話說張妙興正在大殿作法，想要拘濟公魂魄，焉想到濟公親身前來。老道一見，勃然大怒說：「好顛僧，我拘你魂魄，你怎麼人來了？」
话说张妙兴正在大殿作法，想要拘济公魂魄，焉想到济公亲身前来。老道一见，勃然大怒说：「好颠僧，我拘你魂魄，你怎么人来了？」
Now, Zhang Miaoxing was in the main hall working his magic, trying to seize Ji Gong’s soul, and never dreamed that Ji Gong would come in person. At the sight of him the Daoist flew into a rage. “You crazy monk! I was summoning your soul — how is it you’ve come in the flesh?”
書中交代，老道自從雲蘭鎮梁家出來，梁員外沒追上老道，梁員外祇當是濟公死了。及至回到書房，見濟公在那房裏坐著喝酒。梁員外心中甚為喜悅，說：「聖僧，你老人家沒死呀？老道說把聖僧魂魄拘了去。」濟公說：「他把我的魂魄，你兒子的魂魄，一定是拘了去。我今天晚上去找他！」老員外說：「不必，他一個出家人，這等作惡，早晚必遭天報，聖僧不必跟他一般見識。依我之見，由他去罷。」濟公也不還言，在這裏喝酒，直到天晚。濟公說：「我到外面方便方便，少時就來。」老員外信以為真。
书中交代，老道自从云兰镇梁家出来，梁员外没追上老道，梁员外祇当是济公死了。及至回到书房，见济公在那房里坐着喝酒。梁员外心中甚为喜悦，说：「圣僧，你老人家没死呀？老道说把圣僧魂魄拘了去。」济公说：「他把我的魂魄，你儿子的魂魄，一定是拘了去。我今天晚上去找他！」老员外说：「不必，他一个出家人，这等作恶，早晚必遭天报，圣僧不必跟他一般见识。依我之见，由他去罢。」济公也不还言，在这里喝酒，直到天晚。济公说：「我到外面方便方便，少时就来。」老员外信以为真。
A word of explanation: after the Daoist left the Liang house in Yunlan Town, Squire Liang failed to catch up with him and took it for granted that Ji Gong was dead. But when he got back to the study, there was Ji Gong sitting in the room, drinking. Squire Liang was overjoyed. “Holy monk, you’re not dead after all? The Daoist said he had seized your soul and carried it off.” “He’s carried off my soul and your son’s soul, sure enough,” said Ji Gong. “Tonight I’ll go and find him!” “No need,” said the Old Squire. “He’s a man who has left the world, and if he does evil like this, Heaven is bound to pay him back sooner or later. Holy monk, don’t stoop to his level. If you ask me, let him be.” Ji Gong made no reply and sat there drinking until it grew dark. “I’m just going outside to relieve myself,” Ji Gong said. “I’ll be back in a moment.” The Old Squire believed him.
