卻說孫大聖與八戒、沙僧辭陳老來至河邊，道：「兄弟，你兩個議定，那一個先下水？」八戒道：「哥啊，我兩個手段不見怎的，還得你先下水。」行者道：「不瞞賢弟說，若是山裡妖精，全不用你們費力；水中之事，我去不得。就是下海行江，我須要捻著避水訣，或者變化甚麼魚蟹之形，才去得。若是那般捻訣，卻掄不得鐵棒，使不得神通，打不得妖怪。我久知你兩個乃慣水之人，所以要你兩個下去。」沙僧道：「哥啊，小弟雖是去得，但不知水底如何。我等大家都去。哥哥變作甚麼模樣，或是我馱著你，分開水道，尋著妖怪的巢穴，你先進去打聽打聽。若是師父不曾傷損，還在那裡，我們好努力征討；假若不是這怪弄法，或者渰死師父，或者被妖吃了，我等不須苦求，早早的別尋道路何如？」行者道：「賢弟說得有理。你們那個馱我？」八戒暗喜道：「這猴子不知捉弄了我多少，今番原來不會水，等老豬馱他，也捉弄他捉弄。」獃子笑嘻嘻的叫道：「哥哥，我馱你。」行者就知有意，卻便將計就計道：「是，也好，你比悟淨還有些膂力。」八戒就背著他。
却说孙大圣与八戒、沙僧辞陈老来至河边，道：「兄弟，你两个议定，那一个先下水？」八戒道：「哥啊，我两个手段不见怎的，还得你先下水。」行者道：「不瞒贤弟说，若是山里妖精，全不用你们费力；水中之事，我去不得。就是下海行江，我须要捻着避水诀，或者变化甚么鱼蟹之形，才去得。若是那般捻诀，却抡不得铁棒，使不得神通，打不得妖怪。我久知你两个乃惯水之人，所以要你两个下去。」沙僧道：「哥啊，小弟虽是去得，但不知水底如何。我等大家都去。哥哥变作甚么模样，或是我驮着你，分开水道，寻着妖怪的巢穴，你先进去打听打听。若是师父不曾伤损，还在那里，我们好努力征讨；假若不是这怪弄法，或者渰死师父，或者被妖吃了，我等不须苦求，早早的别寻道路何如？」行者道：「贤弟说得有理。你们那个驮我？」八戒暗喜道：「这猴子不知捉弄了我多少，今番原来不会水，等老猪驮他，也捉弄他捉弄。」呆子笑嘻嘻的叫道：「哥哥，我驮你。」行者就知有意，却便将计就计道：「是，也好，你比悟净还有些膂力。」八戒就背着他。
Now, the Great Sage Sun, Bajie and Sha Monk took leave of Old Chen and came to the riverbank. “Brothers,” he said, “decide between you: which of you will go into the water first?” Bajie said, “Brother, neither of us has much in the way of skills. You will have to go in first.” Pilgrim said, “To tell you the truth, worthy brothers, if this were a demon in the mountains, I would need no help from either of you. But I cannot manage things in the water. Even to enter the sea or travel along a river, I must make the water-warding hand sign, or change into some fish or crab, before I can go. With my fingers held in that sign, I cannot swing my iron cudgel, use my powers or fight a demon. I have long known that you two are at home in the water. That is why I want you to go down.” Sha Monk said, “Brother, your little brother can go, but I do not know what things are like down below. Let us all go together. You can change into some shape or other, or I can carry you. We shall part the water and find the demon’s lair, and you can go in first to learn what is happening. If Master is unharmed and still there, we can fight with all our might. But if this monster did not work the trick, and Master has drowned or been eaten by a demon, there is no need to search so hard. We can find some other road for ourselves at once. How would that be?” Pilgrim said, “Worthy brother, that makes sense. Which of you will carry me?” Bajie was secretly delighted. “This monkey has played I don’t know how many tricks on me. So this time it turns out he cannot handle water! Let Old Zhu carry him and play a trick on him for a change.” Grinning, the Idiot called, “Brother, I will carry you.” Pilgrim knew at once what he had in mind and turned the trick back on him. “Yes, very good. You have rather more strength than Wujing.” So Bajie took him on his back.
