卻說孫大聖挾同二弟滾著風，駕著雲，向東北艮地上，頃刻至青龍山玄英洞口，按落雲頭，八戒就欲築門。行者道：「且消停，待我進去看看師父生死如何，再好與他爭持。」沙僧道：「這門閉緊，如何得進？」行者道：「我自有法力。」
却说孙大圣挟同二弟滚着风，驾着云，向东北艮地上，顷刻至青龙山玄英洞口，按落云头，八戒就欲筑门。行者道：「且消停，待我进去看看师父生死如何，再好与他争持。」沙僧道：「这门闭紧，如何得进？」行者道：「我自有法力。」
Now, the Great Sage Sun took his two younger brothers with him, rolling on the wind and riding the clouds toward the northeast, the direction of Gen. In a moment they reached the entrance to Dark Splendour Cave on Azure Dragon Mountain and lowered their cloud. Bajie was about to smash the door with his rake when Pilgrim said, “Wait a moment. Let me go in and see whether Master is alive or dead. Then we can fight them.” “The doors are shut tight,” said Sha Monk. “How can you get in?” “I have my own magic powers,” said Pilgrim.
好大聖，收了棒，捻著訣，念聲咒語，叫：「變！」即變做個火焰蟲兒，真個也疾伶。你看他：
展翅星流光燦，古云腐草為螢。神通變化不可輕。自有徘徊之性。飛近石門懸看，傍邊瑕縫穿風。將身一縱到幽庭。打探妖魔動靜。
他自飛入，只見幾隻牛橫敧直倒，一個個呼吼如雷，盡皆睡熟了。至中廳裡面，全無消息。四下門戶通關，不知那三個妖精睡在何處。才轉過廳房，向後又照，只聞得啼泣之聲，乃是唐僧鎖在後房簷柱上哭哩。行者暗暗聽他哭甚，只見他哭道：
「一別長安十數年，登山涉水苦熬煎。幸來西域逢佳節，喜到金平遇上元。不識燈中假佛像，皆因命裡有災愆。賢徒追襲施威武，但願英雄展大權。」
行者聞言，滿心歡喜，展開翅，飛近師前。唐僧揩淚道：「呀！西方景象不同，此時正月，蟄蟲始振，為何就有螢飛？」行者忍不住，叫聲：「師父，我來了。」唐僧喜道：「悟空，我說正月間怎得螢火？原來是你。」行者即現了本相道：「師父啊，為你不識真假，誤了多少路程，費了多少心力。我一行說不是好人，你就下拜，卻被這怪侮暗燈光，盜取酥合香油，連你都攝將來了。我當吩咐八戒、沙僧回寺看守，我即聞風追至此間，不識地名。幸遇四值功曹傳報，說此山名青龍山玄英洞。我日間與此怪鬥至天晚方回，與師弟輩細道此情，卻就不曾睡，同他兩個來此。我恐夜深不便交戰，又不知師父下落，所以變化進來，打聽打聽。」唐僧喜道：「八戒、沙僧如今在外邊哩？」行者道：「在外邊。方才老孫看時，妖精都睡著。我且解了鎖，搠開門，帶你出去罷。」唐僧點頭稱謝。
好大圣，收了棒，捻着诀，念声咒语，叫：「变！」即变做个火焰虫儿，真个也疾伶。你看他：
展翅星流光灿，古云腐草为萤。神通变化不可轻。自有徘徊之性。飞近石门悬看，傍边瑕缝穿风。将身一纵到幽庭。打探妖魔动静。
他自飞入，只见几只牛横敧直倒，一个个呼吼如雷，尽皆睡熟了。至中厅里面，全无消息。四下门户通关，不知那三个妖精睡在何处。才转过厅房，向后又照，只闻得啼泣之声，乃是唐僧锁在后房檐柱上哭哩。行者暗暗听他哭甚，只见他哭道：
「一别长安十数年，登山涉水苦熬煎。幸来西域逢佳节，喜到金平遇上元。不识灯中假佛像，皆因命里有灾愆。贤徒追袭施威武，但愿英雄展大权。」
行者闻言，满心欢喜，展开翅，飞近师前。唐僧揩泪道：「呀！西方景象不同，此时正月，蛰虫始振，为何就有萤飞？」行者忍不住，叫声：「师父，我来了。」唐僧喜道：「悟空，我说正月间怎得萤火？原来是你。」行者即现了本相道：「师父啊，为你不识真假，误了多少路程，费了多少心力。我一行说不是好人，你就下拜，却被这怪侮暗灯光，盗取酥合香油，连你都摄将来了。我当吩咐八戒、沙僧回寺看守，我即闻风追至此间，不识地名。幸遇四值功曹传报，说此山名青龙山玄英洞。我日间与此怪斗至天晚方回，与师弟辈细道此情，却就不曾睡，同他两个来此。我恐夜深不便交战，又不知师父下落，所以变化进来，打听打听。」唐僧喜道：「八戒、沙僧如今在外边哩？」行者道：「在外边。方才老孙看时，妖精都睡着。我且解了锁，搠开门，带你出去罢。」唐僧点头称谢。
That fine Great Sage put away his cudgel, formed a hand sign, recited a spell and cried, “Change!” At once he became a firefly, a nimble little creature indeed. Look at him:
Wings spread, he streams like a star, shining bright;the ancients said rotting grass becomes fireflies.Do not slight the magic of his transformations.He has a nature of his own that loves to hover and roam.He flies near the stone door and hangs there to look;through a crack at its side he rides the breeze.With one leap he reaches the hidden court,To spy out the demons’ doings.
