話說冷二上堂來。老爺問道：「冷二，你說高國泰明火執仗，現在已把高國泰帶來，你可認得？」冷二說：「認得。回上老爺，他與李四明在屋中談心，小的聽得明白。」高國泰在旁說道：「回老父臺，我生員並不認得他。」李四明往前趴跪半步，說道：「老爺在上，這個冷二原來跟我同院，住我的房子，皆因他欠著小的的房租不給，時常同我借錢。借了幾次不還，他還要借，我不借與他，因此借貸不遂，他記恨在心，誣賴好人，求老爺格外施恩。」老爺說：「好，我用刑拷你們。拷明了誰，我辦誰。大概抄手問事，萬不肯招，把高國泰並李四明一同夾起來再問。」兩旁衙役等答應。將要用刑，忽然間公堂之上起了一陣狂風，刮的真正好厲害，對面不見人。少時風住了，老爺再一看，見公案桌上有一張紙，上寫「冤枉」二字。老爺也不知是誰寫的，自己揣度：其中必有原因。吩咐：「來，暫把高國泰、李四明二人押下去，把冷二也押下去。」老爺退了堂。
话说冷二上堂来。老爷问道：「冷二，你说高国泰明火执仗，现在已把高国泰带来，你可认得？」冷二说：「认得。回上老爷，他与李四明在屋中谈心，小的听得明白。」高国泰在旁说道：「回老父台，我生员并不认得他。」李四明往前趴跪半步，说道：「老爷在上，这个冷二原来跟我同院，住我的房子，皆因他欠着小的的房租不给，时常同我借钱。借了几次不还，他还要借，我不借与他，因此借贷不遂，他记恨在心，诬赖好人，求老爷格外施恩。」老爷说：「好，我用刑拷你们。拷明了谁，我办谁。大概抄手问事，万不肯招，把高国泰并李四明一同夹起来再问。」两旁衙役等答应。将要用刑，忽然间公堂之上起了一阵狂风，刮的真正好厉害，对面不见人。少时风住了，老爷再一看，见公案桌上有一张纸，上写「冤枉」二字。老爷也不知是谁写的，自己揣度：其中必有原因。吩咐：「来，暂把高国泰、李四明二人押下去，把冷二也押下去。」老爷退了堂。
Now, Leng Er came up into the hall. His Honour asked, “Leng Er, you say Gao Guotai committed robbery with torches blazing and weapons drawn. Gao Guotai has now been brought here. Do you recognise him?” “I do,” said Leng Er. “If it please Your Honour, he and Li Siming were having a heart-to-heart in the room, and I heard every word.” Gao Guotai spoke up from beside him: “Revered Father, I am a licentiate, and I do not even know the man.” Li Siming shuffled half a pace forward on his knees. “Your Honour above me, this Leng Er used to live in my compound, in rooms I let to him. The trouble is that he owes me rent and won’t pay it, and he was forever borrowing money from me. He borrowed several times and never paid it back, and still he wanted more. When I wouldn’t lend him any, he took it to heart that he couldn’t get his loan, and now he’s slandering honest men. I beg Your Honour to show us special mercy.” “Very well,” said His Honour. “I’ll put you to torture. Whoever it shows to be guilty, him I’ll punish. Question you with folded hands, and like as not you’ll never confess. Put both Gao Guotai and Li Siming in the press, and I’ll question them again.” The runners on both sides answered. Just as they were about to apply the torture, a wild wind suddenly sprang up in the courtroom, blowing so fiercely that no one could see the man facing him. After a moment the wind dropped. His Honour looked again and saw a sheet of paper on his bench, with two words written on it: “Wrongly Accused.” His Honour had no idea who had written it, and he thought to himself: there must be something behind this. He gave orders: “Come, take Gao Guotai and Li Siming down for the time being, and take Leng Er down too.” And His Honour left the bench.
