The beginning of Chapter 36 references a 'story of the theft'. Can you tell me what that story was about?

While Chapter 36 begins by mentioning that "the beautiful story of the theft was narrated" in the previous chapter, it does not provide any details about that specific event. The text uses this reference as a bridge, promising to tell another story to quench the spiritual thirst stirred by the previous one. It describes Sai's stories as the "water of self-bliss" that removes worldly fatigue. Therefore, to learn the details of the theft, you would need to consult the chapter preceding this one, as Chapter 36 itself moves on to discuss Sai's divine nature and introduce a new tale.