和尚出離了梁宅，一直正奔五仙山來，到了祥雲觀，見老道正在作法。陳亮來，濟公也看的真真切切，見老道第二次書符唸咒，濟公這纔隨著風來到桌案以前。按說老道自己就應當醒悟：拘魂把人拘來，濟公這點道德就不小。可是老道倒沖沖大怒，用寶劍一指，說：「顛僧，我化梁萬蒼，與你何幹？你無故壞我的大事，你好大膽量！你今天要知時達物，跪到我法臺以前，磕頭，叫我三聲祖師爺，山人有一分好生之德，饒爾不死。如要不然，當時我用寶劍結果你的性命！」濟公說：「好妖道，你在這裏興妖作怪，無故惡化梁萬蒼，你還敢見了我這樣無禮，我和尚越說越有氣。」冷不防濟公打了老道一個嘴巴。打的老道臉上冒火，氣往上撞，掄劍照定濟公摟頭就剁。
和尚出离了梁宅，一直正奔五仙山来，到了祥云观，见老道正在作法。陈亮来，济公也看的真真切切，见老道第二次书符念咒，济公这才随着风来到桌案以前。按说老道自己就应当醒悟：拘魂把人拘来，济公这点道德就不小。可是老道倒冲冲大怒，用宝剑一指，说：「颠僧，我化梁万苍，与你何干？你无故坏我的大事，你好大胆量！你今天要知时达物，跪到我法台以前，磕头，叫我三声祖师爷，山人有一分好生之德，饶尔不死。如要不然，当时我用宝剑结果你的性命！」济公说：「好妖道，你在这里兴妖作怪，无故恶化梁万苍，你还敢见了我这样无礼，我和尚越说越有气。」冷不防济公打了老道一个嘴巴。打的老道脸上冒火，气往上撞，抡剑照定济公搂头就剁。
The monk left the Liang house and headed straight for Mount Wuxian. When he reached Xiangyun Temple, he found the Daoist in the middle of his rite. Ji Gong had seen it all clearly when Chen Liang arrived, too. When the Daoist wrote his charms and chanted his spells for the second time, Ji Gong came along on the wind to the front of the altar table. By rights the Daoist ought to have seen the truth for himself: he had set out to summon a soul and had summoned the man himself, which showed that Ji Gong’s attainments were no small thing. Instead the Daoist flew into a towering rage. He pointed his sword and said, “Crazy monk, I was begging alms of Liang Wancang. What business is that of yours? You’ve ruined my great work for no reason. What gall! If you know what’s good for you, you’ll kneel before my altar today, knock your head on the ground and call me Venerable Master three times, and this man of the mountains, who has some regard for life, will spare you. If not, I’ll finish you off with my sword on the spot!” “You wicked sorcerer!” said Ji Gong. “You make mischief here with your devilry, you squeeze alms out of Liang Wancang for no reason, and you still dare be so insolent when you see me! The more this monk talks, the angrier he gets.” Without warning, Ji Gong slapped the Daoist across the face. The slap left the Daoist’s face burning and his temper boiling over. He swung his sword and hacked straight down at Ji Gong’s head.
二人就在大殿以前，各施所能。老道恨不能一劍把和尚殺了，和尚跟他來回亂繞，格一把，擰一把，氣得老道哇呀呀直嚷。老道身子往旁處一閃，由兜囊掏出一宗法寶，口中唸唸有詞，就聲：「敕令。」白亮亮一宗物件，撲奔濟公打去。羅漢爺睜眼一看，見半懸空刷啦啦一響，白茫茫一宗物件，撲奔頂門而來。濟公一看，認識這宗法寶，名叫混元如意石。這石頭能大能小，要大真能有數丈大，要小如雞子一般，可以帶在兜囊。這石頭要打人，准打個頭碎血出。濟公禪師用手一指，口唸六字真言：「唵嘛呢叭咪吽，唵敕令赫。」這石頭滴溜溜一轉，現了原形，落在濟公袖口之內。老道見濟公把他的法術破了，氣得三屍神暴跳，七竅內生煙，伸手又掏出一宗物件。老道站在正北，用寶劍一晃，口中唸咒，手內掐訣，由就地起了一陣怪風，刮的毛骨竦然。濟公再睜眼一看，原來是一隻斑斕猛虎，搖頭擺尾，撲奔濟公而來。羅漢一看，好生厲害，真是：
二人就在大殿以前，各施所能。老道恨不能一剑把和尚杀了，和尚跟他来回乱绕，格一把，拧一把，气得老道哇呀呀直嚷。老道身子往旁处一闪，由兜囊掏出一宗法宝，口中念念有词，就声：「敕令。」白亮亮一宗物件，扑奔济公打去。罗汉爷睁眼一看，见半悬空刷啦啦一响，白茫茫一宗物件，扑奔顶门而来。济公一看，认识这宗法宝，名叫混元如意石。这石头能大能小，要大真能有数丈大，要小如鸡子一般，可以带在兜囊。这石头要打人，准打个头碎血出。济公禅师用手一指，口念六字真言：「唵嘛呢叭咪吽，唵敕令赫。」这石头滴溜溜一转，现了原形，落在济公袖口之内。老道见济公把他的法术破了，气得三尸神暴跳，七窍内生烟，伸手又掏出一宗物件。老道站在正北，用宝剑一晃，口中念咒，手内掐诀，由就地起了一阵怪风，刮的毛骨竦然。济公再睁眼一看，原来是一只斑斓猛虎，摇头摆尾，扑奔济公而来。罗汉一看，好生厉害，真是：
