話說晝瘸僧馮元志、小神飛徐沛二人正往前走，只見對面來了一個人，正是乾坤盜鼠華雲龍。馮元志、徐沛二人趕緊上前行禮說：「華二哥由哪裡來？」華雲龍說：「我由蓬萊觀來。好險，好險！幾被陸通把我摔死。」馮元志就問：「怎么回事？」華雲龍就把已往從前之事，細說了一遍。馮元志說：「華二哥，我告訴你一件事，叫你放心。我把拿你的海捕公文盜了來。」華雲龍說：「真的么？」馮元志就把殺李兆明、徐沛得天書、巧遇兩個班頭、在店裡把文書怎么盜來的話，對華雲龍一說。華雲龍這才明白，說：「你們二位上哪裡去？」馮元志說：「上開化縣，你我一同走罷。現在鐵佛寺金眼佛姜天瑞，撒綠林帖，請了多少朋友。要一同修夾壁牆地窖子呢！咱們三個人，一同去罷。」華雲龍說：「也好。」三個人這才一同走。這天來到開化縣鐵佛寺，一瞧廟裡廟外，人煙稠密。三個人一打聽，問什麼事？有人說：「廟裡鐵佛顯聖，口吐人言。」三個人一直進廟，直奔後面。一瞧，就是金眼佛姜天瑞一個在廟裡。三個人給姜天瑞一行禮。馮元志說：「姜大哥。眾位朋友哪裡去了？」姜天瑞說：「眾位朋友都出去，分四路去做買賣。這裡還有幾位，叫他出來，給你三人引見引見。」大家彼此行禮。姜天瑞說：「三位由哪裡來？」華雲龍就把自己的事一說，徐沛也把自己之事一說。姜天瑞說：「徐賢弟，你得的什麼書？給我瞧瞧。」徐沛就把書拿出來，交姜天瑞。姜天瑞一瞧，說：「徐賢弟，這書你也用不著，我留下了。」徐沛心中大大不悅，自己一想：「我的東西，我還沒愛夠。我又沒說給他，他竟留下，實實可氣。」心裡大不願意，又不可說不給。惹不起姜天瑞，自己默默無言。華雲龍這時說：「我要走。」姜天瑞說：「怎么？」華雲龍說：「我心裡不安。怕濟顛和尚一來，一個跑不了，那時連累了你們眾位。」姜天瑞一聽說：「眾位朋友，哪位到龍游縣去，把這濟顛和尚殺了，把人頭帶來。誰有這個膽量，替華二弟充光棍？」徐沛說：「我去。」徐沛心裡有自己的心思：「我到龍游縣不犯事便罷，犯了事，我先把他們拉出來，一個跑不了。」他是暗恨姜天瑞，故此他說「我去」。姜天瑞說：「好。徐賢弟你辛苦一趟罷。」
话说昼瘸僧冯元志、小神飞徐沛二人正往前走，只见对面来了一个人，正是乾坤盗鼠华云龙。冯元志、徐沛二人赶紧上前行礼说：「华二哥由哪里来？」华云龙说：「我由蓬莱观来。好险，好险！几被陆通把我摔死。」冯元志就问：「怎么回事？」华云龙就把已往从前之事，细说了一遍。冯元志说：「华二哥，我告诉你一件事，叫你放心。我把拿你的海捕公文盗了来。」华云龙说：「真的幺？」冯元志就把杀李兆明、徐沛得天书、巧遇两个班头、在店里把文书怎么盗来的话，对华云龙一说。华云龙这才明白，说：「你们二位上哪里去？」冯元志说：「上开化县，你我一同走罢。现在铁佛寺金眼佛姜天瑞，撒绿林帖，请了多少朋友。要一同修夹壁墙地窖子呢！咱们三个人，一同去罢。」华云龙说：「也好。」三个人这才一同走。这天来到开化县铁佛寺，一瞧庙里庙外，人烟稠密。三个人一打听，问什么事？有人说：「庙里铁佛显圣，口吐人言。」三个人一直进庙，直奔后面。一瞧，就是金眼佛姜天瑞一个在庙里。三个人给姜天瑞一行礼。冯元志说：「姜大哥。众位朋友哪里去了？」姜天瑞说：「众位朋友都出去，分四路去做买卖。这里还有几位，叫他出来，给你三人引见引见。」大家彼此行礼。姜天瑞说：「三位由哪里来？」华云龙就把自己的事一说，徐沛也把自己之事一说。姜天瑞说：「徐贤弟，你得的什么书？给我瞧瞧。」徐沛就把书拿出来，交姜天瑞。姜天瑞一瞧，说：「徐贤弟，这书你也用不着，我留下了。」徐沛心中大大不悦，自己一想：「我的东西，我还没爱够。我又没说给他，他竟留下，实实可气。」心里大不愿意，又不可说不给。惹不起姜天瑞，自己默默无言。华云龙这时说：「我要走。」姜天瑞说：「怎么？」华云龙说：「我心里不安。怕济颠和尚一来，一个跑不了，那时连累了你们众位。」姜天瑞一听说：「众位朋友，哪位到龙游县去，把这济颠和尚杀了，把人头带来。谁有这个胆量，替华二弟充光棍？」徐沛说：「我去。」徐沛心里有自己的心思：「我到龙游县不犯事便罢，犯了事，我先把他们拉出来，一个跑不了。」他是暗恨姜天瑞，故此他说「我去」。姜天瑞说：「好。徐贤弟你辛苦一趟罢。」
Now, the Daytime Lame Monk, Feng Yuanzhi, and the Little Divine Flier, Xu Pei, were walking on when they saw a man coming towards them: it was none other than the Thieving Rat of Heaven and Earth, Hua Yunlong. Feng Yuanzhi and Xu Pei hurried forward to greet him. “Second Brother Hua, where have you come from?” “From Penglai Temple,” said Hua Yunlong. “That was close, that was close! Lu Tong nearly threw me to my death.” “What happened?” asked Feng Yuanzhi. Hua Yunlong told them everything that had gone before, in full. “Second Brother Hua,” said Feng Yuanzhi, “let me tell you something to set your mind at rest. I’ve stolen the wanted warrant for your arrest.” “Really?” said Hua Yunlong. Feng Yuanzhi told him how they had killed Li Zhaoming, how Xu Pei had got the heavenly book, how they had happened on the two head constables, and how he had stolen the papers at