書中交代：這陣風乃是濟公來到，把手一指，起了一陣怪風。迷住眾人眼目，在公案之上寫了「冤枉」二字，自己出了衙門，領了馮順、蘇祿二人到了西門外。他也並不說住房，仍是往西走了有二里之遙，說：「二位，你等看這是哪裏來的銀子？」蘇祿、馮順二人立刻收拾起來，一起往口袋裏裝。濟公說：「這必是保鏢的達官遇見賊，把銀子搶了，這是剩下的，咱們揀個便宜。」三人說著，一直往西走，到一個鎮市叫殷家渡，由北往南走了有一箭之地，祇見路東有一段白牆，上寫黑字是「孟家老店，草料俱全，安寓客商」。濟公立於那座門外叫開門。裏面問：「做甚麼的？」外面說：「住店，快開門。」裏面說：「沒房，都住滿了。」濟公說：「找一個獨屋就行了。」裏面說：「沒有。」濟公說：「我這裏銀子甚多，走不了，如何是好？」裏面聽的明白。
书中交代：这阵风乃是济公来到，把手一指，起了一阵怪风。迷住众人眼目，在公案之上写了「冤枉」二字，自己出了衙门，领了冯顺、苏禄二人到了西门外。他也并不说住房，仍是往西走了有二里之遥，说：「二位，你等看这是哪里来的银子？」苏禄、冯顺二人立刻收拾起来，一起往口袋里装。济公说：「这必是保镖的达官遇见贼，把银子抢了，这是剩下的，咱们拣个便宜。」三人说着，一直往西走，到一个镇市叫殷家渡，由北往南走了有一箭之地，祇见路东有一段白墙，上写黑字是「孟家老店，草料俱全，安寓客商」。济公立于那座门外叫开门。里面问：「做甚么的？」外面说：「住店，快开门。」里面说：「没房，都住满了。」济公说：「找一个独屋就行了。」里面说：「没有。」济公说：「我这里银子甚多，走不了，如何是好？」里面听的明白。
A word of explanation: that wind was Ji Gong’s doing. He had come, pointed his finger and raised an uncanny wind that blinded everyone, written the two words “Wrongly Accused” on the bench, then left the yamen himself and led Feng Shun and Su Lu out through the West Gate. He said nothing about finding lodgings, either, but kept walking west for a good two li. Then he said, “You two, look here. Where did this silver come from?” Su Lu and Feng Shun at once gathered it up and stuffed it all into their bags. “This must have been some escort master guarding a shipment who ran into robbers,” Ji Gong said. “They took the silver, and this is what they left. We’ve picked up a bargain.” Talking as they went, the three of them kept straight on west to a market town called Yinjia Ferry. When they had gone a bowshot through it from north to south, they saw a stretch of white wall on the east side of the road, with black characters written on it: “Meng’s Old Inn. Fodder and feed of every kind. Lodging for travelling merchants.” Ji Gong stood outside the gate and called for it to be opened. “What do you want?” said a voice inside. “A room. Hurry up and open the gate,” came the answer from outside. “No rooms. We’re full up,” said the voice inside. “One little room on its own will do,” said Ji Gong. “Haven’t got one,” said the voice inside. “I’ve got such a lot of silver here I can’t go any farther,” said Ji Gong. “What am I to do?” Inside, they heard that clearly.
書中交代，這座店乃是孟家老店。店東孟四雄、李虎。兩個夥計，一個姓劉，一個姓李，久慣害人。要有孤行客，行李多，被套大，他們立刻用蒙汗藥酒，把他治倒殺害。上房全有地道，因此這店不祇做買賣，竟專門害人。夥計一聽外面說有銀子，連忙到門口往外一看，見三人扛著有無數銀兩。夥計連忙來至櫃房說：「掌櫃的，外面來了兩個人，同著一個和尚，帶著許多的銀子要住店。」孟四雄說：「你何不把他們請進來。」夥計說：「我已經告訴他們說沒房。」孟四雄說：「我教你幾句話，你就說我們掌櫃的說了，怕你們三位帶著銀兩一路走，年歲飢荒，倘若遇見賊，輕者丟銀兩，重者傷性命。我們掌櫃的最喜行好，給你們三位順一間房，叫你們住罷。」夥計聽明白，回身出來開門，見三個人還站在門口。夥計說：「三位沒走呀？」濟公說：「你們掌櫃的聽見了，順一間房叫我們住，怕我們丟了銀子是不是？」夥計說：「不錯。」濟公說：「好，前面引路。」
