話表八金剛既送唐僧回國不題。那三層門下，有五方揭諦、四值功曹、六丁六甲、護教伽藍，走向觀音菩薩前啟道：「弟子等向蒙菩薩法旨，暗中保護聖僧，今日聖僧行滿，菩薩繳了佛祖金旨，我等望菩薩准繳法旨。」菩薩亦甚喜道：「准繳，准繳。」又問道：「那唐僧四眾，一路上心行何如？」諸神道：「委實心虔志誠，料不能逃菩薩洞察。但只是唐僧受過之苦，真不可言。他一路上歷過的災愆患難，弟子已謹記在此，這就是他災難的簿子。」菩薩從頭看了一遍，上寫著： 蒙差揭諦皈依旨，謹記唐僧難數清： 金蟬遭貶第一難。出胎幾殺第二難。 滿月拋江第三難。尋親報冤第四難。 出城逢虎第五難。折從落坑第六難。 雙叉嶺上第七難。兩界山頭第八難。 陡澗換馬第九難。夜被火燒第十難。 失卻袈裟十一難。收降八戒十二難。 黃風怪阻十三難。請求靈吉十四難。 流沙難渡十五難。收得沙僧十六難。 四聖顯化十七難。五莊觀中十八難。 難活人參十九難。貶退心猿二十難。 黑松林失散二十一難。寶象國捎書二十二難。 金鑾殿變虎二十三難。平頂山逢魔二十四難。 蓮花洞高懸二十五難。烏雞國救主二十六難。 被魔化身二十七難。號山逢怪二十八難。 風攝聖僧二十九難。心猿遭害三十難。 請聖降妖三十一難。黑河沉沒三十二難。 搬運車遲三十三難。大賭輸贏三十四難。 祛道興僧三十五難。路逢大水三十六難。 身落天河三十七難。魚籃現身三十八難。 兜山遇怪三十九難。普天神難伏四十難。 問佛根源四十一難。吃水遭毒四十二難。 西梁國留婚四十三難。琵琶洞受苦四十四難。 再貶心猿四十五難。難辨獼猴四十六難。 路阻火焰山四十七難。求取芭蕉扇四十八難。 收縛魔王四十九難。賽城掃塔五十難。 取寶救僧五十一難。棘林吟詠五十二難。 小雷音遇難五十三難。諸天神遭困五十四難。 稀柿衕穢阻五十五難。朱紫國行醫五十六難。 拯救疲癃五十七難。降妖取后五十八難。 七情迷沒五十九難。多目遭傷六十難。 路阻獅駝六十一難。怪分三色六十二難。 城裡遇災六十三難。請佛收魔六十四難。 比丘救子六十五難。辨認真邪六十六難。 松林救怪六十七難。僧房臥病六十八難。 無底洞遭困六十九難。滅法國難行七十難。 隱霧山遇魔七十一難。鳳仙郡求雨七十二難。 失落兵器七十三難。會慶釘鈀七十四難。 竹節山遭難七十五難。玄英洞受苦七十六難。 趕捉犀牛七十七難。天竺招婚七十八難。 銅臺府監禁七十九難。凌雲渡脫胎八十難。 路經十萬八千里。聖僧歷難簿分明。 菩薩將難簿目過了一遍，急傳聲道：「佛門中九九歸真。聖僧受過八十難，還少一難，不得完成此數。」即命揭諦：「趕上金剛，還生一難者。」
话表八金刚既送唐僧回国不题。那三层门下，有五方揭谛、四值功曹、六丁六甲、护教伽蓝，走向观音菩萨前启道：「弟子等向蒙菩萨法旨，暗中保护圣僧，今日圣僧行满，菩萨缴了佛祖金旨，我等望菩萨准缴法旨。」菩萨亦甚喜道：「准缴，准缴。」又问道：「那唐僧四众，一路上心行何如？」诸神道：「委实心虔志诚，料不能逃菩萨洞察。但只是唐僧受过之苦，真不可言。他一路上历过的灾愆患难，弟子已谨记在此，这就是他灾难的簿子。」菩萨从头看了一遍，上写着： 蒙差揭谛皈依旨，谨记唐僧难数清： 金蝉遭贬第一难。出胎几杀第二难。 满月抛江第三难。寻亲报冤第四难。 出城逢虎第五难。折从落坑第六难。 双叉岭上第七难。两界山头第八难。 陡涧换马第九难。夜被火烧第十难。 失却袈裟十一难。收降八戒十二难。 黄风怪阻十三难。请求灵吉十四难。 流沙难渡十五难。收得沙僧十六难。 四圣显化十七难。五庄观中十八难。 难活人参十九难。贬退心猿二十难。 黑松林失散二十一难。宝象国捎书二十二难。 金銮殿变虎二十三难。平顶山逢魔二十四难。 莲花洞高悬二十五难。乌鸡国救主二十六难。 被魔化身二十七难。号山逢怪二十八难。 风摄圣僧二十九难。心猿遭害三十难。 请圣降妖三十一难。黑河沉没三十二难。 搬运车迟三十三难。大赌输赢三十四难。 祛道兴僧三十五难。路逢大水三十六难。 身落天河三十七难。鱼篮现身三十八难。 兜山遇怪三十九难。普天神难伏四十难。 问佛根源四十一难。吃水遭毒四十二难。 西梁国留婚四十三难。琵琶洞受苦四十四难。 再贬心猿四十五难。难辨猕猴四十六难。 路阻火焰山四十七难。求取芭蕉扇四十八难。 收缚魔王四十九难。赛城扫塔五十难。 取宝救僧五十一难。棘林吟咏五十二难。 小雷音遇难五十三难。诸天神遭困五十四难。 稀柿同秽阻五十五难。朱紫国行医五十六难。 