the inn. Only then did Hua Yunlong understand. “Where are you two going?” he said. “To Kaihua County,” said Feng Yuanzhi. “Come along with us. The Golden-Eyed Buddha, Jiang Tianrui, at Tiefo Temple, has sent out a greenwood summons and invited ever so many friends. They’re going to build double walls and cellars together! Let’s the three of us go together.” “Very well,” said Hua Yunlong. So the three of them went on together. One day they came to Tiefo Temple in Kaihua County, and saw crowds of people thronging inside the temple and out. The three of them asked around what was going on. “The Iron Buddha in the temple has shown its power,” someone said. “It speaks in a human voice.” The three of them went straight into the temple and on to the back. Looking about, they found only the Golden-Eyed Buddha, Jiang Tianrui, in the temple. The three of them saluted Jiang Tianrui. “Brother Jiang,” said Feng Yuanzhi, “where have all our friends gone?” “All our friends have gone out, four ways, to do some business,” said Jiang Tianrui. “There are still a few here. I’ll call them out and introduce the three of you.” Everyone exchanged greetings. “Where have you three come from?” said Jiang Tianrui. Hua Yunlong told him his own affairs, and Xu Pei told him his. “Younger Brother Xu,” said Jiang Tianrui, “what’s this book you got? Let me have a look.” Xu Pei took out the book and handed it to Jiang Tianrui. Jiang Tianrui looked it over. “Younger Brother Xu,” he said, “you’ve no use for this book. I’ll keep it.” Xu Pei was sorely displeased. “It’s mine,” he thought, “and I haven’t had my fill of it yet. I never said I’d give it to him, and he just keeps it. It’s maddening.” He was most unwilling at heart, yet he couldn’t say no either. He was no match for Jiang Tianrui, so he held his tongue. Just then Hua Yunlong said, “I’m going to leave.” “Why?” said Jiang Tianrui. “I’m uneasy,” said Hua Yunlong. “I’m afraid that if Crazy Ji comes, not one of us will get away, and then I’ll have dragged all of you into it.” Hearing this, Jiang Tianrui said, “Friends, which of you will go to Longyou County, kill this Crazy Ji and bring back his head? Who has the nerve to stand up like a real man for Younger Brother Hua?” “I’ll go,” said Xu Pei. Xu Pei had his own ideas. “If nothing goes wrong for me in Longyou County, well and good,” he thought. “If I get caught, I’ll drag the lot of them in first, and not one of them will get away.” He hated Jiang Tianrui in secret; that was why he said “I’ll go.” “Good,” said Jiang Tianrui. “Younger Brother Xu, you take the trouble to make the trip.”
