話表祭賽國王謝了唐三藏師徒獲寶擒怪之恩，所贈金玉，分毫不受。卻命當駕官照依四位常穿的衣服各做兩套，鞋襪各做兩雙，絛環各做兩條，外備乾糧烘炒，倒換了通關文牒，大排鑾駕，並文武多官、滿城百姓、伏龍寺僧人，大吹大打，送四眾出城。約有二十里，先辭了國王。眾人又送二十里辭回。伏龍寺僧人送有五六十里不回：有的要同上西天，有的要修行伏侍。行者見都不肯回去，遂弄個手段，把毫毛拔了三四十根，吹口仙氣，叫：「變！」都變作斑斕猛虎，攔住前路，哮吼踴躍。眾僧方懼，不敢前進。大聖才引師父策馬而去，少時間去得遠了。眾僧人放聲大哭，都喊：「有恩有義的老爺！我等無緣，不肯度我們也。」
话表祭赛国王谢了唐三藏师徒获宝擒怪之恩，所赠金玉，分毫不受。却命当驾官照依四位常穿的衣服各做两套，鞋袜各做两双，绦环各做两条，外备干粮烘炒，倒换了通关文牒，大排銮驾，并文武多官、满城百姓、伏龙寺僧人，大吹大打，送四众出城。约有二十里，先辞了国王。众人又送二十里辞回。伏龙寺僧人送有五六十里不回：有的要同上西天，有的要修行伏侍。行者见都不肯回去，遂弄个手段，把毫毛拔了三四十根，吹口仙气，叫：「变！」都变作斑斓猛虎，拦住前路，哮吼踊跃。众僧方惧，不敢前进。大圣才引师父策马而去，少时间去得远了。众僧人放声大哭，都喊：「有恩有义的老爷！我等无缘，不肯度我们也。」
Now, the king of the Festival Offering Kingdom thanked Tang Sanzang and his disciples for recovering the treasure and capturing the monsters, but they would accept none of the gold and jade he offered. He therefore ordered the officer attending the throne to have two sets of clothes made for each of the four, matching what they usually wore, with two pairs of shoes and socks and two sashes with rings apiece. He also provided dry provisions and parched food, renewed their travel papers and brought out his full royal procession. With all the civil and military officers, the people of the whole city and the monks of Dragon-Subduing Monastery, he escorted the four pilgrims out of the city to a great clamour of music and drums. After about twenty li they took leave of the king. The others escorted them another twenty li before turning back. But the monks of Dragon-Subduing Monastery went fifty or sixty li and still would not leave: some wanted to go with them to the Western Heaven; others wanted to practise the faith and wait on them. Seeing that none would turn back, Pilgrim played a trick. He plucked thirty or forty hairs, blew immortal breath on them and cried, “Change!” They all became fierce striped tigers, blocking the road ahead, roaring and leaping. Only then were the monks frightened and dared go no farther. The Great Sage led his master away on horseback, and before long they were far off. The monks burst into loud sobs, crying, “Our kind and righteous lords! We have no destined bond with you — you will not bring us to salvation!”
且不說眾僧啼哭。卻說師徒四眾走上大路，卻才收回毫毛，一直西去。正是時序易遷，又早冬殘春至，不暖不寒，正好逍遙行路。忽見一條長嶺，嶺頂上是路。三藏勒馬觀看，那嶺上荊棘丫叉，薜蘿牽繞，雖是有道路的痕跡，左右卻都是荊刺棘針。唐僧叫：「徒弟，這路怎生走得？」行者道：「怎麼走不得？」又道：「徒弟啊，路痕在下，荊棘在上，只除是蛇蟲伏地而遊，方可去了；若你們走，腰也難伸，教我如何乘馬？」八戒道：「不打緊，等我使出鈀柴手來，把釘鈀分開荊棘，莫說騎馬，就擡轎也包你過去。」三藏道：「你雖有力，長遠難熬，卻不知有多少遠近，怎生費得這許多精神？」行者道：「不須商量，等我去看看。」將身一縱，跳在半空看時，一望無際。真個是：
匝地遠天，凝煙帶雨。夾道柔茵亂，漫山翠蓋張。密密搓搓初發葉，攀攀扯扯正芬芳。遙望不知何所盡，近觀一似綠雲茫。蒙蒙茸茸，鬱鬱蒼蒼。風聲飄索索，日影映煌煌。那中間有松有柏還有竹，多梅多柳更多桑。薜蘿纏古樹，藤葛繞垂楊。盤團似架，聯絡如床。有處花開真佈錦，無端卉發遠生香。為人誰不遭荊棘，那見西方荊棘長？
行者看夠多時，將雲頭按下道：「師父，這去處遠哩。」三藏問：「有多少遠？」行者道：「一望無際，似有千里之遙。」三藏大驚道：「怎生是好？」沙僧笑道：「師父莫愁，我們也學燒荒的，放上一把火，燒絕了荊棘過去。」八戒道：「莫亂談。燒荒的須在十來月，草衰木枯，方好引火。如今正是蕃盛之時，怎麼燒得？」行者道：「就是燒得，也怕人了。」三藏道：「這般怎生得度？」八戒笑道：「要得度，還依我。」