He flew inside and saw several oxen sprawled every which way, each snoring like thunder, all fast asleep. In the central hall there was no sign of movement. Every door around it was shut, and he could not tell where the three demons were sleeping. He rounded the hall and shone his light toward the back. There he heard weeping: the Tang Monk was crying, chained to a pillar beneath the eaves of a rear room. Pilgrim listened in secret to hear what he was crying about. This is what he heard:
“More than ten years since I left Chang’an;mountains and rivers have worn me down with hardship.By good fortune I reached the Western Regions at a festive season,and gladly came to Gold Peace for the Upper Prime.I failed to know the false Buddha forms amid the lamps,all because disaster and fault are written in my fate.My worthy disciple pursues them with his might;may that hero bring his great powers to bear.”
Pilgrim was delighted to hear this. Spreading his wings, he flew close to his master. The Tang Monk wiped his tears. “Ah! Things are different in the West. It is only the first month, when hibernating insects are just beginning to stir. Why should fireflies already be flying?” Pilgrim could contain himself no longer. “Master, I’m here!” The Tang Monk cried joyfully, “Wukong! I wondered how there could be a firefly in the first month. So it’s you!” Pilgrim showed his true form. “Master, how much travelling time you’ve wasted, how much effort you’ve cost us, because you can’t tell the true from the false! I kept saying they were no good, but you went and bowed. Those monsters dimmed the lamps, stole the styrax-scented oil and carried you off along with it. I told Bajie and Sha Monk to go back to the monastery and stand guard, while I followed the smell of the wind here. I didn’t know the name of the place, but luckily the Four Merit Officers of the Watches brought me word: this is Dark Splendour Cave on Azure Dragon Mountain. I fought the monsters during the day and only returned when it was dark. I told my brothers everything, and without sleeping we all came here. I was afraid it was too late at night to fight, and I didn’t know what had become of you, so I transformed myself and came in to find out.” The Tang Monk said gladly, “Are Bajie and Sha Monk outside now?” “They’re outside,” said Pilgrim. “Old Sun just saw that the demons are all asleep. Let me undo this lock, push the doors open and take you out.” The Tang Monk nodded his thanks.
