話說唐三藏固住元陽，出離了煙花苦套。隨行者投西前進，不覺夏時。正值那薰風初動，梅雨絲絲，好光景：
冉冉綠陰密，風輕燕引雛。新荷翻沼面，修竹漸扶蘇。芳草連天碧，山花遍地鋪。溪邊蒲插劍，榴火壯行圖。
師徒四眾，耽炎受熱，正行處，忽見那路傍有兩行高柳，柳陰中走出一個老母，右手下攙著一個小孩兒，對唐僧高叫道：「和尚，不要走了，快早兒撥馬東回，進西去都是死路。」諕得個三藏跳下馬來，打個問訊道：「老菩薩，古人云：『海闊從魚躍，天空任鳥飛。』怎麼西進便沒路了？」那老母用手朝西指道：「那裡去有五六里遠近，乃是滅法國。那國王前生那世裡結下冤仇，今世裡無端造罪。二年前許下一個羅天大願，要殺一萬個和尚。這兩年陸陸續續，殺夠了九千九百九十六個無名和尚，只要等四個有名的和尚，湊成一萬，好做圓滿哩。你們去，若到城中，都是送命王菩薩。」三藏聞言，心中害怕，戰兢兢的道：「老菩薩，深感盛情，感謝不盡。但請問可有不進城的方便路兒？我貧僧轉過去罷。」那老母笑道：「轉不過去，轉不過去。只除是會飛的，就過去了。」八戒在傍邊賣嘴道：「媽媽兒莫說黑話，我們都是會飛的。」
话说唐三藏固住元阳，出离了烟花苦套。随行者投西前进，不觉夏时。正值那薰风初动，梅雨丝丝，好光景：
冉冉绿阴密，风轻燕引雏。新荷翻沼面，修竹渐扶苏。芳草连天碧，山花遍地铺。溪边蒲插剑，榴火壮行图。
师徒四众，耽炎受热，正行处，忽见那路傍有两行高柳，柳阴中走出一个老母，右手下搀着一个小孩儿，对唐僧高叫道：「和尚，不要走了，快早儿拨马东回，进西去都是死路。」諕得个三藏跳下马来，打个问讯道：「老菩萨，古人云：『海阔从鱼跃，天空任鸟飞。』怎么西进便没路了？」那老母用手朝西指道：「那里去有五六里远近，乃是灭法国。那国王前生那世里结下冤仇，今世里无端造罪。二年前许下一个罗天大愿，要杀一万个和尚。这两年陆陆续续，杀够了九千九百九十六个无名和尚，只要等四个有名的和尚，凑成一万，好做圆满哩。你们去，若到城中，都是送命王菩萨。」三藏闻言，心中害怕，战兢兢的道：「老菩萨，深感盛情，感谢不尽。但请问可有不进城的方便路儿？我贫僧转过去罢。」那老母笑道：「转不过去，转不过去。只除是会飞的，就过去了。」八戒在傍边卖嘴道：「妈妈儿莫说黑话，我们都是会飞的。」
Now, Tang Sanzang had kept his primal yang intact and escaped the bitter snare of lust. Following Pilgrim, he journeyed west, and before he knew it summer had come. The first warm breezes stirred, the plum rains fell in fine threads, and lovely was the scene:
Slowly the green shade deepens;in the gentle breeze the swallows lead their young.New lotus leaves turn on the pond’s face;tall bamboo grows lush and spreading.Sweet grass stretches green to the sky;mountain flowers carpet all the ground.By the stream the sweet flags plant their swords;pomegranate flames lend splendour to the journey.
Master and disciples, all four of them, were bearing the heat as they went when they suddenly saw two rows of tall willows beside the road. From their shade came an old woman, holding a little child by her right hand. She called loudly to the Tang Monk, “Monk, go no farther! Turn your horse east at once. To the west every road leads to death.” Sanzang jumped off his horse in alarm and greeted her with joined palms. “Old Bodhisattva, the ancients said, ‘In the wide sea fish may leap; in the open sky birds may fly.’ How can there be no road to the west?” The old woman pointed west. “Five or six li from here lies the Dharma-Destroying Kingdom. Its king made enemies in a former life, and in this one he commits sins for no reason at all. Two years ago he made a mighty vow before all Heaven to kill ten thousand monks. Over these two years, one after another, he has killed nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-six monks of no renown. Now he needs just four famous monks to make up the ten thousand and complete his vow. If you go into that city, you’ll all be Bodhisattvas offering up your lives.” At these words Sanzang trembled with fear. “Old Bodhisattva, this poor monk is deeply grateful for your kindness and cannot thank you enough. But may I ask whether there is some convenient road that avoids the city? This poor monk could go round.” The old woman laughed. “There’s no going round, no going round. Only those who can fly can get past.” Bajie, showing off at one side, said, “Granny, don’t talk in riddles. We can all fly.”