拯救疲癃五十七难。降妖取后五十八难。 七情迷没五十九难。多目遭伤六十难。 路阻狮驼六十一难。怪分三色六十二难。 城里遇灾六十三难。请佛收魔六十四难。 比丘救子六十五难。辨认真邪六十六难。 松林救怪六十七难。僧房卧病六十八难。 无底洞遭困六十九难。灭法国难行七十难。 隐雾山遇魔七十一难。凤仙郡求雨七十二难。 失落兵器七十三难。会庆钉钯七十四难。 竹节山遭难七十五难。玄英洞受苦七十六难。 赶捉犀牛七十七难。天竺招婚七十八难。 铜台府监禁七十九难。凌云渡脱胎八十难。 路经十万八千里。圣僧历难簿分明。 菩萨将难簿目过了一遍，急传声道：「佛门中九九归真。圣僧受过八十难，还少一难，不得完成此数。」即命揭谛：「赶上金刚，还生一难者。」
Now, the Eight Great Vajra Guardians were escorting the Tang Monk home; we leave them on their way. Beneath the three gates, the Guardians of the Five Directions, the Four Merit Officers of the Watches, the Six Ding and Six Jia, and the Monastery Guardians came before the Bodhisattva Guanyin and reported, “Your disciples received your sacred command to protect the holy monk in secret. Today his practice is fulfilled, and you have returned the Buddha’s golden decree. We beg your permission to return our sacred commission too.” The Bodhisattva was delighted. “You may return it. You may return it.” Then she asked, “How have the Tang Monk and his three companions conducted themselves in heart and deed along the road?” The gods replied, “Their devotion has truly been sincere and their purpose earnest; nothing, we know, can escape your insight. But the suffering the Tang Monk has endured is beyond all telling. Your disciples have carefully recorded every calamity and ordeal he met along the way. Here is his book of ordeals.” The Bodhisattva read it through from the beginning. It said:
這揭諦得令，飛雲一駕向東來，一晝夜趕上八大金剛，附耳低言道：「……如此如此，謹遵菩薩法旨，不得違誤。」八金剛聞得此言，刷的把風按下，將他四眾連馬與經墜落下地。噫！正是那：
九九歸真道行難，堅持篤志立玄關。必須苦煉邪魔退，定要修持正法還。莫把經章當容易，聖僧難過許多般。古來妙合參同契，毫髮差殊不結丹。
