且說紫髯伯聽和尚之言，答道：「這卻無妨。他決不肯回來了，只管收起來吧。－－我且問你，聞得此處有個小丹村，離此多遠？」慧海道：「不過三四里之遙。」北俠道：「那裡有鄉紳富戶以及庵觀娼妓無有呢？」和尚道：「有庵觀，並無娼妓。那裡不過是個莊村，並無鎮店。若論鄉紳，卻有個勾鄉宦，因告終養在家，極其孝母，家道殷實。因為老母吃齋念佛，他便蓋造了一座佛樓，畫棟雕樑，壯觀之甚。慢說別的，就只他那寶珠海燈，便是無價之寶。上面用珍珠攢成纓絡，排穗俱有寶石鑲嵌。不用說點起來照徹明亮，就是平空看去也是金碧交輝，耀人二目。那勾員外只要討老母的喜歡，自己好善樂施，連我們廟裡一年四季皆是有香資佈施的。」北俠聽了，便對龍濤道：「聽師傅之言卻有可疑。莫若馮七你到小丹村暗暗探聽一番，看是如何？」馮七領命，飛也似的去了。龍濤便到廚房收拾飯食。北俠與和尚閒談。
且说紫髯伯听和尚之言，答道：「这却无妨。他决不肯回来了，只管收起来吧。－－我且问你，闻得此处有个小丹村，离此多远？」慧海道：「不过三四里之遥。」北侠道：「那里有乡绅富户以及庵观娼妓无有呢？」和尚道：「有庵观，并无娼妓。那里不过是个庄村，并无镇店。若论乡绅，却有个勾乡宦，因告终养在家，极其孝母，家道殷实。因为老母吃斋念佛，他便盖造了一座佛楼，画栋雕梁，壮观之甚。慢说别的，就只他那宝珠海灯，便是无价之宝。上面用珍珠攒成缨络，排穗俱有宝石镶嵌。不用说点起来照彻明亮，就是平空看去也是金碧交辉，耀人二目。那勾员外只要讨老母的喜欢，自己好善乐施，连我们庙里一年四季皆是有香资布施的。」北侠听了，便对龙涛道：「听师傅之言却有可疑。莫若冯七你到小丹村暗暗探听一番，看是如何？」冯七领命，飞也似的去了。龙涛便到厨房收拾饭食。北侠与和尚闲谈。
Now, when the Purple-Bearded Elder heard what the monk said, he answered, “No harm in that. He won’t come back, that’s certain. Just put the things away. — But let me ask you: I hear there is a place called Xiaodan Village near here. How far is it?” “No more than three or four li,” said Huihai. “Are there gentry or rich families there,” asked the Northern Hero, “or nunneries and temples, or singing girls?” “There are nunneries and temples,” said the monk, “but no singing girls. It’s only a farming village, with no market town. As for gentry, there is the retired official Gou. He gave up office and came home to care for his mother, and he is most devoted to her; the family is well off. Because his old mother keeps a meatless diet and chants the Buddha’s name, he has built her an upstairs Buddha hall, with painted beams and carved rafters, a splendid sight. Never mind the rest — his pearl sea lamp alone is a priceless treasure. Pearls are strung on it into tassels and fringes, and the pendants are all set with precious stones. Lit, of course, it fills the place with light; but even unlit, just to look at, it glitters gold and jade-green till it dazzles your eyes. Squire Gou wants nothing but to please his old mother, and he loves good works and giving alms himself. Even our temple gets offerings for incense from him all the year round.” Hearing this, the Northern Hero said to Long Tao, “From what the Reverend says, there is something there worth looking into. Feng Qi, how would it be if you went to Xiaodan Village and made some quiet inquiries, to see how things stand?” Feng Qi took his orders and was off like the wind. Long Tao went to the kitchen to see about food, and the Northern Hero sat chatting with the monk.