沙僧剖開水路，弟兄們同入通天河內。向水底下行有百十里遠近，那獃子要捉弄行者。行者隨即拔下一根毫毛，變做假身，伏在八戒背上；真身變作一個豬虱子，緊緊的貼在他耳朵裡。八戒正行，忽然打個躘踵，得故子把行者往前一摜，撲的跌了一跤。原來那個假身本是毫毛變的，卻就飄起去，無影無形。沙僧道：「二哥，你是怎麼說？不好生走路，就跌在泥裡，便也罷了，卻把大哥不知跌在那裡去了。」八戒道：「那猴子不禁跌，一跌就跌化了。兄弟，莫管他死活，我和你且去尋師父去。」沙僧道：「不好，還得他來。他雖不知水性，他比我們乖巧。若無他來，我不與你去。」行者在八戒耳朵裡，忍不住高叫道：「悟淨，老孫在這裡也。」沙僧聽得，笑道：「罷了，這獃子是死了，你怎麼就敢捉弄他？如今弄得聞聲不見面，卻怎是好？」八戒慌得跪在泥裡磕頭道：「哥哥，是我不是了。待救了師父，上岸陪禮。你在那裡做聲？就諕殺我也。你請現原身出來，我馱著你，再不敢衝撞你了。」行者道：「是你還馱著我哩。我不弄你，你快走，快走。」那獃子絮絮叨叨，只管念誦著陪禮，爬起來與沙僧又進。
沙僧剖开水路，弟兄们同入通天河内。向水底下行有百十里远近，那呆子要捉弄行者。行者随即拔下一根毫毛，变做假身，伏在八戒背上；真身变作一个猪虱子，紧紧的贴在他耳朵里。八戒正行，忽然打个躘踵，得故子把行者往前一掼，扑的跌了一跤。原来那个假身本是毫毛变的，却就飘起去，无影无形。沙僧道：「二哥，你是怎么说？不好生走路，就跌在泥里，便也罢了，却把大哥不知跌在那里去了。」八戒道：「那猴子不禁跌，一跌就跌化了。兄弟，莫管他死活，我和你且去寻师父去。」沙僧道：「不好，还得他来。他虽不知水性，他比我们乖巧。若无他来，我不与你去。」行者在八戒耳朵里，忍不住高叫道：「悟净，老孙在这里也。」沙僧听得，笑道：「罢了，这呆子是死了，你怎么就敢捉弄他？如今弄得闻声不见面，却怎是好？」八戒慌得跪在泥里磕头道：「哥哥，是我不是了。待救了师父，上岸陪礼。你在那里做声？就諕杀我也。你请现原身出来，我驮着你，再不敢冲撞你了。」行者道：「是你还驮着我哩。我不弄你，你快走，快走。」那呆子絮絮叨叨，只管念诵着陪礼，爬起来与沙僧又进。
Sha Monk parted the water, and the brothers entered Heaven-Reaching River together. After they had travelled a hundred li or so beneath the water, the Idiot prepared to play his trick on Pilgrim. Pilgrim promptly pulled out a hair, changed it into a false body and left it lying on Bajie’s back. His real body became a pig louse, clinging tight inside Bajie’s ear. As Bajie went along, he suddenly stumbled, deliberately flung Pilgrim forward and fell with a thump. Since the false body was made from a hair, it simply floated away and vanished without a trace. Sha Monk said, “Second Brother, what is this? You will not walk properly! Falling in the mud yourself is one thing, but now you have dropped our elder brother who knows where.” Bajie said, “That monkey cannot stand a fall. One tumble and he falls to nothing. Brother, never mind whether he lives or dies. Let us go and find Master.” Sha Monk said, “No, we need him. Though he cannot handle water, he is cleverer than we are. Without him, I will not go with you.” From inside Bajie’s ear Pilgrim could not help shouting, “Wujing, Old Sun is here!” Sha Monk heard him and laughed. “Well, this idiot is done for! How could you dare play a trick on him? Now we can hear him but cannot see him. What are you going to do?” Bajie was so frightened that he knelt in the mud and knocked his head to the ground. “Brother, it was my fault! Once we have rescued Master and gone ashore, I will make my apologies. Where are you speaking from? You are scaring me to death! Please show your true form and let me carry you. I will never offend you again.” Pilgrim said, “You are still carrying me. I will not play any tricks on you. Hurry on, hurry on!” Mumbling apologies without a pause, the Idiot got up and went on with Sha Monk.
行了又有百十里遠近，忽擡頭望見一座樓臺，上有「水黿之第」四個大字。沙僧道：「這廂想是妖精住處，我兩個不知虛實，怎麼上門索戰？」行者道：「悟淨，那門裡外可有水麼？」沙僧道：「無水。」行者道：「既無水，你再藏隱在左右，待老孫去打聽打聽。」
行了又有百十里远近，忽抬头望见一座楼台，上有「水鼋之第」四个大字。沙僧道：「这厢想是妖精住处，我两个不知虚实，怎么上门索战？」行者道：「悟净，那门里外可有水么？」沙僧道：「无水。」行者道：「既无水，你再藏隐在左右，待老孙去打听打听。」
After another hundred li or so, they looked up and saw a towered mansion with four great characters above it: “Water Turtle Mansion.” Sha Monk said, “This must be where the demon lives. We know nothing of his strength. How can we go to his door and challenge him?” Pilgrim said, “Wujing, is there any water inside or outside that gate?” Sha Monk said, “No.” Pilgrim said, “Since there is no water, hide yourselves nearby and let Old Sun go and find out what is happening.”