The two of them went at it right there in front of the main hall, each using what powers he had. The Daoist wanted nothing more than to cut the monk down with one stroke, but the monk kept circling round him this way and that, fending him off here, pinching him there, until the Daoist was so furious he kept bellowing, “Wah-ya-ya!” The Daoist sprang to one side, took a magic treasure out of his pouch, muttered an incantation and cried, “By command!” A gleaming white object flew at Ji Gong. The Lord Arhat opened his eyes wide and looked: halfway up in the air there was a swishing rush, and a gleaming white thing was hurtling at the crown of his head. Ji Gong looked and recognized the treasure. It was called the Primal Unity Wishing Stone. This stone could grow large or small: large, it could truly reach tens of feet across; small, it was no bigger than a hen’s egg and could be carried in a pouch. When this stone struck someone, it never failed to crack his skull and draw blood. Chan Master Ji Gong pointed at it and chanted the six-syllable mantra: “Om mani padme hum! Om! By command — he!” The stone spun round and round, returned to its true form and dropped into Ji Gong’s sleeve. Seeing Ji Gong break his magic, the Daoist was so enraged that the Three Corpse Spirits leapt within him and smoke poured from all seven openings of his head. He reached in and took out another object. Standing due north, he flourished his sword, chanted a spell and formed a magic hand sign, and a weird wind rose from the ground, so eerie it made the hair stand on end. Ji Gong opened his eyes again and looked. It was a fierce striped tiger, shaking its head and lashing its tail, springing at Ji Gong. The arhat looked: a terrible beast indeed. Truly:
頭大耳圓尾小，渾身錦繡難描。
头大耳圆尾小，浑身锦绣难描。
Big of head and round of ear, small of tail,its whole hide a brocade no brush could paint.
牧童一見膽落，樵夫聞聲魂消。
牧童一见胆落，樵夫闻声魂消。
The herd boy sees it and his courage fails;the woodcutter hears it and his soul takes flight.
常在深山抖雄彪，萬獸叢中招討。
常在深山抖雄彪，万兽丛中招讨。
Ever in the deep hills it shakes its mighty stripes;among ten thousand beasts it rules as marshal.
濟公一見，哈哈大笑說：「好孽障，你用這等法術，也要在我跟前賣弄，真乃是江邊賣水。」說著話，用手一指，那老虎變作一個紙老虎，現了原形。老道見連破了兩宗法寶，不由氣往上撞，說：「好，和尚真乃大膽！叫你知道我山人的厲害。」伸手由兜囊掏出一根捆仙繩，在手中一托。老道說：「人無害虎心，虎有傷人意。我本不打算害你，這是你自找，屢次討死，休怨山人。我今天要開開殺戒！」他這根捆仙繩，最厲害無比，勿論甚麼妖精，捆上就得現原形。和尚一看，連說不好！老道口中唸咒，把繩扔起來，祇見金光繚繞，撲奔濟公。
济公一见，哈哈大笑说：「好孽障，你用这等法术，也要在我跟前卖弄，真乃是江边卖水。」说着话，用手一指，那老虎变作一个纸老虎，现了原形。老道见连破了两宗法宝，不由气往上撞，说：「好，和尚真乃大胆！叫你知道我山人的厉害。」伸手由兜囊掏出一根捆仙绳，在手中一托。老道说：「人无害虎心，虎有伤人意。我本不打算害你，这是你自找，屡次讨死，休怨山人。我今天要开开杀戒！」他这根捆仙绳，最厉害无比，勿论甚么妖精，捆上就得现原形。和尚一看，连说不好！老道口中念咒，把绳扔起来，祇见金光缭绕，扑奔济公。
At the sight, Ji Gong burst out laughing. “You wretch! Showing off a trick like this in front of me — that’s selling water by the riverside.” As he spoke he pointed his finger, and the tiger turned into a paper tiger, its true form revealed. Seeing two of his treasures broken one after the other, the Daoist could not hold his temper down. “Very well, monk, you are bold indeed! I’ll show you what this man of the mountains can do.” He reached into his pouch, took out an Immortal-Binding Rope and held it up on his palm. “Man has no heart to harm the tiger, but the tiger means to hurt the man,” said the Daoist. “I never meant to harm you. You brought this on yourself, courting death again and again, so don’t blame this man of the mountains. Today I shall break my vow against killing!” This Immortal-Binding Rope of his was deadly beyond compare: no matter what demon or spirit it was, once bound it had to show its true form. When the monk saw it, he cried, “Oh no! Oh no!” The Daoist chanted a spell and tossed the rope into the air. All that could be seen was golden light swirling as it swooped on Ji Gong.