且不说众僧啼哭。却说师徒四众走上大路，却才收回毫毛，一直西去。正是时序易迁，又早冬残春至，不暖不寒，正好逍遥行路。忽见一条长岭，岭顶上是路。三藏勒马观看，那岭上荆棘丫叉，薜萝牵绕，虽是有道路的痕迹，左右却都是荆刺棘针。唐僧叫：「徒弟，这路怎生走得？」行者道：「怎么走不得？」又道：「徒弟啊，路痕在下，荆棘在上，只除是蛇虫伏地而游，方可去了；若你们走，腰也难伸，教我如何乘马？」八戒道：「不打紧，等我使出钯柴手来，把钉钯分开荆棘，莫说骑马，就抬轿也包你过去。」三藏道：「你虽有力，长远难熬，却不知有多少远近，怎生费得这许多精神？」行者道：「不须商量，等我去看看。」将身一纵，跳在半空看时，一望无际。真个是：
匝地远天，凝烟带雨。夹道柔茵乱，漫山翠盖张。密密搓搓初发叶，攀攀扯扯正芬芳。遥望不知何所尽，近观一似绿云茫。蒙蒙茸茸，郁郁苍苍。风声飘索索，日影映煌煌。那中间有松有柏还有竹，多梅多柳更多桑。薜萝缠古树，藤葛绕垂杨。盘团似架，联络如床。有处花开真布锦，无端卉发远生香。为人谁不遭荆棘，那见西方荆棘长？
行者看够多时，将云头按下道：「师父，这去处远哩。」三藏问：「有多少远？」行者道：「一望无际，似有千里之遥。」三藏大惊道：「怎生是好？」沙僧笑道：「师父莫愁，我们也学烧荒的，放上一把火，烧绝了荆棘过去。」八戒道：「莫乱谈。烧荒的须在十来月，草衰木枯，方好引火。如今正是蕃盛之时，怎么烧得？」行者道：「就是烧得，也怕人了。」三藏道：「这般怎生得度？」八戒笑道：「要得度，还依我。」
Let us leave the monks to their tears. Meanwhile, master and disciples reached the main road. Only then did Pilgrim call back his hairs, and they went straight on westward. How readily the seasons change! Already winter was ending and spring arriving. Neither hot nor cold, the weather was just right for travelling at ease. Suddenly they saw a long ridge, with the road along its crest. Sanzang reined in his horse and looked. Thorn branches forked and tangled over the ridge, with climbing figs and vines wound through them. Though traces of a path remained, thorns and prickles crowded it on either side. The Tang Monk called, “Disciples, how can we travel along this road?” Pilgrim said, “Why shouldn’t we?” The elder went on, “Disciples, the path is underneath and the thorns above it. Only snakes and creeping things, crawling along the ground, could get through. You could scarcely straighten your backs if you walked — how am I to ride a horse?” Bajie said, “No trouble. Let me show you my brush-raking skill and part the thorns with my rake. Never mind riding a horse — I guarantee we could even carry you through in a sedan chair.” Sanzang said, “Strong as you are, you could not keep that up over a long distance. We don’t know how far it goes. How can you spend so much strength on it?” Pilgrim said, “No need to discuss it. Let me go and look.” He sprang into the air and saw it stretch beyond the reach of his eyes. Truly:
Covering the earth, reaching the distant sky,gathering mist and bearing rain.Soft green mats lie tangled beside the path;emerald canopies spread across the hills.Packed close together, leaves are newly budding;clasping and clinging, branches breathe their fragrance.From afar, no end can be seen;close by, a boundless haze of green cloud.Downy and thick,luxuriant and dark green.The wind drifts through with a rustling sound;the sunlight gleams in dazzling patches.Among them are pines and cypresses and bamboo,many plums, many willows, and more mulberries still.Climbing figs twine round ancient trees;creepers and kudzu wrap the drooping willows.Coiled together like a trellis,linked together like a bed.Here blossoms open in a true spread of brocade;there flowers spring up unbidden, sending fragrance far.Who passes through life without meeting thorns?Yet who has seen such thorns growing in the West?