书中交代，这座店乃是孟家老店。店东孟四雄、李虎。两个伙计，一个姓刘，一个姓李，久惯害人。要有孤行客，行李多，被套大，他们立刻用蒙汗药酒，把他治倒杀害。上房全有地道，因此这店不祇做买卖，竟专门害人。伙计一听外面说有银子，连忙到门口往外一看，见三人扛着有无数银两。伙计连忙来至柜房说：「掌柜的，外面来了两个人，同着一个和尚，带着许多的银子要住店。」孟四雄说：「你何不把他们请进来。」伙计说：「我已经告诉他们说没房。」孟四雄说：「我教你几句话，你就说我们掌柜的说了，怕你们三位带着银两一路走，年岁饥荒，倘若遇见贼，轻者丢银两，重者伤性命。我们掌柜的最喜行好，给你们三位顺一间房，叫你们住罢。」伙计听明白，回身出来开门，见三个人还站在门口。伙计说：「三位没走呀？」济公说：「你们掌柜的听见了，顺一间房叫我们住，怕我们丢了银子是不是？」伙计说：「不错。」济公说：「好，前面引路。」
A word of explanation: this inn was Meng’s Old Inn. Its owners were Meng Sixiong and Li Hu. They had two waiters, one surnamed Liu and one surnamed Li, and all of them were old hands at murder. Whenever a traveller came alone with plenty of baggage and a fat bedroll, they would promptly give him wine laced with a knockout drug, lay him out and kill him. Every main room had a tunnel into it, so this inn did not just do business; it made a trade of murder. When the waiter heard the man outside say he had silver, he hurried to the gate and looked out, and saw three men carrying no end of silver. He hurried to the counting room. “Boss, two men have turned up outside with a monk. They’ve brought a great load of silver and want a room.” “Then why didn’t you ask them in?” said Meng Sixiong. “I already told them we had no rooms,” said the waiter. “I’ll tell you what to say,” said Meng Sixiong. “Say our boss says he’s afraid that if you three carry all that silver on down the road, in a famine year like this, you might run into robbers. At best you’d lose the silver; at worst you’d lose your lives. Our boss loves to do a good turn, so he’ll squeeze out a room for you three to stay in.” The waiter understood. He went back out and opened the gate, and found the three of them still standing there. “You three haven’t gone, then?” said the waiter. “Your boss heard us,” said Ji Gong, “and he’s squeezing out a room for us, for fear we’ll lose our silver. That right?” “That’s right,” said the waiter. “Good,” said Ji Gong. “Lead the way.”
夥計前頭走，濟公三人大步進了店門，見迎面是個照壁，東邊是櫃房，西邊是廚房，裏面東邊一溜房，西邊一溜房，正北是上房。和尚站在院裏不走，說：「你這院內是甚麼味？」夥計說：「甚麼味呀？」和尚說：「有點賊味。」夥計說：「和尚別打哈哈，你們住上房罷。」和尚說：「好，上房涼快，八面全通的。」夥計說：「祇是沒有糊窗戶，你進去罷。」和尚同蘇祿、馮順來至上房西裏間一看，靠北牆是炕，地下靠窗戶是一張八仙桌，兩把椅子。馮順、蘇祿也困乏了，坐下休息休息。夥計先打洗臉水，然後倒茶送來，說：「你們三位要吃甚麼？」和尚說：「你隨便給煎炒蒸煮，配成四碟，外兩壺酒。」蘇祿、馮順說：「我們兩個人可不喝，已困乏要去睡了。」和尚說：「你們不喝我喝。」夥計下去喊了煎炒蒸燒四個菜，「白乾兩壺，海海的迷字。」和尚說：「夥計回來。」夥計問道：「要甚麼？」和尚說：「你代我要白乾兩壺，海海的迷字。」夥計一聽，大吃一驚，心想：「這和尚可了不得，真是內行人。要不然，他怎能也說江湖黑話？」夥計回道：「和尚，甚麼叫海海迷字？」和尚說：「你說理不說理？你如不說理，我打你一個嘴巴。」夥計說：「我怎麼不說理？」和尚說：「你纔說海海的迷字，你倒問我，我還要問你甚麼叫做海海的迷字。」夥計一想：「這話對呀，方纔可不是我說的嗎，倒叫和尚問住我了。」夥計方纔說：「我方說的海海的迷字，是給你打些好酒。」和尚說：「我也是說要點好酒，你去拿去罷。」
伙计前头走，济公三人大步进了店门，见迎面是个照壁，东边是柜房，西边是厨房，里面东边一溜房，西边一溜房，正北是上房。和尚站在院里不走，说：「你这院内是甚么味？」伙计说：「甚么味呀？」和尚说：「有点贼味。」伙计说：「和尚别打哈哈，你们住上房罢。」和尚说：「好，上房凉快，八面全通的。」伙计说：「祇是没有糊窗户，你进去罢。」和尚同苏禄、冯顺来至上房西里间一看，靠北墙是炕，地下靠窗户是一张八仙桌，两把椅子。冯顺、苏禄也困乏了，坐下休息休息。伙计先打洗脸水，然后倒茶送来，说：「你们三位要吃甚么？」和尚说：「你随便给煎炒蒸煮，配成四碟，外两壶酒。」苏禄、冯顺说：「我们两个人可不喝，已困乏要去睡了。」和尚说：「你们不喝我喝。」伙计下去喊了煎炒蒸烧四个菜，「白干两壶，海海的迷字。」和尚说：「伙计回来。」伙计问道：「要甚么？」和尚说：「你代我要白干两壶，海海的迷字。」伙计一听，大吃一惊，心想：「这和尚可了不得，真是内行人。要不然，他怎能也说江湖黑话？」伙计回道：「和尚，甚么叫海海迷字？」和尚说：「你说理不说理？你如不说理，我打你一个嘴巴。」伙计说：「我怎么不说理？」和尚说：「你才说海海的迷字，你倒问我，我还要问你甚么叫做海海的迷字。」伙计一想：「这话对呀，方才可不是我说的吗，倒叫和尚问住我了。」伙计方才说：「我方说的海海的迷字，是给你打些好酒。」和尚说：「我也是说要点好酒，你去拿去罢。」