濟公連聲喊嚷：「救人哪！可了不得了！要捆和尚！」轉眼就見這根繩把和尚捆了三道，和尚翻身栽倒。張妙興哈哈大笑說：「顛僧，我祇當你有多大神通。敢情原來你就是這樣無知之輩，待我結果你的性命。」老道說這話，舉劍照定和尚脖頸就剁。寶劍砍上一道白印，見和尚睜著眼瞧看老道，也不言語，並沒砍動。老道想：「怪呀！我這寶劍怎麼會砍不動和尚？」老道一連又是數劍，仍未砍動。老道豁然醒悟，心中一動：「莫非這是假的？」想到這裏，再一瞧，捆仙繩捆的是一個石香爐。再找和尚，蹤跡不見。老道正在各處尋找，和尚由後面招了老道一把。老道一回頭，氣得直嚷，說：「好顛僧，氣死我也，我今天與你誓不兩立。」伸手由香爐內把那點著的一柱香，拿起來，大殿旁邊堆著一堆柴草，口中唸句火咒，把柴草引著，一團火撲奔濟公而來。老道今天下毒手，要用真火把和尚燒死。老道用咒語一催，這團火撲向濟公。濟公用手一指，口唸：「唵嘛呢叭咪吽！唵敕令赫。」這團火卷回去撲奔老道，老道鬍子也燒了，頭髮也燒了，衣裳也著了，往大殿裏就跑。活該應當老道遭報，這火把大殿勾連上，少時凡火勾天火，烈焰騰空，火鴿子火蛇亂竄，就把老道燒在裏面，屍骨化灰，連東西配殿火也連上。和尚也不管他，先過去把老道害梁士元做的草人拿起，把七個針拔出來，將梁士元的魂魄收在袖口裏，也不管劉妙通死活，和尚往外就走。
济公连声喊嚷：「救人哪！可了不得了！要捆和尚！」转眼就见这根绳把和尚捆了三道，和尚翻身栽倒。张妙兴哈哈大笑说：「颠僧，我祇当你有多大神通。敢情原来你就是这样无知之辈，待我结果你的性命。」老道说这话，举剑照定和尚脖颈就剁。宝剑砍上一道白印，见和尚睁着眼瞧看老道，也不言语，并没砍动。老道想：「怪呀！我这宝剑怎么会砍不动和尚？」老道一连又是数剑，仍未砍动。老道豁然醒悟，心中一动：「莫非这是假的？」想到这里，再一瞧，捆仙绳捆的是一个石香炉。再找和尚，踪迹不见。老道正在各处寻找，和尚由后面招了老道一把。老道一回头，气得直嚷，说：「好颠僧，气死我也，我今天与你誓不两立。」伸手由香炉内把那点着的一柱香，拿起来，大殿旁边堆着一堆柴草，口中念句火咒，把柴草引着，一团火扑奔济公而来。老道今天下毒手，要用真火把和尚烧死。老道用咒语一催，这团火扑向济公。济公用手一指，口念：「唵嘛呢叭咪吽！唵敕令赫。」这团火卷回去扑奔老道，老道胡子也烧了，头发也烧了，衣裳也着了，往大殿里就跑。活该应当老道遭报，这火把大殿勾连上，少时凡火勾天火，烈焰腾空，火鸽子火蛇乱窜，就把老道烧在里面，尸骨化灰，连东西配殿火也连上。和尚也不管他，先过去把老道害梁士元做的草人拿起，把七个针拔出来，将梁士元的魂魄收在袖口里，也不管刘妙通死活，和尚往外就走。
“Help!” Ji Gong yelled over and over. “This is terrible! He’s tying up this monk!” In the blink of an eye the rope had bound the monk three times round, and the monk toppled over. Zhang Miaoxing roared with laughter. “Crazy monk, I took you for a man of great powers. So you’re nothing but an ignorant fool after all. Let me finish you off.” As he said this, the Daoist raised his sword and hacked at the monk’s neck. The blade left a white mark, and the monk lay there with his eyes open, watching the Daoist and saying nothing; the sword had not cut him at all. “Strange!” the Daoist thought. “How can my sword not cut the monk?” He hacked several more times in a row, and still it would not cut. Then it dawned on the Daoist, and a thought stirred in his heart: “Could this be a fake?” With that he looked again: what the Immortal-Binding Rope had bound was a stone incense burner. He looked for the monk, but there was no trace of him. The Daoist was searching everywhere when the monk plucked at him from behind. The Daoist turned round, so furious he shouted, “You crazy monk, you’ll be the death of me! Today it’s you or me!” He reached into the incense burner and took out a lit stick of incense. A heap of firewood and straw lay piled beside the main hall; chanting a fire