三藏腳踏了凡地，自覺心驚。八戒呵呵大笑道：「好好好，這正是要快得遲。」沙僧道：「好好好，因是我們走快了些兒，教我們在此歇歇哩。」大聖道：「俗語云：『十日灘頭坐，一日行九灘。』」三藏道：「你三個且休鬥嘴，認認方向，看這是甚麼地方？」沙僧轉頭四望道：「是這裡，是這裡。師父，你聽聽水響。」行者道：「水響想是你的祖家了。」八戒道：「他祖家乃流沙河。」沙僧道：「不是，不是，此通天河也。」三藏道：「徒弟啊，仔細看在那岸？」行者縱身跳起，用手搭涼篷，仔細看了，下來道：「師父，此是通天河西岸。」三藏道：「我記起來了。東岸邊原有個陳家莊。那年到此，虧你救了他兒女，深感我們，要造船相送，幸白黿伏渡。我記得西岸上四無人煙，這番如何是好？」八戒道：「只說凡人會作弊，原來這佛面前的金剛也會作弊。他奉佛旨，教送我們東回，怎麼到此半路上就丟下我們？如今豈不進退兩難？怎生過去？」沙僧道：「二哥休報怨。我的師父已得了道，前在凌雲渡已脫了凡胎，今番斷不落水。教師兄同你我都作起攝法，把師父駕過去也。」行者頻頻的暗笑道：「駕不去，駕不去。」你看他怎麼就說個駕不去？若肯使出神通，說破飛昇之奧妙，師徒們就一千個河也過去了。只因心裡明白，知道唐僧九九之數未完，還該有一難，故羈留於此。
这揭谛得令，飞云一驾向东来，一昼夜赶上八大金刚，附耳低言道：「……如此如此，谨遵菩萨法旨，不得违误。」八金刚闻得此言，刷的把风按下，将他四众连马与经坠落下地。噫！正是那：
九九归真道行难，坚持笃志立玄关。必须苦炼邪魔退，定要修持正法还。莫把经章当容易，圣僧难过许多般。古来妙合参同契，毫发差殊不结丹。
三藏脚踏了凡地，自觉心惊。八戒呵呵大笑道：「好好好，这正是要快得迟。」沙僧道：「好好好，因是我们走快了些儿，教我们在此歇歇哩。」大圣道：「俗语云：『十日滩头坐，一日行九滩。』」三藏道：「你三个且休斗嘴，认认方向，看这是甚么地方？」沙僧转头四望道：「是这里，是这里。师父，你听听水响。」行者道：「水响想是你的祖家了。」八戒道：「他祖家乃流沙河。」沙僧道：「不是，不是，此通天河也。」三藏道：「徒弟啊，仔细看在那岸？」行者纵身跳起，用手搭凉篷，仔细看了，下来道：「师父，此是通天河西岸。」三藏道：「我记起来了。东岸边原有个陈家庄。那年到此，亏你救了他儿女，深感我们，要造船相送，幸白鼋伏渡。我记得西岸上四无人烟，这番如何是好？」八戒道：「只说凡人会作弊，原来这佛面前的金刚也会作弊。他奉佛旨，教送我们东回，怎么到此半路上就丢下我们？如今岂不进退两难？怎生过去？」沙僧道：「二哥休报怨。我的师父已得了道，前在凌云渡已脱了凡胎，今番断不落水。教师兄同你我都作起摄法，把师父驾过去也。」行者频频的暗笑道：「驾不去，驾不去。」你看他怎么就说个驾不去？若肯使出神通，说破飞升之奥妙，师徒们就一千个河也过去了。只因心里明白，知道唐僧九九之数未完，还该有一难，故羁留于此。
At this command the Guardian mounted a flying cloud and headed east. After a day and a night he overtook the Eight Great Vajra Guardians and whispered in their ears, “... Thus and thus. Obey the Bodhisattva’s sacred command to the letter; there must be no mistake.” At these words the eight guardians abruptly brought their wind down and dropped the four pilgrims, horse and scriptures onto the ground. Ah! Truly:
Nine times nine returns to truth, but hard is the practice of the Way;hold firm to earnest purpose and establish the mysterious pass.Through bitter refining the evil demons must retreat;through steadfast cultivation the true Dharma must return.Do not think the scripture scrolls are easily won:the holy monk has faced ordeals of every kind.Since ancient times the wondrous union has accorded with the Cantong qi;a hair’s breadth of difference, and no elixir forms.
