話說項永、陳清兩個賊人，由床下往外一竄，伸手拉刀，意欲跟和尚動手。和尚用手一指，把賊人用定神法定住。這時，簾板一起，由外竄進四個人來，正是柴元祿、杜振英、楊國棟、尹士雄。
话说项永、陈清两个贼人，由床下往外一窜，伸手拉刀，意欲跟和尚动手。和尚用手一指，把贼人用定神法定住。这时，帘板一起，由外窜进四个人来，正是柴元禄、杜振英、杨国栋、尹士雄。
Now, the two thieves Xiang Yong and Chen Qing shot out from under the bed and reached for their blades, meaning to fight it out with the monk. The monk pointed a finger at them and fixed them where they stood with the immobilizing spell. Just then the door curtain flew up and four men darted in from outside: Chai Yuanlu, Du Zhenying, Yang Guodong and Yin Shixiong.
書中交代，四位班頭，兩個小道童，走在道路上。馬玄通帶著和尚，一施展趁腳風，把四個班頭兩個道童落下。柴頭就問：「道童，是哪裡廟的？」小道童說：「我們是開化縣北興觀的。」柴頭說：「方才那位道爺，是你們師父嗎？」道童說：「不是，是我們師大爺。」柴頭說：「我們那位和尚，跟你們師大爺上你們廟裡去，咱們一同走罷。」道童說：「要一同走，怕你們四位跟不上我們，我們會趁腳風。」柴頭說：「我們四個人會陸地飛騰法。你們二人慢著點，我們四人快著點，咱們一同走罷。」道童說：「就是。」六個人這才一同順著大路來到北興觀。到了廟門口，道童說：「到了，等我叫門。」柴頭說：「不用叫門，我進去給你開。」說著話，柴元祿、杜振英一擰身竄上牆去。這兩個人心裡有心思，為是叫楊國棟、尹士雄瞧瞧，我兩個人是辦華雲龍的原差，不是無能之輩。焉想到楊國棟，尹士雄這兩個人也跟著躥上牆去。這兩個人也有心思，是要叫柴元祿、杜振英瞧瞧，我們雖是外縣的官人，也不是無能之輩。這四個人彼此意見相同，這叫斗心不鬥口。
书中交代，四位班头，两个小道童，走在道路上。马玄通带着和尚，一施展趁脚风，把四个班头两个道童落下。柴头就问：「道童，是哪里庙的？」小道童说：「我们是开化县北兴观的。」柴头说：「方才那位道爷，是你们师父吗？」道童说：「不是，是我们师大爷。」柴头说：「我们那位和尚，跟你们师大爷上你们庙里去，咱们一同走罢。」道童说：「要一同走，怕你们四位跟不上我们，我们会趁脚风。」柴头说：「我们四个人会陆地飞腾法。你们二人慢着点，我们四人快着点，咱们一同走罢。」道童说：「就是。」六个人这才一同顺着大路来到北兴观。到了庙门口，道童说：「到了，等我叫门。」柴头说：「不用叫门，我进去给你开。」说着话，柴元禄、杜振英一拧身窜上墙去。这两个人心里有心思，为是叫杨国栋、尹士雄瞧瞧，我两个人是办华云龙的原差，不是无能之辈。焉想到杨国栋，尹士雄这两个人也跟着蹿上墙去。这两个人也有心思，是要叫柴元禄、杜振英瞧瞧，我们虽是外县的官人，也不是无能之辈。这四个人彼此意见相同，这叫斗心不斗口。
A word of explanation: the four head constables and the two little Daoist acolytes had been travelling along the road together. When Ma Xuantong took the monk and rode the foot-wind, he left the four constables and the two acolytes behind. Head Constable Chai asked, “Lads, which temple are you from?” “We’re from Beixing Temple in Kaihua County,” said the little acolytes. “That Daoist Master just now — is he your master?” said Head Constable Chai. “No,” said the acolytes, “he’s our Senior Uncle.” “That monk of ours has gone to your temple with your Senior Uncle,” said Head Constable Chai. “Let’s all go together.” “If we go together,” said the acolytes, “we’re afraid you four won’t keep up with us. We can ride the foot-wind.” “We four know the art of flying over land,” said Head Constable Chai. “You two go a bit slower, we four will go a bit faster, and we’ll all go together.” “All right,” said the acolytes. So the six of them went along the highway together to Beixing Temple. At the temple gate an acolyte said, “Here we are. Let me knock.” “No need to knock,” said Head Constable Chai. “I’ll go in and open it for you.” As he spoke, Chai Yuanlu and Du Zhenying gave a twist and sprang up onto the wall. The two of them had something on their minds: they wanted Yang Guodong and Yin Shixiong to see that the pair of them, the very constables sent out after Hua Yunlong, were no good-for-nothings. Who would have thought that Yang Guodong and Yin Shixiong would spring up onto the wall right behind them? These two had something on their minds as well: they wanted Chai Yuanlu and Du Zhenying to see that, constables from another county though they were, they were no good-for-nothings either. All four had the very same idea. This is what they call vying with the heart, not with the tongue.