spell, he set it alight, and a ball of fire came rushing at Ji Gong. Today the Daoist meant to strike to kill: he would burn the monk to death with real fire. The Daoist urged it on with a spell, and the ball of fire hurtled at Ji Gong. Ji Gong pointed his finger and chanted, “Om mani padme hum! Om! By command — he!” The ball of fire rolled back and rushed at the Daoist. His beard caught fire, his hair caught fire, his clothes caught fire, and he ran into the main hall. It was only fitting that the Daoist should meet his retribution. The fire caught the main hall, and in a moment the earthly fire drew down heavenly fire. Flames leapt to the sky, fire-doves and fire-snakes darted every which way, and the Daoist was burned inside, his bones turned to ash. The fire spread even to the east and west side halls. The monk paid him no heed. First he went and picked up the straw man the Daoist had made to harm Liang Shiyuan, pulled out the seven needles and gathered Liang Shiyuan’s soul into his sleeve. Then, without caring whether Liu Miaotong lived or died, the monk walked straight out.
陳亮此時在東配房裏，全都看的真切，見火連配房要連上，陳亮一腳把窗戶踹了，跑出來就追。濟公和尚緊走，陳亮緊追。和尚慢走，陳亮慢追，跟著和尚來到雲蘭鎮，見濟公奔到梁員外的門首。門口有家人，一見和尚回來，家人說：「聖僧，你上哪裏去？我家員外都等急了。」和尚說：「好。」邁步奔向裏面，來到書房。梁員外一見說：「聖僧，你老人去哪裏去了？」和尚說：「我給你兒找魂魄去了，現在已經把你兒的魂魄找回來。」說著話，濟公來到梁士元的屋中，祇見梁士元昏迷不醒。濟公立刻先把他魂魄給入了殼，少待片刻，梁士元能活動了。老員外在外間擺上酒席，款待濟公。二人落座，吃了有三四盃酒。濟公問：「員外，你這裏鬧賊不鬧？」梁員外說：「我這裏不鬧賊。好賊知道我是一個良善之家，也不肯偷我。那下流賊他也進不了我這宅院。」濟公說：「好，我提幾個好賊，你可認的？」梁員外說：「我不認識是誰。」暗中，陳亮正在房上偷聽多時，聽見要提說幾個賊，自己心中一動，不知濟公說是哪路的英雄。就聽和尚說：「那有一個踏雪無痕柳瑞，你可知道？」梁員外說：「不知。」濟公說：「這個人外號人稱踏雪無痕，是從雪地上走，全無腳印的，多輕妙。」梁員外說：「好輕妙，人從雪上走都無腳印。」濟公說：「他走雪地無腳印，可是拿著掃帚掃著走。」梁員外一聽，也就樂了。和尚又說：「有一個登萍渡水陶芳，這個人能從水面上走，落不下去。」梁員外說：「世界上盡有這些能人，可真少，我實未見過。」濟公說：「那不算出奇，可是冬天凍冰之時。」員外說：「冬天我也行了。」和尚說：「梁士元已然好了，我明日急速回臨安。」梁員外說：「聖僧何必忙，我還要留師父多住幾日，報答你老人家救命之恩。」濟公說：「叫一個家人來。」梁福過來，和尚附耳如此如此，梁福出去。陳亮在房上暗中觀看，聽濟公說那些笑話，所說這二人，都是陳亮的朋友，心中說：「他一個出家人，為何也知道我們綠林中之事？」正自思想，祇見四方人都圍滿。梁福帶著看家、護院、更夫、壯丁三四十名，各執刀槍器械，口口聲聲，叫捉拿房上之人！把陳亮嚇了一跳。原來是濟公吩咐梁福如此如此，就是派他叫人暗中捉人。陳亮站在房上，把手中刀一擎說：「呔！你等閃開，我也不是偷盜，無非借路行走，如擋我者死，躲我者生。」翻身跳下房來，濟公從屋中出來。有分教：
「英雄得登三寶地，羅漢廣開大乘門。」