As Sanzang’s feet touched mortal ground, his heart was shaken. Bajie burst out laughing. “Well, well, well! Hurry for speed, and all you get is delay.” Sha Monk said, “Well, well, well! We were moving a little too fast, so they’ve put us here to rest.” The Great Sage said, “As the saying goes, ‘Ten days sitting at the shoals; nine shoals crossed in a single day.’” Sanzang said, “Stop your bickering, you three. Get your bearings and see where we are.” Sha Monk turned and looked in every direction. “It’s here! It’s here! Master, listen to the water.” Pilgrim said, “The sound of water? Perhaps we’re at your ancestral home.” Bajie said, “His ancestral home is Flowing-Sand River.” Sha Monk said, “No, no. This is Heaven-Reaching River.” Sanzang said, “Disciples, look carefully. Which bank are we on?” Pilgrim sprang into the air, shaded his eyes with his hand and took a careful look. Then he came down. “Master, this is the west bank of Heaven-Reaching River.” Sanzang said, “Now I remember. There was a Chen Village on the east bank. When we came here that year, you saved their children. They were deeply grateful and were going to build a boat to ferry us over, but fortunately the white turtle carried us across. I remember there was no sign of anyone living on the west bank. What are we to do this time?” Bajie said, “They say mortals cheat. It turns out these Vajra Guardians before the Buddha cheat too! The Buddha ordered them to take us back east. Why have they dumped us halfway? Now we can neither go on nor go back. How are we to cross?” Sha Monk said, “Second Brother, stop complaining. Our master has attained the Way. He shed his mortal body at Cloud-Soaring Ferry, so this time he certainly won’t sink. Let Elder Brother join you and me in a carrying spell, and we’ll fly Master across.” Pilgrim kept chuckling to himself. “Can’t fly him over. Can’t fly him over.” Why, you may ask, did he say they could not fly him over? Had he been willing to use his divine powers and reveal the mystery of ascending in flight, master and disciples could have crossed a thousand rivers. But he understood perfectly that the Tang Monk had not yet completed his nine times nine and still owed one ordeal. That was why he kept them there.
師徒們口裡紛紛的講，足下徐徐的行，直至水邊。忽聽得有人叫道：「唐聖僧，唐聖僧，這裡來，這裡來。」四眾皆驚。舉頭觀看，四無人跡，又沒舟船，卻是一個大白癩頭黿在岸邊探著頭叫道：「老師父，我等了你這幾年，卻才回也？」行者笑道：「老黿，向年累你，今歲又得相逢。」三藏與八戒、沙僧都歡喜不盡。行者道：「老黿，你果有接待之心，可上岸來。」那黿即縱身爬上河來。行者叫把馬牽上他身，八戒還蹲在馬尾之後，唐僧站在馬頸左邊，沙僧站在右邊。行者一腳踏著老黿的項，一腳踏著老黿的頭叫道：「老黿，好生走穩著。」那老黿蹬開四足，踏水面如行平地，將他師徒四眾，連馬五口，馱在身上，徑回東岸而來。誠所謂：
不二門中法奧玄，諸魔戰退識人天。本來面目今方見，一體原因始得全。秉證三乘隨出入，丹成九轉任周旋。挑包飛杖通休講，幸喜還元遇老黿。
老黿馱著他們，屣波踏浪，行經多半日，將次天晚，好近東岸，忽然問曰：「老師父，我向年曾央到西方見我佛如來，與我問聲歸著之事，還有多少年壽，果曾問否？」原來那長老自到西天玉真觀沐浴，凌雲渡脫胎，步上靈山，專心拜佛，及參諸佛菩薩聖僧等眾，意念只在取經，他事一毫不理，所以不曾問得老黿年壽，無言可答。卻又不敢欺，打誑語，沉吟半晌，不曾答應。老黿即知不曾替他問了，就將身一幌，唿喇的淬下水去，把他四眾連馬并經，通皆落水。咦！還喜得唐僧脫了胎，成了道；若似前番，已經沉底。又幸白馬是龍，八戒、沙僧會水，行者笑微微顯大神通，把唐僧扶駕出水，登彼東岸。只是經包、衣服、鞍轡俱濕了。
师徒们口里纷纷的讲，足下徐徐的行，直至水边。忽听得有人叫道：「唐圣僧，唐圣僧，这里来，这里来。」四众皆惊。举头观看，四无人迹，又没舟船，却是一个大白癞头鼋在岸边探着头叫道：「老师父，我等了你这几年，却才回也？」行者笑道：「老鼋，向年累你，今岁又得相逢。」三藏与八戒、沙僧都欢喜不尽。行者道：「老鼋，你果有接待之心，可上岸来。」那鼋即纵身爬上河来。行者叫把马牵上他身，八戒还蹲在马尾之后，唐僧站在马颈左边，沙僧站在右边。行者一脚踏着老鼋的项，一脚踏着老鼋的头叫道：「老鼋，好生走稳着。」那老鼋蹬开四足，踏水面如行平地，将他师徒四众，连马五口，驮在身上，径回东岸而来。诚所谓：
不二门中法奥玄，诸魔战退识人天。本来面目今方见，一体原因始得全。秉证三乘随出入，丹成九转任周旋。挑包飞杖通休讲，幸喜还元遇老鼋。
老鼋驮着他们，屣波踏浪，行经多半日，将次天晚，好近东岸，忽然问曰：「老师父，我向年曾央到西方见我佛如来，与我问声归着之事，还有多少年寿，果曾问否？」原来那长老自到西天玉真观沐浴，凌云渡脱胎，步上灵山，专心拜佛，及参诸佛菩萨圣僧等众，意念只在取经，他事一毫不理，所以不曾问得老鼋年寿，无言可答。却又不敢欺，打诳语，沉吟半晌，不曾答应。老鼋即知不曾替他问了，就将身一幌，唿喇的淬下水去，把他四众连马并经，通皆落水。咦！还喜得唐僧脱了胎，成了道；若似前番，已经沉底。又幸白马是龙，八戒、沙僧会水，行者笑微微显大神通，把唐僧扶驾出水，登彼东岸。只是经包、衣服、鞍辔俱湿了。