The waiter went ahead, and Ji Gong and the other two strode in through the inn gate. Facing them stood a spirit screen. To the east was the counting room, to the west the kitchen; farther in was a row of rooms along the east side, a row along the west, and due north the main room. The monk stood in the courtyard and would not go on. “What’s that smell in this yard of yours?” “What smell?” said the waiter. “A bit of a thievish smell,” said the monk. “Don’t joke, monk,” said the waiter. “You three take the main room.” “Fine,” said the monk. “The main room’s nice and cool, open to the air on all eight sides.” “Only the windows haven’t been papered,” said the waiter. “In you go.” The monk went with Su Lu and Feng Shun into the west inner room of the main room and looked round. Against the north wall was the kang; on the floor by the window stood an Eight Immortals table and two chairs. Feng Shun and Su Lu were worn out too, and sat down to rest a little. The waiter first brought water for them to wash their faces, then poured tea and brought it in. “What will you three have to eat?” “Whatever you like,” said the monk. “Fried, stir-fried, steamed or boiled, make up four dishes, and two pots of wine besides.” “The two of us won’t drink,” said Su Lu and Feng Shun. “We’re worn out and want to go to sleep.” “If you won’t drink, I will,” said the monk. The waiter went out and called for four dishes, fried, stir-fried, steamed and braised: “Two pots of baigan, and lay the fog on thick!” “Waiter, come back,” said the monk. “What do you want?” the waiter asked. “Get me two pots of baigan,” said the monk, “and lay the fog on thick.” The waiter was badly startled. “This monk is something else,” he thought. “He really is in the know. How else could he talk the cant of the rivers and lakes too?” “Monk,” the waiter answered, “what does ‘lay the fog on thick’ mean?” “Are you going to be reasonable or not?” said the monk. “If you’re not, I’ll slap your face.” “How am I not being reasonable?” said the waiter. “You’re the one who just said ‘lay the fog on thick’,” said the monk, “and now you ask me? I ought to be asking you what ‘lay the fog on thick’ means.” “That’s true enough,” the waiter thought. “I did say it just now, didn’t I? Now the monk’s caught me out.” Only then did the waiter say, “When I said ‘lay the fog on thick’ just now, I meant fetch you some good wine.” “That’s what I meant too, some good wine,” said the monk. “Off you go and get it.”