陈亮此时在东配房里，全都看的真切，见火连配房要连上，陈亮一脚把窗户踹了，跑出来就追。济公和尚紧走，陈亮紧追。和尚慢走，陈亮慢追，跟着和尚来到云兰镇，见济公奔到梁员外的门首。门口有家人，一见和尚回来，家人说：「圣僧，你上哪里去？我家员外都等急了。」和尚说：「好。」迈步奔向里面，来到书房。梁员外一见说：「圣僧，你老人去哪里去了？」和尚说：「我给你儿找魂魄去了，现在已经把你儿的魂魄找回来。」说着话，济公来到梁士元的屋中，祇见梁士元昏迷不醒。济公立刻先把他魂魄给入了壳，少待片刻，梁士元能活动了。老员外在外间摆上酒席，款待济公。二人落座，吃了有三四杯酒。济公问：「员外，你这里闹贼不闹？」梁员外说：「我这里不闹贼。好贼知道我是一个良善之家，也不肯偷我。那下流贼他也进不了我这宅院。」济公说：「好，我提几个好贼，你可认的？」梁员外说：「我不认识是谁。」暗中，陈亮正在房上偷听多时，听见要提说几个贼，自己心中一动，不知济公说是哪路的英雄。就听和尚说：「那有一个踏雪无痕柳瑞，你可知道？」梁员外说：「不知。」济公说：「这个人外号人称踏雪无痕，是从雪地上走，全无脚印的，多轻妙。」梁员外说：「好轻妙，人从雪上走都无脚印。」济公说：「他走雪地无脚印，可是拿着扫帚扫着走。」梁员外一听，也就乐了。和尚又说：「有一个登萍渡水陶芳，这个人能从水面上走，落不下去。」梁员外说：「世界上尽有这些能人，可真少，我实未见过。」济公说：「那不算出奇，可是冬天冻冰之时。」员外说：「冬天我也行了。」和尚说：「梁士元已然好了，我明日急速回临安。」梁员外说：「圣僧何必忙，我还要留师父多住几日，报答你老人家救命之恩。」济公说：「叫一个家人来。」梁福过来，和尚附耳如此如此，梁福出去。陈亮在房上暗中观看，听济公说那些笑话，所说这二人，都是陈亮的朋友，心中说：「他一个出家人，为何也知道我们绿林中之事？」正自思想，祇见四方人都围满。梁福带着看家、护院、更夫、壮丁三四十名，各执刀枪器械，口口声声，叫捉拿房上之人！把陈亮吓了一跳。原来是济公吩咐梁福如此如此，就是派他叫人暗中捉人。陈亮站在房上，把手中刀一擎说：「呔！你等闪开，我也不是偷盗，无非借路行走，如挡我者死，躲我者生。」翻身跳下房来，济公从屋中出来。有分教：
「英雄得登三宝地，罗汉广开大乘门。」
At this moment Chen Liang was in the east side room, and he had seen it all clearly. When he saw the fire about to spread to the side rooms, he kicked out the window, ran out and gave chase. When the monk Ji Gong walked fast, Chen Liang followed fast; when the monk walked slowly, Chen Liang followed slowly. He followed the monk all the way to Yunlan Town and saw Ji Gong make for Squire Liang’s gate. There were servants at the gate, and when one of them saw the monk come back, he said, “Holy monk, where did you go? My master has been worried sick waiting.” “Good,” said the monk, and strode inside to the study. When Squire Liang saw him, he said, “Holy monk, sir, where did you go?” “I went to find your son’s soul,” said the monk, “and now I’ve brought your son’s soul back.” As he spoke, Ji Gong went into Liang Shiyuan’s room. Liang Shiyuan lay there unconscious. Ji Gong at once put his soul back into its shell, and after a little while Liang Shiyuan could move again. The Old Squire had a feast laid out in the outer room to entertain Ji Gong. The two of them sat down, and when they had drunk three or four cups, Ji Gong asked, “Squire, do you get thieves round here?” “No, I don’t get thieves,” said Squire Liang. “The good thieves know mine is a kind and decent household and wouldn’t want to rob me, and the low thieves can’t get into this house of mine.” “Good,” said Ji Gong. “Let me name a few good thieves. See if you know them.” “I don’t know who they are,” said Squire Liang. Meanwhile, unseen, Chen Liang had been listening on the roof for a long while. Hearing that some thieves were about to be named, his heart gave a jump, and he wondered which heroes of the road Ji Gong meant. He heard the monk say, “There’s one called Liu Rui, No Footprints in