徐沛這才由開化起身。這天到龍游縣東南城極角，碰見濟公。和尚一念道說：「龍游縣這地方，不比別處，吃飯館不知這裡規矩的，花多了錢，還要被人恥笑。」徐沛一聽，他原是個渾人，他這才跟和尚到酒鋪去喝酒。和尚故意要跟他打起來，跑到十字街，叫尹士雄把徐沛鎖上。徐沛先還要跟和尚打官司，只一聽是濟公，徐沛一擰身躥上房去說：「官司我不打了。」和尚說：「別叫他走，龍游縣兩條命案，都在他身上。」楊國棟、尹士雄一聽和尚這話，趕緊擰身上房。徐沛打算要跑，焉想到和尚一指手說：「唵敕令赫。」賊人要跑跑不了了。被尹士雄、楊國棟把賊人揪住，揪下房來。眾人一齊同奔龍游縣衙門。來到衙門，楊國棟進去一回話，說：「濟公沒死，現在拿了一個賊人，聽候老爺審訊。」老爺正審問張福、李祿的口供。一聽濟公沒死，老爺趕緊吩咐有請。立刻，濟公叫尹士雄帶領賊人上堂。老爺一瞧說：「聖僧請坐。下面賊人姓甚名誰？」徐沛也不隱瞞說：「回稟老爺，我叫小神飛徐沛。東門外楊家店脫頭和尚，叫開風鬼李兆明，是我殺的。南門外老道葉秋霜，是李兆明殺的。我把他殺了，算他給葉秋霜抵命，沒我的事。」老爺說：「你滿嘴胡說。店裡和尚是你殺的，公文可是你盜了去？」徐沛說：「公文不是我盜的。是晝瘸僧馮元志盜的，他同華雲龍都在開化縣鐵佛寺住著，鐵佛寺還有許多綠林人在那裡。」老爺一聽，也不再往下問，就吩咐將徐沛釘鐐入獄。老爺說：「聖僧，還求你老人家辛苦一趟，帶著我的班頭去辦案，將賊人拿來。」和尚說：「可以。老爺辦一套文書，我和尚帶楊國棟、尹士雄、柴元祿、杜振英四個人去。」知縣立刻把文書辦好，交與楊國棟。和尚帶領四位班頭，出了衙門，一直順大路往前行走。和尚一面往前走，口唱狂歌，說道是：
徐沛这才由开化起身。这天到龙游县东南城极角，碰见济公。和尚一念道说：「龙游县这地方，不比别处，吃饭馆不知这里规矩的，花多了钱，还要被人耻笑。」徐沛一听，他原是个浑人，他这才跟和尚到酒铺去喝酒。和尚故意要跟他打起来，跑到十字街，叫尹士雄把徐沛锁上。徐沛先还要跟和尚打官司，只一听是济公，徐沛一拧身蹿上房去说：「官司我不打了。」和尚说：「别叫他走，龙游县两条命案，都在他身上。」杨国栋、尹士雄一听和尚这话，赶紧拧身上房。徐沛打算要跑，焉想到和尚一指手说：「唵敕令赫。」贼人要跑跑不了了。被尹士雄、杨国栋把贼人揪住，揪下房来。众人一齐同奔龙游县衙门。来到衙门，杨国栋进去一回话，说：「济公没死，现在拿了一个贼人，听候老爷审讯。」老爷正审问张福、李禄的口供。一听济公没死，老爷赶紧吩咐有请。立刻，济公叫尹士雄带领贼人上堂。老爷一瞧说：「圣僧请坐。下面贼人姓甚名谁？」徐沛也不隐瞒说：「回禀老爷，我叫小神飞徐沛。东门外杨家店脱头和尚，叫开风鬼李兆明，是我杀的。南门外老道叶秋霜，是李兆明杀的。我把他杀了，算他给叶秋霜抵命，没我的事。」老爷说：「你满嘴胡说。店里和尚是你杀的，公文可是你盗了去？」徐沛说：「公文不是我盗的。是昼瘸僧冯元志盗的，他同华云龙都在开化县铁佛寺住着，铁佛寺还有许多绿林人在那里。」老爷一听，也不再往下问，就吩咐将徐沛钉镣入狱。老爷说：「圣僧，还求你老人家辛苦一趟，带着我的班头去办案，将贼人拿来。」和尚说：「可以。老爷办一套文书，我和尚带杨国栋、尹士雄、柴元禄、杜振英四个人去。」知县立刻把文书办好，交与杨国栋。和尚带领四位班头，出了衙门，一直顺大路往前行走。和尚一面往前走，口唱狂歌，说道是：
So Xu Pei set out from Kaihua. One day, at the far southeast corner of the walls of Longyou County, he ran into Ji Gong. The monk was saying aloud, “Longyou County isn’t like other places. Eat in a restaurant without knowing the rules here, and you’ll spend too much and get laughed at besides.” When Xu Pei heard this — he was a thick-headed fellow — he followed the monk to a wine shop to drink. The monk picked a fight with him on purpose, ran to Shizi Street, and had Yin Shixiong put Xu Pei in chains. At first Xu Pei was ready to stand trial and have it out with the monk, but the moment he heard that this was Ji Gong, he gave a twist and sprang up onto a roof. “I won’t stand trial after all,” he said. “Don’t let him get away,” said the monk. “Both of Longyou County’s murders are on him.” At the monk’s words, Yang Guodong and Yin Shixiong at once gave a twist and leapt up onto the roof. Xu Pei meant to run, but who would have thought the monk would point a finger and say, “Om! By command — he!” Now the thief could not run if he tried. Yin Shixiong and Yang Guodong seized him and dragged him down off the roof. They all headed together for the Longyou county yamen. When they got there, Yang Guodong went in to report. “Ji Gong isn’t dead,” he said. “He has caught a thief, who awaits Your Honour’s questioning.” His Honour was just then taking the statements of Zhang Fu and Li Lu. Hearing that Ji Gong was