夥計到外面把酒拿來，和尚便睜開一隻眼直向酒壺內瞧。夥計說：「和尚你瞧甚麼？」和尚說：「我瞧瞧分量多少，貴姓劉夥計？」夥計說：「你知道我姓劉又問我。」和尚說：「我看你這個人倒很和氣，咱們兩個人一見就有緣，來罷，你可喝杯酒？」夥計說：「不行，我是一點酒不喝，一聞酒便醉了，人事不知。」和尚說：「你少喝點，一杯罷。」夥計說：「不行，要叫我們掌櫃的知道，我跟客人喝酒，明天就把我散了。」和尚說：「你不喝我的酒，倒叫我好疑心，彷彿酒裏放擱上甚麼東西是的，你不喝我也不喝了。」夥計說：「和尚，你喝你的。倒不是我不喝，如我們掌櫃的知道，不是買賣規矩。」和尚說：「你喝一口酒，這也不要緊，一段小事。」夥計說：「我把酒給你溫溫去，也許涼了。」夥計拿住酒壺來至櫃房說：「掌櫃的，這個和尚真怪，拿了酒去，他叫我喝，我不喝，他也不喝。我先換一壺沒麻藥的，他叫我喝，我就喝。」掌櫃的給了一壺好酒，夥計拿到上房來說：「和尚，小店本沒有這個規矩，你既叫我喝，回頭我喝。」和尚說：「你把酒溫熱了？」夥計說：「溫熱了。」給和尚，和尚一仰脖子，把一壺酒都喝了。和尚拿那壺有麻藥的給夥計。和尚說：「你喝這壺罷。」夥計賭氣往外就走。和尚說：「你不喝，我也不喝了，一個人喝酒沒趣。」吃了些飯菜，撤去殘桌，和尚閉上門睡了。
伙计到外面把酒拿来，和尚便睁开一只眼直向酒壶内瞧。伙计说：「和尚你瞧甚么？」和尚说：「我瞧瞧分量多少，贵姓刘伙计？」伙计说：「你知道我姓刘又问我。」和尚说：「我看你这个人倒很和气，咱们两个人一见就有缘，来罢，你可喝杯酒？」伙计说：「不行，我是一点酒不喝，一闻酒便醉了，人事不知。」和尚说：「你少喝点，一杯罢。」伙计说：「不行，要叫我们掌柜的知道，我跟客人喝酒，明天就把我散了。」和尚说：「你不喝我的酒，倒叫我好疑心，仿佛酒里放搁上甚么东西是的，你不喝我也不喝了。」伙计说：「和尚，你喝你的。倒不是我不喝，如我们掌柜的知道，不是买卖规矩。」和尚说：「你喝一口酒，这也不要紧，一段小事。」伙计说：「我把酒给你温温去，也许凉了。」伙计拿住酒壶来至柜房说：「掌柜的，这个和尚真怪，拿了酒去，他叫我喝，我不喝，他也不喝。我先换一壶没麻药的，他叫我喝，我就喝。」掌柜的给了一壶好酒，伙计拿到上房来说：「和尚，小店本没有这个规矩，你既叫我喝，回头我喝。」和尚说：「你把酒温热了？」伙计说：「温热了。」给和尚，和尚一仰脖子，把一壶酒都喝了。和尚拿那壶有麻药的给伙计。和尚说：「你喝这壶罢。」伙计赌气往外就走。和尚说：「你不喝，我也不喝了，一个人喝酒没趣。」吃了些饭菜，撤去残桌，和尚闭上门睡了。
The waiter went out and brought the wine. The monk opened one eye and peered straight into the pot. “Monk, what are you looking at?” said the waiter. “Seeing how much is in it,” said the monk. “And what might your name be — Clerk Liu?” “You know my name’s Liu and you still ask me,” said the waiter. “You seem a very pleasant fellow,” said the monk. “The moment we met, I felt the two of us were meant to be friends. Come on, will you have a cup of wine?” “Can’t,” said the waiter. “I don’t drink a drop. One sniff of wine and I’m drunk, dead to the world.” “Just a little,” said the monk. “One cup.” “Can’t,” said the waiter. “If my boss found out I’d been drinking with a guest, he’d sack me tomorrow.” “If you won’t drink my wine,” said the monk, “it makes me very suspicious, as if something had been put in it. If you won’t drink, I won’t either.” “Monk, you drink yours,” said the waiter. “It isn’t that I won’t. If my boss found out, it’s against the rules of the trade.” “You take one mouthful of wine,” said the monk. “There’s no harm in that. It’s a small thing.” “I’ll take the wine and warm it for you,” said the waiter. “It may have gone cold.” Pot in hand, the waiter went to the counting room. “Boss, this monk is a strange one. When I took the wine in, he told me to drink; I wouldn’t, so now he won’t either. I’ll swap in a pot without the drug first, and when he tells me to drink, I’ll drink.” The boss gave him a pot of good wine, and the waiter brought it to the main room. “Monk, this inn has no such custom, but since you want me to drink, I’ll have some in a moment.” “Have you warmed the wine?” said the monk. “Warmed it,” said the waiter, and gave it to the monk. The monk tipped back his head and drank the whole pot. Then he took the pot with the drug in it and gave it to the waiter. “You drink this one,” said the monk. The waiter stalked out in a huff. “If you won’t drink, I won’t either,” said the monk. “No fun drinking alone.” He ate some of the food, the leftovers were cleared away, and the monk shut the door and went to sleep.
