三個頑徒 Three Unruly Disciples
國王聞言，滿心歡喜，就問唐僧道：「法師有幾位高徒？」三藏合掌答曰：「貧僧有三個頑徒。」國王問：「那一位高徒善醫？」国王闻言，满心欢喜，就问唐僧道：「法师有几位高徒？」三藏合掌答曰：「贫僧有三个顽徒。」国王问：「那一位高徒善医？」
逐句解 Line by line
The king was filled with delight at the news, and asked the Tang Monk, "How many worthy disciples has the Master?"
高徒 is the courteous form — another man's disciples are always 'lofty'. He asks Tripitaka rather than the messengers, which is the first sign he has understood what the delegation was really telling him.
Tripitaka joined his palms and answered, "This poor monk has three unruly disciples."
頑 against the king's 高. The exchange runs on the etiquette by which you exalt the other man's people and disparage your own.
The king asked, "Which of the worthy disciples is skilled in medicine?"
那 keeps the reading nà even when it is asking a question, as it does throughout the chapter's seventy-five occurrences.
The king asks the right question of the wrong person. Tripitaka has been at the table throughout and knows nothing whatever about the notice, the theft or the delegation.
頑徒 is honest as well as polite. Tripitaka is not being modest about his disciples' learning; he is describing three creatures who have spent the day frightening a market, stealing state property and framing one another.