行者火眼金睛，其實認得好歹：那老母攙著孩兒，原是觀音菩薩與善財童子。慌得倒身下拜，叫道：「菩薩，弟子失迎，失迎。」那菩薩一朵祥雲，輕輕駕起。嚇得個唐長老立身無地，只情跪著磕頭；八戒、沙僧也慌跪下，朝天禮拜。一時間，祥雲縹緲，徑回南海而去。
行者火眼金睛，其实认得好歹：那老母搀着孩儿，原是观音菩萨与善财童子。慌得倒身下拜，叫道：「菩萨，弟子失迎，失迎。」那菩萨一朵祥云，轻轻驾起。吓得个唐长老立身无地，只情跪着磕头；八戒、沙僧也慌跪下，朝天礼拜。一时间，祥云缥缈，径回南海而去。
Pilgrim’s fiery eyes and golden pupils could indeed tell what was what: the old woman holding the child was the Bodhisattva Guanyin with the boy Sudhana. He hastily prostrated himself. “Bodhisattva, your disciple failed to welcome you! Failed to welcome you!” The Bodhisattva rose gently on an auspicious cloud. The Tang elder was so frightened he scarcely knew where to put himself; he could only stay on his knees and knock his head on the ground. Bajie and Sha Monk too dropped hastily to their knees and bowed toward the sky. In a moment the cloud drifted away, straight back to the South Sea.
行者起來，扶著師父道：「請起來，菩薩已回寶山也。」三藏起來道：「悟空，你既認得是菩薩，何不早說？」行者笑道：「你還問話不了，我即下拜，怎麼還是不早哩？」八戒、沙僧對行者道：「感蒙菩薩指示，前邊必是滅法國，要殺和尚，我等怎生奈何？」行者道：「獃子休怕。我們曾遭著那毒魔狠怪，虎穴龍潭，更不曾傷損；此間乃是一國凡人，有何懼哉？只奈這裡不是住處，天色將晚，且有鄉村人家，上城買賣回來的，看見我們是和尚，嚷出名去，不當穩便。且引師父找下大路，尋個僻靜之處，卻好商議。」真個三藏依言，一行都閃下路來，到一個坑坎之下坐定。行者道：「兄弟，你兩個好生保守師父，待老孫變化了，去那城中看看，尋一條僻路，連夜去也。」三藏叮囑道：「徒弟啊，莫當小可，王法不容，你須仔細。」行者笑道：「放心，放心。老孫自有道理。」
行者起来，扶着师父道：「请起来，菩萨已回宝山也。」三藏起来道：「悟空，你既认得是菩萨，何不早说？」行者笑道：「你还问话不了，我即下拜，怎么还是不早哩？」八戒、沙僧对行者道：「感蒙菩萨指示，前边必是灭法国，要杀和尚，我等怎生奈何？」行者道：「呆子休怕。我们曾遭着那毒魔狠怪，虎穴龙潭，更不曾伤损；此间乃是一国凡人，有何惧哉？只奈这里不是住处，天色将晚，且有乡村人家，上城买卖回来的，看见我们是和尚，嚷出名去，不当稳便。且引师父找下大路，寻个僻静之处，却好商议。」真个三藏依言，一行都闪下路来，到一个坑坎之下坐定。行者道：「兄弟，你两个好生保守师父，待老孙变化了，去那城中看看，寻一条僻路，连夜去也。」三藏叮嘱道：「徒弟啊，莫当小可，王法不容，你须仔细。」行者笑道：「放心，放心。老孙自有道理。」
Pilgrim got up and helped his master. “Please rise. The Bodhisattva has returned to her sacred mountain.” Sanzang stood up. “Wukong, if you knew it was the Bodhisattva, why didn’t you say so sooner?” Pilgrim laughed. “You hadn’t finished asking her questions when I bowed. How was that not soon enough?” Bajie and Sha Monk said to Pilgrim, “We are grateful for the Bodhisattva’s warning. Ahead must indeed be the Dharma-Destroying Kingdom, where they kill monks. What are we to do?” Pilgrim said, “Don’t be afraid, Idiot. We’ve met vicious demons and savage monsters, passed through tigers’ dens and dragons’ pools, and never come to harm. This is only a kingdom of ordinary mortals. What is there to fear? But this is no place to stay. It’s getting late, and country people coming back from trading in the city may see that we’re monks and spread the word. That wouldn’t be safe. Let’s take Master off the main road and find a quiet place to talk.” Sanzang did as he said, and they all slipped off the road and sat down in a hollow below the bank. Pilgrim said, “Brothers, you two guard Master carefully. Old Sun will change his shape, go into the city and look for a secluded road so we can get away tonight.” Sanzang warned him, “Disciple, don’t take this lightly. The king’s law shows no mercy. Be careful.” Pilgrim laughed. “Set your mind at rest, set your mind at rest. Old Sun has his own way of doing things.”