the Snow (Taxue Wuhen). Have you heard of him?” “No,” said Squire Liang. “This man’s known to all as No Footprints in the Snow,” said Ji Gong, “because he walks across snowy ground without leaving a single footprint. How light is that?” “Light indeed,” said Squire Liang, “to walk on snow and leave no footprints.” “He walks on snow without leaving footprints,” said Ji Gong, “but he carries a broom and sweeps as he goes.” That made Squire Liang laugh. “Then there’s Tao Fang, Duckweed Treader, Water Crosser (Dengping Dushui),” the monk went on. “This man can walk across the surface of water without sinking in.” “The world is full of clever people like that,” said Squire Liang, “but they really are rare. I’ve never actually seen one.” “It’s nothing so remarkable,” said Ji Gong. “It’s in winter, when the water’s frozen.” “In winter even I can do that,” said the squire. “Liang Shiyuan is well now,” said the monk. “Tomorrow I’ll hurry back to Lin’an.” “Holy monk, what’s the hurry?” said Squire Liang. “I want to keep you here a few more days, Master, to repay you for saving my son’s life.” “Call a servant in,” said Ji Gong. Liang Fu came over. The monk whispered this and that in his ear, and Liang Fu went out. Chen Liang, watching in secret from the roof, had heard Ji Gong tell those jokes, and the two men he spoke of were both Chen Liang’s friends. “He’s a man who has left the world,” he said to himself. “How does he come to know the affairs of us greenwood men?” He was still turning this over when he saw people closing in on all four sides. Liang Fu had brought thirty or forty men — house guards, compound watchmen, night watchmen and able-bodied hands — each carrying a saber, a spear or some other weapon, all shouting to seize the man on the roof! Chen Liang got quite a fright. It turned out that Ji Gong had told Liang Fu to do this and that: to have men catch someone on the quiet. Chen Liang stood on the roof, raised the saber in his hand and said, “Hey! Get out of my way, all of you. I’m no thief — I’m only passing through. Whoever stands in my way dies; whoever keeps clear lives.” He sprang down from the roof, and Ji Gong came out of the house. Thus it was that:
“The hero came at last to tread the ground of the Three Jewels;the arhat threw wide the gate of the Great Vehicle.”
要知後事如何，且看下回分解。
要知后事如何，且看下回分解。
To learn what happened next, read the next chapter.