not dead, His Honour hastily ordered him invited in. At once Ji Gong had Yin Shixiong bring the thief into the hall. His Honour looked and said, “Holy monk, please be seated. You below there, thief: what is your name?” Xu Pei hid nothing. “I beg to report to Your Honour, I am the Little Divine Flier, Xu Pei. The long-haired ascetic monk at the Yang Family Inn outside the East Gate was the Open-Wind Ghost, Li Zhaoming, and I killed him. The old Daoist outside the South Gate, Ye Qiushuang, was killed by Li Zhaoming. I killed Li Zhaoming, so call it his life paid for Ye Qiushuang’s. It’s nothing to do with me.” “You’re talking nonsense,” said His Honour. “You killed the monk at the inn — did you steal the official papers too?” “I didn’t steal the papers,” said Xu Pei. “The Daytime Lame Monk, Feng Yuanzhi, stole them. He and Hua Yunlong are both staying at Tiefo Temple in Kaihua County, and there are a lot more greenwood men there at Tiefo Temple too.” Hearing this, His Honour asked no more, but ordered Xu Pei fettered and thrown into prison. “Holy monk,” said His Honour, “I must beg you, reverend sir, to take the trouble of going with my head constables to deal with the case and bring the thieves back.” “I can do that,” said the monk. “Let Your Honour draw up a set of papers, and this monk will take four men: Yang Guodong, Yin Shixiong, Chai Yuanlu and Du Zhenying.” The county magistrate had the papers drawn up at once and handed them to Yang Guodong. The monk led the four head constables out of the yamen and straight along the highway. As the monk went, he sang a wild song:
南來北往走西東，看得浮生總是空。天也空，地也空，人生杳杳在其中，日也空，月也空，來來往往有何功？田也空，土也空，換了多少主人翁。金也空，銀也空，死後何曾在手中。妻也空，子也空，黃泉路上不相逢。官也空，職也空，數盡孽障恨無窮。朝走西來暮走東，人生恰是採花蜂。探得百花成蜜後，到頭辛苦一場空。夜深聽盡三更鼓，翻身不覺五更鐘。從頭仔細思量看，便是南柯一夢中。
南来北往走西东，看得浮生总是空。天也空，地也空，人生杳杳在其中，日也空，月也空，来来往往有何功？田也空，土也空，换了多少主人翁。金也空，银也空，死后何曾在手中。妻也空，子也空，黄泉路上不相逢。官也空，职也空，数尽孽障恨无穷。朝走西来暮走东，人生恰是采花蜂。探得百花成蜜后，到头辛苦一场空。夜深听尽三更鼓，翻身不觉五更钟。从头仔细思量看，便是南柯一梦中。
North and south, now west, now east I roam,and see this floating life is empty, all of it.Heaven is empty, earth is empty, and man drifts dim and lost between; the sun is empty, the moon is empty — all this coming and going, what is it for?The fields are empty, the land is empty: how many owners has it known?Gold is empty, silver’s empty: after death, whose hand still holds it?Wife is empty, son is empty: on the road to the Yellow Springs you’ll never meet.Office empty, rank is empty: count up your sins and the regret has no end.West at dawn and east at dusk,a man’s life is a bee among the flowers:it sips a hundred blossoms till the honey’s made,and in the end its toil is all for nothing.Deep in the night you hear the drum beat through the third watch;you turn over, and there’s the fifth-watch bell.Think it over carefully from the start:it is all a dream of Nanke.