行者使個解鎖法，用手一抹，那鎖早自開了。領著師父往前正走，忽聽得妖王在中廳內房裡叫道：「小的們，緊閉門戶，小心火燭。這會怎麼不叫更巡邏，梆鈴都不響了？」原來那夥小妖征戰一日，俱辛辛苦苦睡著，聽見叫喚，卻才醒了，梆鈴響處，有幾個執器械的敲著鑼，從後而走，可可的撞著他師徒兩個。眾小妖一齊喊道：「好和尚啊，扭開鎖往那裡去？」行者不容分說，掣出棒幌一幌，碗來粗細，就打，棒起處，打死兩個。其餘的丟了器械，近中廳，打著門叫：「大王，不好了，不好了，毛臉和尚在家裡打殺人了。」那三怪聽見，一轂轆爬將起來，只教「拿住，拿住。」諕得個唐僧手軟腳軟。行者也不顧師父，一路棒，滾向前來。眾小妖遮架不住，被他放倒三兩個，推倒兩三個。打開幾層門，徑自出來，叫道：「兄弟們何在？」八戒、沙僧正舉著鈀、杖等待，道：「哥哥，如何了？」行者將變化入裡解放師父，正走，被妖驚覺，顧不得師父，打出來的事，講說一遍不題。
行者使个解锁法，用手一抹，那锁早自开了。领着师父往前正走，忽听得妖王在中厅内房里叫道：「小的们，紧闭门户，小心火烛。这会怎么不叫更巡逻，梆铃都不响了？」原来那伙小妖征战一日，俱辛辛苦苦睡着，听见叫唤，却才醒了，梆铃响处，有几个执器械的敲着锣，从后而走，可可的撞着他师徒两个。众小妖一齐喊道：「好和尚啊，扭开锁往那里去？」行者不容分说，掣出棒幌一幌，碗来粗细，就打，棒起处，打死两个。其余的丢了器械，近中厅，打着门叫：「大王，不好了，不好了，毛脸和尚在家里打杀人了。」那三怪听见，一毂辘爬将起来，只教「拿住，拿住。」諕得个唐僧手软脚软。行者也不顾师父，一路棒，滚向前来。众小妖遮架不住，被他放倒三两个，推倒两三个。打开几层门，径自出来，叫道：「兄弟们何在？」八戒、沙僧正举着钯、杖等待，道：「哥哥，如何了？」行者将变化入里解放师父，正走，被妖惊觉，顾不得师父，打出来的事，讲说一遍不题。
Pilgrim used the lock-opening spell. With one pass of his hand, the lock opened of itself. He was leading his master toward the front when a demon king suddenly called from an inner room off the central hall, “Little ones, keep the doors shut tight and watch the lamps! Why aren’t you calling the watches and making your rounds? Why have the clappers and bells gone silent?” The little demons had fought all day and were exhausted and asleep. Only at this call did they wake. Clappers and bells sounded, and several armed guards beating gongs came toward the back, where they ran straight into master and disciple. The little demons all shouted, “A fine monk you are! Where do you think you’re going after wrenching that lock open?” Pilgrim gave them no chance to say more. He drew out his cudgel, waved it until it was as thick as a rice bowl and struck. At its first blows two fell dead. The others dropped their weapons, ran to the central hall and pounded on the door. “Great Kings, disaster! Disaster! The hairy-faced monk is killing people in our own home!” The three monsters scrambled up, crying only, “Catch him! Catch him!” The Tang Monk’s hands and feet went limp with fright. Pilgrim could no longer attend to his master. He drove forward with a rolling succession of cudgel blows. The little demons could not block him: he felled two or three, knocked another two or three aside, smashed through several doors and came straight out. “Where are my brothers?” he called. Bajie and Sha Monk were waiting with rake and staff raised. “Brother, how did it go?” they asked. Pilgrim told them how he had transformed himself to enter, freed his master and begun to leave, only for the demons to discover them; how he had then been unable to look after his master and had fought his way out. More of that later.