夥計到前面櫃房說：「掌櫃的，這三個人可就是和尚扎手。回頭動手的時候，可得留神和尚。」李虎說：「不要緊，回頭叫李夥計拿刀去，你在此休息，不用你問了。」劉夥計點頭答應。
伙计到前面柜房说：「掌柜的，这三个人可就是和尚扎手。回头动手的时候，可得留神和尚。」李虎说：「不要紧，回头叫李伙计拿刀去，你在此休息，不用你问了。」刘伙计点头答应。
The waiter went to the counting room at the front. “Boss, of those three, it’s the monk who’s the tough nut. When it comes to doing the job, watch out for the monk.” “Don’t worry,” said Li Hu. “In a while I’ll send Clerk Li in with a blade. You rest here. You needn’t trouble yourself any more.” Clerk Liu nodded and agreed.
待天交三鼓後，李夥計拿了一把刀，就奔北上房。來至裏面，把上頭門插根挑開，再挑底下。把底下挑開，用手一推，門上頭又插上。夥計一想：「怪呀。」又挑一頭，把上頭又撥開，一推門，底下又插上。夥計把窗戶搗了一個小洞，往裏面一看，見屋內三個人睡的是呼聲振耳，沉睡如泥。夥計又撥門，撥了半天，依舊沒撥開。他方纔直奔上房西邊，單有一個單間，有地道通到上房。李夥計把一軸畫卷起來，桌子移開，由地道而入。方一低頭向前走，走不動了，彷彿有甚麼阻住。掌櫃的李虎在櫃房等了半天，不見李夥計出來，叫劉夥計去瞧瞧。劉夥計拿了一把刀，來至上房，見那門也沒開，也不知李夥計往哪去。劉夥計便直奔上房東邊，也有一個單間通到上房，有地道。他到了那東間把桌子挪開，畫條卷起。打算要由地道進去。及下地道向前走不過去。把李虎、孟四雄等了半天，不見李劉兩夥計回來。二人等急了，各持鋼刀一把，扑奔上房，見門閉了，也不知兩個夥計往哪裏去了。李虎用刀將門撥開，二人來至外間屋中，入神一聽，西裏間屋內鼻息如雷，方纔把西裏間帘子用刀一挑，往屋中一看，見和尚頭向南，伸著脖子腦袋，將抗簾搭拉著，那兩人睡的人事不知。李虎想：「合該你三個人該死。」放步向前，舉刀方欲殺和尚，見和尚沖他齜牙一樂，把李虎嚇了一跳，回身便要走。見和尚又睡了，李虎想：「敢是和尚做夢呢？我怎麼剛要殺他，他沖我一樂？」愣夠多時，復又近前把刀舉起來，往下一落，和尚用手一點指，用定神法把他給定在那裏，李虎也不能動。孟四雄在外面等了半天，看李虎舉刀不往下落，心中著急，方纔闖進屋中，伸手拉刀。羅漢爺施佛法大展神通，要捉拿賊寇，搭救高國泰。
待天交三鼓后，李伙计拿了一把刀，就奔北上房。来至里面，把上头门插根挑开，再挑底下。把底下挑开，用手一推，门上头又插上。伙计一想：「怪呀。」又挑一头，把上头又拨开，一推门，底下又插上。伙计把窗户捣了一个小洞，往里面一看，见屋内三个人睡的是呼声振耳，沉睡如泥。伙计又拨门，拨了半天，依旧没拨开。他方才直奔上房西边，单有一个单间，有地道通到上房。李伙计把一轴画卷起来，桌子移开，由地道而入。方一低头向前走，走不动了，仿佛有甚么阻住。掌柜的李虎在柜房等了半天，不见李伙计出来，叫刘伙计去瞧瞧。刘伙计拿了一把刀，来至上房，见那门也没开，也不知李伙计往哪去。刘伙计便直奔上房东边，也有一个单间通到上房，有地道。他到了那东间把桌子挪开，画条卷起。打算要由地道进去。及下地道向前走不过去。把李虎、孟四雄等了半天，不见李刘两伙计回来。二人等急了，各持钢刀一把，扑奔上房，见门闭了，也不知两个伙计往哪里去了。李虎用刀将门拨开，二人来至外间屋中，入神一听，西里间屋内鼻息如雷，方才把西里间帘子用刀一挑，往屋中一看，见和尚头向南，伸着脖子脑袋，将抗帘搭拉着，那两人睡的人事不知。李虎想：「合该你三个人该死。」放步向前，举刀方欲杀和尚，见和尚冲他龇牙一乐，把李虎吓了一跳，回身便要走。见和尚又睡了，李虎想：「敢是和尚做梦呢？我怎么刚要杀他，他冲我一乐？」愣够多时，复又近前把刀举起来，往下一落，和尚用手一点指，用定神法把他给定在那里，李虎也不能动。孟四雄在外面等了半天，看李虎举刀不往下落，心中着急，方才闯进屋中，伸手拉刀。罗汉爷施佛法大展神通，要捉拿贼寇，搭救高国泰。
After the drum had sounded the third watch, Clerk Li took a blade and went straight for the main room on the north side. When he got there, he pried open the bolt at the top of the door, then went to pry the bottom one. He pried the bottom open and gave the door a push — and the top was bolted again. “Strange,” he thought. He pried at the other end again and slid the top bolt back, pushed the door, and the bottom was bolted again. He poked a small hole in the window and peered in. The three men inside were snoring fit to deafen, sleeping like logs. He worked at the bolts again for a long while, and still could not get them open. Only then did he go