也别管她答应不答应。老道说：「既是王大人今天要入洞房，如果她不从，我给你一粒药给她吃了，管保叫她自厢情愿。」王胜仙乐的了不得，赶紧叫家人先去问问婆子劝的怎么样，答应没答应？家人来到这院中方要说话，见地下四个婆子被杀。家人连忙跑到大厅，说：「可了不得了，那院里四个婆子都死在院里，被人杀了，有一个人进了屋子。」秦魁一听，说：「赶紧叫二位护院的拿贼，别放贼走了。」他这家中两个护院的原是西川路的两个贼，一个叫鸡鸣鬼全得亮，一个叫造月蓬程智远。家人给一送信，二人各拉兵刃，吩咐鸣锣聚众，一直来到东跨院。安天寿在屋中找小姐没有了，找了半天，方转身出来。全得亮一声喊嚷：「好贼，你往哪里走！」
Beside them, the Heaven-Muddling Patriarch gave a hearty laugh. “That’s a small matter,” he said. “If Your Lordship wants this beauty, nothing could be easier. I’ll go and work my magic and bring her here with no more effort than it takes to blow away ash.” Wang Shengxian was overjoyed. “Patriarch,” he said, “if you can really get this girl for me, I’ll reward you handsomely.” “In that case,” said the Daoist, “wait here, my lord. I’ll be back in no time.” The Daoist left Kuihua Village and waited at the river mouth. Before long he saw the boat from Haichao County coming. The Daoist muttered a spell, and at once a fierce wind sprang up. He boarded the boat, killed the serving women and the maids, and struck the young lady on the crown of her head with a soul-befuddling palm. The young lady’s wits went foggy. The Daoist worked his magic and, wrapping her in the wind, carried her back and handed her over to the serving women. He told them to burn a charm and pour it down her throat, and when she came to her senses, to talk her round little by little. Then the Daoist came to the main hall and said, “Lord Wang, this man of the mountains has got the beauty for you.” Wang Shengxian thanked him a thousand times over and had wine laid out in the main hall, and they all drank to their hearts’ content. Had it been up to the Daoist, Wang Shengxian would not have gone into the bridal chamber with the young lady that night. But Wang Shengxian was drunk and insisted on going in: if the girl would not give in, he would have her tied up tonight, whether she consented or not. “Since Lord Wang means to go into the bridal chamber tonight,” said the Daoist, “if she won’t give in, I’ll give you a pill. Have her swallow it, and I guarantee she’ll be willing of her own accord.” Wang Shengxian was beside himself with glee. At once he sent a servant to ask the serving women how the talking-round was going, and whether she had said yes. The servant came to that courtyard and was about to speak when he saw the four serving women lying on the ground, killed. He ran to the main hall as fast as he could. “This is terrible!” he said. “The four women in that courtyard are all lying dead out there — somebody’s killed them — and a man has gone into the room.” At this Qin Kui said, “Quick, tell the two guards to catch the thief. Don’t let him get away.” The two men who guarded his house had once been robbers of the Xichuan Circuit: one was Quan Deliang, the Cockcrow Ghost, and the other Cheng Zhiyuan, the Moon-Canopy Builder. When the servant brought them word, each grabbed his weapon. They ordered the gongs beaten to rouse the household and went straight to the east side courtyard. An Tianshou, finding the young lady gone, had searched the room for a long time and only then turned to come out. Quan Deliang gave a shout: “Bold thief, where do you think you’re going!”