Master and disciples went on talking as they walked slowly toward the water. Suddenly they heard someone call, “Holy monk of the Tang! Holy monk of the Tang! Come here! Come here!” All four were startled. They looked up, but there was no one about and not a boat in sight. It was a great white, scabby-headed softshell turtle, poking his head out beside the bank and calling, “Venerable Master, I’ve waited for you all these years. Have you only just come back?” Pilgrim laughed. “Old turtle, we put you to such trouble that year, and now we meet again.” Sanzang, Bajie and Sha Monk were overjoyed. Pilgrim said, “Old turtle, if you really mean to help us, come up onto the bank.” The turtle promptly clambered out of the river. Pilgrim had the horse led onto his back. Bajie once more squatted behind its tail, the Tang Monk stood to the left of its neck, and Sha Monk to the right. With one foot on the old turtle’s neck and the other on his head, Pilgrim called, “Old turtle, go carefully and keep us steady!” The turtle thrust out his four legs and trod the water as if it were level ground. With the four pilgrims and their horse, five lives in all, upon his back, he headed straight for the east bank. Truly:
Within the gate of nonduality the Dharma is profound;the demons beaten back, they know the realms of men and gods.Only now is the original face revealed;only now are the body’s primal causes made complete.Realizing the Three Vehicles, they enter and leave at will;the elixir formed through nine turns, they move freely where they please.Say no more of carrying bundles and flying staffs:happily, returning to the source, they meet the old turtle.
The old turtle carried them over the waves for more than half a day. Evening was drawing near, and they were approaching the east bank when he suddenly asked, “Venerable Master, that year I begged you, when you reached the West and saw our Buddha, to ask about my final destiny and how many years of life I had left. Did you ask him?” Now, ever since the elder had bathed at Jade Truth Abbey in the Western Heaven, shed his mortal body at Cloud-Soaring Ferry and climbed Spirit Mountain, he had devoted himself wholly to worshipping the Buddha. As he paid his respects to the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, holy monks and all the rest, his thoughts were fixed on fetching the scriptures. He had not given the slightest attention to anything else, and so had never asked about the old turtle’s lifespan. He had no answer to give. Yet he dared not deceive him or tell a lie. He hesitated for a long while and said nothing. The old turtle knew at once that he had not asked. With a shake of his body he plunged into the water with a great splash, tipping all four pilgrims, horse and scriptures into the river. Ah! Fortunately the Tang Monk had shed his mortal body and attained the Way. Had he still been as he was before, he would have sunk to the bottom. Fortunately, too, the white horse was a dragon, and Bajie and Sha Monk knew how to swim. Smiling faintly, Pilgrim displayed his great divine powers, supported the Tang Monk out of the water and brought him onto the east bank. Only the bundles of scriptures, their clothes, the saddle and bridle were all soaked.