straight round to the west side of the main room, where there was a separate small room with a tunnel leading into the main room. Clerk Li rolled up a hanging scroll, moved the table aside and went in by the tunnel. But he had barely ducked his head and started forward when he could go no farther, as if something were blocking his way. In the counting room the innkeeper Li Hu waited a long while, and when Clerk Li did not come out, he told Clerk Liu to go and see. Clerk Liu took a blade and came to the main room. He saw the door still shut, and had no idea where Clerk Li had got to. So Clerk Liu went straight round to the east side of the main room, where there was also a separate small room with a tunnel into the main room. In that east room he moved the table aside and rolled up the hanging scroll, meaning to go in by the tunnel. But once down in the tunnel he could not get forward. Li Hu and Meng Sixiong were kept waiting a long while, and still neither Li nor Liu came back. Growing anxious, the two of them each took a steel blade and rushed to the main room. They found the door shut and had no idea where the two waiters had gone. Li Hu slid the bolt open with his blade, and the two of them came into the outer room. Listening hard, they heard snores like thunder from the west inner room. Then Li Hu flicked up the curtain of the west inner room with his blade and looked in. The monk lay with his head to the south, neck stretched out, his head hanging over the edge of the kang; the other two were sleeping dead to the world. “You three were fated to die,” thought Li Hu. He stepped forward and raised his blade to kill the monk — and the monk bared his teeth at him in a grin. Li Hu jumped with fright and turned to go. Then he saw that the monk was asleep again. “Was the monk dreaming?” Li Hu thought. “How is it that just as I was going to kill him, he grinned at me?” He stood there dazed a good while, then went up close again, raised his blade and brought it down. The monk pointed a finger at him and with an immobilizing spell fixed him where he stood. Li Hu could not move. Meng Sixiong had waited outside a long while. Seeing Li Hu with his blade raised and not bringing it down, he grew impatient, burst into the room and reached out to pull at the blade. The Lord Arhat was about to work his Buddhist magic and show his divine powers, to catch the robbers and rescue Gao Guotai.
不知後事如何，且看下回分解。
不知后事如何，且看下回分解。
To learn what happened next, read the next chapter.