After looking for a good while, Pilgrim lowered his cloud. “Master, this place goes on a long way.” Sanzang asked, “How far?” Pilgrim said, “There’s no end in sight. It looks a thousand li long.” Sanzang was alarmed. “What are we to do?” Sha Monk laughed. “Master, don’t worry. Let’s do as people do when clearing land: set a fire, burn all the thorns away and go through.” Bajie said, “Don’t talk nonsense. People burn off land around the tenth month, when the grass has withered and the trees are dry. That’s when you can set fire to it. Everything’s growing thickly now. How could it burn?” Pilgrim said, “Even if it did burn, it would be frightening.” Sanzang said, “Then how are we to get across?” Bajie laughed. “If you want to get across, you’ll still have to rely on me.”
好獃子，捻個訣，念個咒語，把腰躬一躬，叫：「長！」就長了有二十丈高下的身軀。把釘鈀幌一幌，教：「變！」就變了有三十丈長短的鈀柄。拽開步，雙手使鈀，將荊棘左右摟開：「請師父跟我來也。」三藏見了甚喜，即策馬緊隨後面；沙僧挑著行李；行者也使鐵棒撥開。這一日未曾住手，行有百十里。將次天晚，見有一塊空闊之處。當路上有一通石碣，上有三個大字，乃「荊棘嶺」；下有兩行十四個小字，乃「荊棘蓬攀八百里，古來有路少人行」。八戒見了，笑道：「等我老豬與他添上兩句：『自今八戒能開破，直透西方路盡平。』」三藏欣然下馬道：「徒弟啊，累了你也。我們就在此住過了今宵，待明日天光再走。」八戒道：「師父莫住，趁此天色晴明，我等有興，連夜摟開路走他娘。」那長老只得相從。
好呆子，捻个诀，念个咒语，把腰躬一躬，叫：「长！」就长了有二十丈高下的身躯。把钉钯幌一幌，教：「变！」就变了有三十丈长短的钯柄。拽开步，双手使钯，将荆棘左右搂开：「请师父跟我来也。」三藏见了甚喜，即策马紧随后面；沙僧挑着行李；行者也使铁棒拨开。这一日未曾住手，行有百十里。将次天晚，见有一块空阔之处。当路上有一通石碣，上有三个大字，乃「荆棘岭」；下有两行十四个小字，乃「荆棘蓬攀八百里，古来有路少人行」。八戒见了，笑道：「等我老猪与他添上两句：『自今八戒能开破，直透西方路尽平。』」三藏欣然下马道：「徒弟啊，累了你也。我们就在此住过了今宵，待明日天光再走。」八戒道：「师父莫住，趁此天色晴明，我等有兴，连夜搂开路走他娘。」那长老只得相从。
Fine Idiot! He made a hand sign, recited a spell, bent at the waist and cried, “Grow!” His body grew some twenty zhang tall. He shook his rake and cried, “Change!” Its handle became some thirty zhang long. Striding ahead, he wielded the rake in both hands and swept the thorns away to left and right. “Master, please follow me!” Sanzang was delighted and urged his horse close behind. Sha Monk carried the luggage, and Pilgrim used his iron cudgel to push the branches aside as well. They worked all day without stopping and travelled a hundred li or so. As evening approached, they came to an open space. Beside the road stood a stone tablet bearing three large characters: “Thorn Ridge.” Below were two lines of fourteen smaller characters: “Thorns and tangled brush stretch eight hundred li; a road has been here since ancient times, but few have travelled it.” Bajie laughed when he saw it. “Let Old Zhu add another couple of lines: ‘From this day Bajie can break a way through; straight to the West, the road will all be clear.’” Sanzang gladly dismounted. “Disciple, you’ve worn yourself out. Let’s stay here tonight and go on when it’s light tomorrow.” Bajie said, “Master, don’t stop. The sky is clear and we’re in the mood. Let’s rake the road open all night and get the hell on with it!” The elder had no choice but to agree.