話說濟公僱人搭著皂托頭彭振，萬花僧徐恆，剛來到馬家湖村口。只聽對面有人嚷：「好，老道，你敢劫殺差事。濟公快來。」和尚一看，乃是一個老道，截住小玄壇周瑞一干眾人。
话说济公雇人搭着皂托头彭振，万花僧徐恒，刚来到马家湖村口。只听对面有人嚷：「好，老道，你敢劫杀差事。济公快来。」和尚一看，乃是一个老道，截住小玄坛周瑞一干众人。
Now, Ji Gong had hired men to carry the Black Tuotou, Peng Zhen, and the Monk of Ten Thousand Flowers, Xu Heng, and they had just reached the mouth of the village of Ma Family Lake when they heard someone ahead shouting, “Right, Daoist! You dare hold up our prisoners and kill one? Ji Gong, come quick!” The monk looked and saw an old Daoist, who had stopped Zhou Rui, Little Marshal Xuantan, and all his men.
書中交代，濟公夜內由馬家湖走後，小玄壇周瑞、赤面虎羅鑣帶領二十個夥計，一見馬俊，馬俊說：「二位班頭，現有濟公的吩咐，這裡有三個賊，叫你們二位等候天亮，把賊人押回衙門，請老爺前來驗屍。還叫你們等他老人家回來你們再走。」周瑞、羅鑣點頭答應。等到天亮，有常山縣衙門的二爺，騎著馬，來到馬俊家來打聽。原來知縣不放心，一夜未見周瑞等回衙門，又不知出了多少人命，總算是常山縣的地面。故此老爺派管家，到馬俊家來打聽。管家一見周瑞，周瑞就把夜內殺賊的話一說。管家說：「周頭，你們快回去罷。老爺甚不放心，叫我來訪問，你等回去，老爺就放了心了。」周瑞說：「也好，我先押解賊人回去。」馬俊說：「周頭，你趕緊請老爺來驗屍。」周瑞說：「是。」立刻雇了一輛車，把三個賊人擱在車上。大眾班頭衙役，押解著出了馬俊家中。
书中交代，济公夜内由马家湖走后，小玄坛周瑞、赤面虎罗镳带领二十个伙计，一见马俊，马俊说：「二位班头，现有济公的吩咐，这里有三个贼，叫你们二位等候天亮，把贼人押回衙门，请老爷前来验尸。还叫你们等他老人家回来你们再走。」周瑞、罗镳点头答应。等到天亮，有常山县衙门的二爷，骑着马，来到马俊家来打听。原来知县不放心，一夜未见周瑞等回衙门，又不知出了多少人命，总算是常山县的地面。故此老爷派管家，到马俊家来打听。管家一见周瑞，周瑞就把夜内杀贼的话一说。管家说：「周头，你们快回去罢。老爷甚不放心，叫我来访问，你等回去，老爷就放了心了。」周瑞说：「也好，我先押解贼人回去。」马俊说：「周头，你赶紧请老爷来验尸。」周瑞说：「是。」立刻雇了一辆车，把三个贼人搁在车上。大众班头衙役，押解着出了马俊家中。
A word of explanation: after Ji Gong left Ma Family Lake in the night, Zhou Rui, Little Marshal Xuantan, and Luo Biao, the Red-Faced Tiger, came with twenty of their men and saw Ma Jun. “You two head constables,” said Ma Jun, “Ji Gong has left orders. There are three thieves here. You two are to wait till daylight, take the thieves back to the yamen and ask His Honour to come and hold an inquest. And he says you’re to wait till the old gentleman comes back before you leave.” Zhou Rui and Luo Biao nodded and agreed. When day broke, a steward from the Changshan county yamen came riding to Ma Jun’s house to find out what had happened. The magistrate, it turned out, had been uneasy. Zhou Rui and the others had not come back to the yamen all night, he had no idea how many lives had been lost, and after all, this was Changshan County ground. So His Honour had sent his steward to Ma Jun’s house to ask. As soon as the steward saw Zhou Rui, Zhou Rui told him all about killing the thieves in the night. “Head Constable Zhou,” said the steward, “you’d all better hurry back. His Honour is very worried, and he sent me to find out. Once you’re back, his mind will be at rest.” “Very well,” said Zhou Rui. “I’ll take the thieves back first.” “Head Constable Zhou,” said Ma Jun, “ask His Honour to come quickly and hold the inquest.” “I will,” said Zhou Rui. He hired a cart at once and put the three thieves on it, and all the head constables and runners escorted them out of Ma Jun’s house.
正走到馬家湖村口，只見對面來了一個老道。披散頭髮，身穿藍緞道袍，白襪雲鞋，手中提著寶劍，長得凶眉惡目，一部剛髯。老道口念無量佛，把車輛截住，說：「你們是做什麼的？」周瑞說：「我們是常山縣的官人，在馬家湖拿著的明火賊犯，往衙門解。」老道說：「我瞧瞧拿住的賊。」周瑞說：「老道，你瞧什麼？你是哪的？」老道說：「山人姓孟，叫清元。」
正走到马家湖村口，只见对面来了一个老道。披散头发，身穿蓝缎道袍，白袜云鞋，手中提着宝剑，长得凶眉恶目，一部刚髯。老道口念无量佛，把车辆截住，说：「你们是做什么的？」周瑞说：「我们是常山县的官人，在马家湖拿着的明火贼犯，往衙门解。」老道说：「我瞧瞧拿住的贼。」周瑞说：「老道，你瞧什么？你是哪的？」老道说：「山人姓孟，叫清元。」
They had just reached the mouth of the village of Ma Family Lake when an old Daoist came toward them. His hair hung loose, he wore a blue satin Daoist robe, white socks and cloud shoes, and he carried a sword in his hand. He had fierce brows and evil eyes and a full, bristling beard. Chanting “Limitless Buddha”, the old Daoist stopped the cart. “What are you people up to?” he said. “We’re officers of Changshan County,” said Zhou Rui. “We caught these robbers at Ma Family Lake, men who came with torches and drawn weapons, and we’re taking them to the yamen.” “Let me have a look at the thieves you’ve caught,” said the old Daoist. “Daoist,” said Zhou Rui, “what do you want to look for? Where are you from?” “This man of the mountains,” said the old Daoist, “is surnamed Meng, and named Qingyuan.”