Shi Hongshi

Shi Hongshi (simplified: 史红石, traditional: 史紅石, pinyin: Shǐ Hóngshí, jyutping: si2 hung4 sek6) was the daughter of Shi Huolong, the 25th leader of the Beggars’ Guild. After her father’s death at the hands of Cheng Kun, she and her mother sought help from the Yellow Dress Maiden, who exposed an impersonator scheme and helped restore proper leadership. Shi Hongshi eventually succeeded her father as leader of the Beggars’ Guild.

Biography

Early life

Shi Hongshi was the only daughter of Shi Huolong, the 25th leader of the Beggars’ Guild. She was about twelve or thirteen years old when her father died. Her appearance was described as ugly, with upturned nostrils, a wide mouth, and two large front teeth, giving her a fierce appearance. This appearance was said to follow her mother’s.

Death of her father

When Shi Huolong fought Cheng Kun (the Primordial Chaos Thunderbolt Hand) at Lotus Flower Villa (莲花山庄), the two exchanged twelve palm strikes. Cheng Kun was forced to vomit blood and flee, but Shi Huolong was also severely injured by Cheng Kun’s Primordial Chaos One Qi Skill (混元一气功).

Shi Huolong knew that his injuries were serious and that Cheng Kun would recover within three days and return to finish him off. Realising he would not survive, he immediately told his wife about the enemy, identifying Cheng Kun as the Primordial Chaos Thunderbolt Hand. He gave his wife the Dog-beating Staff (打狗棒), the symbol of guild leadership, and instructed her to take Shi Hongshi to seek help from the Yellow Dress Maiden at Mount Zhongnan (终南山), asking her to avenge his death.

Shi Huolong then died from his injuries. Shi Hongshi witnessed her father’s death and was deeply affected by it, crying when the story of her father’s final battle was told.

Journey to seek help

Following her father’s instructions, Shi Hongshi’s mother took her and the Dog-beating Staff to Mount Zhongnan to seek help from the Yellow Dress Maiden. However, Shi Hongshi’s mother was also injured by Cheng Kun’s palm strike during the confrontation, and her condition was not light. After the long and wearisome journey, she arrived at the Yellow Dress Maiden’s home totally exhausted, and it was uncertain whether she would recover.

The Yellow Dress Maiden, recognising the relationship between her ancestors and the Beggars’ Guild, agreed to help. She brought Shi Hongshi to expose the impersonator who had taken control of the Beggars’ Guild.

Exposure of the impersonator

After Shi Huolong’s death, Cheng Kun and his disciple Chen Youliang had used an impersonator, Liu Ao (癞头鼋, Scabies Turtle Head), to take control of the Beggars’ Guild. Because Shi Huolong had been absent from guild affairs for over twenty years, and the elders had not seen him in all that time, the impersonator was able to deceive the guild members.

The Yellow Dress Maiden brought Shi Hongshi, who was holding the Dog-beating Staff, to expose the impersonator. When the guild elders saw the true Dog-beating Staff and heard Shi Hongshi’s story, they realised they had been deceived. The impersonator was exposed, and the scheme orchestrated by Cheng Kun and Chen Youliang was revealed.

Succession as guild leader

After the impersonator was exposed and the deception was revealed, Shi Hongshi, as Shi Huolong’s daughter and the holder of the Dog-beating Staff, succeeded her father as leader of the Beggars’ Guild. The guild elders, including Chuan Gong (传功, Transmission of Skills) and Zhi Fa (执法, Enforcement of Laws), recognised her legitimacy and pledged to capture Cheng Kun to avenge her father’s death.

The Yellow Dress Maiden asked the guild to take good care of Shi Hongshi, demonstrating her concern for the young leader’s welfare. She also mentioned that her ancestors had a deep relationship with the Beggars’ Guild, which explained her willingness to help.

Personality & traits

Youth and vulnerability

As a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl, Shi Hongshi represented youth and vulnerability in the face of great loss and danger. Her grief at her father’s death, demonstrated when she cried upon hearing the story of his final battle, showed her emotional connection to her father and the tragedy of his death.

Appearance

Shi Hongshi’s appearance was described as ugly, with upturned nostrils, a wide mouth, and large front teeth, giving her a fierce appearance. However, this appearance did not diminish her right to leadership or her legitimacy as her father’s successor. The emphasis on her appearance following her mother’s suggested a family resemblance, and the guild’s acceptance of her demonstrated that leadership was based on legitimacy and possession of the Dog-beating Staff rather than appearance.

Relationships

With Shi Huolong

Shi Hongshi’s relationship with her father was marked by his concern for her future. In his final moments, he ensured that she would be taken to safety and that the guild’s leadership symbol, the Dog-beating Staff, would be preserved for her. His last act was to secure her future and ensure that the guild’s leadership would be properly restored.

With her mother

Shi Hongshi’s relationship with her mother was one of mutual support during a time of crisis. Her mother accompanied her on the journey to seek help from the Yellow Dress Maiden, despite being injured by Cheng Kun’s palm strike. The mother’s sacrifice and dedication to carrying out Shi Huolong’s final instructions demonstrated the family’s commitment to honouring his memory and restoring proper leadership.

With the Yellow Dress Maiden

Shi Hongshi’s relationship with the Yellow Dress Maiden was one of reliance and trust. The Yellow Dress Maiden helped expose the impersonator and restore proper leadership, acting as a protector and advocate for Shi Hongshi and her family. The Yellow Dress Maiden’s concern for Shi Hongshi’s welfare, asking the guild to take good care of her, demonstrated her continued involvement in ensuring the young leader’s safety.

With the Beggars’ Guild

As her father’s successor, Shi Hongshi’s relationship with the Beggars’ Guild was one of leadership. Despite her youth, she was recognised as the legitimate leader due to her possession of the Dog-beating Staff and her status as Shi Huolong’s daughter. The guild elders pledged to support her and to avenge her father’s death, demonstrating their recognition of her legitimacy.

Behind the scenes

Character significance

Shi Hongshi represents the restoration of proper leadership after deception and the continuation of the Beggars’ Guild’s traditions through legitimate succession. Her succession demonstrates that leadership in the guild was based on legitimacy and possession of the Dog-beating Staff rather than martial arts prowess or appearance.

Her youth also highlights the vulnerability of legitimate leadership when powerful enemies seek to exploit situations for their own gain, and the importance of having allies who can help restore proper order.

Role in the narrative

Shi Hongshi’s story connects several plot elements: her father’s death at the hands of Cheng Kun demonstrates the reach of Cheng Kun’s schemes, her journey with the Yellow Dress Maiden connects the Beggars’ Guild to the Ancient Tomb School (through the Yellow Dress Maiden’s ancestry), and her succession as leader represents the restoration of proper order after deception.

Her story also demonstrates the importance of legitimate succession and the preservation of traditions, as the guild recognised her right to leadership based on her father’s position and her possession of the Dog-beating Staff.