忽見外面進來一人，軍官打扮，金黃面皮，細條身子，另有一番英雄氣概，別具一番豪傑精神。和尚連忙站起相迎。那軍官一眼看見北俠，道：「足下莫非歐陽兄麼？」北俠道：「小弟歐陽春。尊兄貴姓？」那軍官道：「小弟韓彰，久仰仁兄，恨不一見，今日幸會。仁兄幾時到此？」北俠道：「弟來三日了。」韓爺道：「如此說來，龍頭領與馮七他二人也早到了。」北俠道：「龍頭領來在小弟之先，馮七是昨日才來。」韓爺道：「弟因有小恙，多將養了幾日，故爾來遲，叫吾兄在此耐等，多多有罪。」說著話，彼此就座。卻見龍濤從後面出來，見了韓爺，便問：「四爺如何不來？」韓爺道：「隨後也就到了。因他道士打扮，故在後走，不便同行。」
忽见外面进来一人，军官打扮，金黄面皮，细条身子，另有一番英雄气概，别具一番豪杰精神。和尚连忙站起相迎。那军官一眼看见北侠，道：「足下莫非欧阳兄么？」北侠道：「小弟欧阳春。尊兄贵姓？」那军官道：「小弟韩彰，久仰仁兄，恨不一见，今日幸会。仁兄几时到此？」北侠道：「弟来三日了。」韩爷道：「如此说来，龙头领与冯七他二人也早到了。」北侠道：「龙头领来在小弟之先，冯七是昨日才来。」韩爷道：「弟因有小恙，多将养了几日，故尔来迟，叫吾兄在此耐等，多多有罪。」说着话，彼此就座。却见龙涛从后面出来，见了韩爷，便问：「四爷如何不来？」韩爷道：「随后也就到了。因他道士打扮，故在后走，不便同行。」
Suddenly a man came in, dressed as an army officer, with a sallow golden face and a long, lean frame; he had a hero’s bearing all his own and a gallant’s spirit quite out of the common. The monk hastily rose to greet him. The officer caught sight of the Northern Hero at once. “Can you be Brother Ouyang, sir?” “I am Ouyang Chun,” said the Northern Hero. “And your honourable name, brother?” “I am Han Zhang,” said the officer. “I have long admired you and longed to meet you, and today I have the good fortune. When did you get here, brother?” “Three days ago,” said the Northern Hero. “In that case,” said Han Zhang, “Chief Long and Feng Qi must have been here a good while too.” “Chief Long came before me,” said the Northern Hero. “Feng Qi only came yesterday.” “I had a touch of illness,” said Han Zhang, “and spent a few more days nursing it, so I’m late, and I’ve kept you waiting here, brother. I am very much at fault.” Talking, they took their seats. Then Long Tao came out from the back, and on seeing Han Zhang he asked, “Why hasn’t the Fourth Master come?” “He’ll be along soon,” said Han Zhang. “Since he is dressed as a Taoist, he is coming on behind; it wouldn’t do for us to travel together.”
正說之間，只見夜星子笑吟吟回來，見了韓彰，道：「二員外來了麼。來的正好，此事必須大家商議。」北俠問道：「你打聽的如何？」馮七道：「歐陽爺料事如見。小人到了那裡細細探聽，原來這小子昨晚真個到小丹村去了。不知如何被人拿住，又不知因何連傷二命，他又逃脫走了。早間勾鄉宦業已呈報到官，還未出簽緝捕呢。」大家聽了，測摸不出，只得等蔣爺來再做道理。
正说之间，只见夜星子笑吟吟回来，见了韩彰，道：「二员外来了么。来的正好，此事必须大家商议。」北侠问道：「你打听的如何？」冯七道：「欧阳爷料事如见。小人到了那里细细探听，原来这小子昨晚真个到小丹村去了。不知如何被人拿住，又不知因何连伤二命，他又逃脱走了。早间勾乡宦业已呈报到官，还未出签缉捕呢。」大家听了，测摸不出，只得等蒋爷来再做道理。
They were still talking when the Night Imp came back, all smiles. Seeing Han Zhang, he said, “So the Second Squire has come! Just in time — this business needs all of us to talk it over.” “What did you find out?” asked the Northern Hero. “You saw it as if you’d been there, Master Ouyang,” said Feng Qi. “I went and asked around carefully, and sure enough the brat really did go to Xiaodan Village last night. Somehow or other he got caught, and then — I don’t know why — two men were killed and he got away again. Early this morning the retired official Gou reported it to the authorities, but they haven’t issued a warrant for his arrest yet.” They all heard this but could make nothing of it, and there was nothing to do but wait for Jiang Ping to come before deciding anything.