四個人竄到裡面，把門開了，兩個小道童進去，把門關上，眾人夠奔東配房。四位班頭一進來，正趕上和尚把兩個賊人定住。柴頭、杜頭就問說：「師父，哪個是華雲龍？」和尚說：「沒有華雲龍。」楊頭、尹頭說：「師父，哪個是盜公文的賊？」和尚說：「也沒有盜公文的賊。先把這兩個賊捆上。雖然都不是，也別放走了。」柴頭眾人就把兩個賊人捆上。陳玄亮吩咐道童擺酒。四位班頭見過老道，彼此行禮。大眾落座吃酒。和尚說：「二位道友，天亮把這兩個賊人解到知縣衙門。告訴知縣，就提我和尚來了，要在鐵佛寺捉妖，替這一方除害。二位道友，可別明著把賊人送衙門。要明著解了走，這開化縣遍地是賊，不但把賊搶了走，還跟你們二位道友結了仇，就與你們二位有性命之憂。」陳玄亮說：「師父你給出個主意怎么辦？」和尚說：「你把兩個賊人拿被包上，雇扛肩的搭著。以送供尖為名，就說廟裡給老爺送供文。」老道答應。
四个人窜到里面，把门开了，两个小道童进去，把门关上，众人够奔东配房。四位班头一进来，正赶上和尚把两个贼人定住。柴头、杜头就问说：「师父，哪个是华云龙？」和尚说：「没有华云龙。」杨头、尹头说：「师父，哪个是盗公文的贼？」和尚说：「也没有盗公文的贼。先把这两个贼捆上。虽然都不是，也别放走了。」柴头众人就把两个贼人捆上。陈玄亮吩咐道童摆酒。四位班头见过老道，彼此行礼。大众落座吃酒。和尚说：「二位道友，天亮把这两个贼人解到知县衙门。告诉知县，就提我和尚来了，要在铁佛寺捉妖，替这一方除害。二位道友，可别明着把贼人送衙门。要明着解了走，这开化县遍地是贼，不但把贼抢了走，还跟你们二位道友结了仇，就与你们二位有性命之忧。」陈玄亮说：「师父你给出个主意怎么办？」和尚说：「你把两个贼人拿被包上，雇扛肩的搭着。以送供尖为名，就说庙里给老爷送供文。」老道答应。
The four of them sprang down inside and opened the gate. The two little acolytes came in and shut the gate again, and everyone headed for the east side room. The four head constables came in just as the monk had fixed the two thieves in place. “Master,” asked Head Constable Chai and Head Constable Du, “which one is Hua Yunlong?” “There’s no Hua Yunlong,” said the monk. “Master,” asked Head Constable Yang and Head Constable Yin, “which one is the thief who stole the warrant?” “There’s no warrant thief either,” said the monk. “Tie these two thieves up first. Neither of them is your man, but don’t let them go.” Head Constable Chai and the others tied up the two thieves. Chen Xuanliang told the acolytes to set out wine. The four head constables paid their respects to the Daoists, and they all exchanged bows. Everyone sat down and drank. “My two Daoist friends,” said the monk, “when it’s broad daylight, take these two thieves to the magistrate’s yamen. Tell the magistrate that this monk has come and means to catch the demon at Tiefo Temple and rid this district of a scourge. But my two Daoist friends, don’t take the thieves to the yamen openly. If you march them off in plain sight — this Kaihua County is crawling with thieves — not only will they snatch them back, you two will have made enemies of them, and your lives will be in danger.” “Master, can you give us a plan?” said Chen Xuanliang. “What should we do?” “Wrap the two thieves up in quilts,” said the monk, “and hire porters to carry them on their shoulders. Make out you’re delivering offering cakes: say the temple is sending His Honour some offering cakes.” The Daoist agreed.