原文 Original text
繁體 Traditional
Reader's edition
九天應元府
The Bureau of the Nine Heavens
真個行者依言，入天門裡，不上靈霄殿求請旨意，轉雲步，徑往九天應元府，見那雷門使者、糾錄典者、廉訪典者都來迎著，施禮道：「大聖何來？」真个行者依言，入天门里，不上灵霄殿求请旨意，转云步，径往九天应元府，见那雷门使者、纠录典者、廉访典者都来迎着，施礼道：「大圣何来？」
逐句解 Line by line
真個行者依言，入天門裡，不上靈霄殿求請旨意，轉雲步，徑往九天應元府，見那雷門使者、糾錄典者、廉訪典者都來迎著，施禮道：「大聖何來？」
真个行者依言，入天门里，不上灵霄殿求请旨意，转云步，径往九天应元府，见那雷门使者、纠录典者、廉访典者都来迎着，施礼道：「大圣何来？」
Sure enough Pilgrim did as he was told. He went in through the Gate of Heaven, did not go up to the Hall of Divine Mists to request an edict, but turned his cloud-step and made straight for the Bureau of the Nine Heavens That Answers the Prime, where the Envoy of the Thunder Gate, the Recording Officer and the Investigating Officer all came out to meet him and saluted. "What brings the Great Sage here?"
應 is yìng again. 著 is neutral zhe, hooked on to meeting. The three officers' titles are all real administrative posts borrowed upward: an envoy, an officer who keeps the records, and one who investigates complaints. Heaven's thunder department has an internal affairs section.
總評 Commentary
One long sentence carries Pilgrim past the throne room and into a different department entirely, and the novel names all three officials who come out to greet him.
The joke is in the job titles. This is the office that makes thunder, and it is staffed with a records clerk and an investigator. Somebody up here audits the lightning.