原文 Original text
繁體 Traditional
Reader's edition
下回分解 To Be Continued
畢竟不知怎的請來，且聽下回分解。毕竟不知怎的请来，且听下回分解。
逐句解 Line by line
畢竟不知怎的請來，且聽下回分解。
毕竟不知怎的请来，且听下回分解。
In the end, how the Old King came to be invited is not yet known; listen to the next chapter's telling for the explanation.
The storyteller's sign-off, used at the end of every chapter in the novel: how it turned out is not yet known, so listen to the next instalment. 分解 means the telling or unfolding of a matter. The phrase is a survival from the professional oral storytelling the form grew out of -- a performer breaking off at a good moment and inviting the crowd back tomorrow.
The chapter ends where a serial should, on an errand in progress and a question unanswered.
What it has delivered is exactly its title. 心猿遭火敗: the Mind-Ape is beaten by fire -- twice driven from the field, blinded by smoke, and nearly killed by the water he fetched an ocean of. 木母被魔擒: the Wood-Mother is seized by the demon -- walked into a leather bag by his own good manners. Both disciples defeated, the master still in the steamer queue, and the borrowed sea sent home with an apology.
The chapter is unusual in the novel for offering no rescue at all. The pilgrims try force, they try the Five Phases, they try the dragons, and they try to send for help, and every single one fails. What is left is the conclusion Wukong reached under the pine tree and could not act on: this needs someone stronger than he is. The next chapter is where he finally goes and gets her.