Shi Mengjie (simplified: 史孟捷, traditional: 史孟捷, Jyutping: si2 maang6 zit6, pinyin: Shǐ Mèngjié), known as the Eight Handed Immortal Ape (八手仙猴), was the youngest of the five Shi brothers who owned the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Manor. He was renowned for his exceptional speed and agility in combat.
Biography
Family legacy and training
As the youngest of the five Shi brothers, Shi Mengjie grew up in a family renowned for beast training and martial arts. Like his elder brothers, he learned martial techniques by observing and imitating the movements of wild animals, specifically focusing on the agile and swift movements of apes and monkeys.
He benefited from the advanced qi cultivation methods that his third brother Shi Shugang had learned from a mysterious master and passed on to the family, enhancing his natural speed and agility.
Confrontation with the Ghosts
During the battle with the Ghosts of the Western Mountain Cave, Shi Mengjie demonstrated his exceptional combat abilities by facing multiple opponents simultaneously. He was matched against Big Headed Ghost and Pretty Ghost, who attempted to use their combined hard and soft techniques against him.
Despite being outnumbered, Shi Mengjie’s extraordinary speed allowed him to hold his own against both opponents. His quick strikes and rapid movements embodied the saying “one fast beats three slow” (一快打三慢), preventing his opponents from gaining any significant advantage despite their coordination.
Encounter with Guo Fu
Shi Mengjie’s encounter with Guo Fu demonstrated both his martial skills and his honorable nature. During their confrontation, he chose to show restraint and allow her some advantages in their fight, recognizing her as a guest rather than treating her as a serious opponent.
However, Guo Fu’s impulsive nature led her to take advantage of his courtesy, seriously wounding him with her sword when he was clearly holding back. This incident highlighted both his generous character and the sometimes dangerous consequences of showing mercy to unprincipled opponents.
Personality and traits
Character traits
As the youngest brother, Shi Mengjie possessed a more refined and courteous nature compared to some of his siblings. His willingness to show restraint toward Guo Fu during their fight demonstrated his sense of honourand proper conduct toward guests and women.
He showed remarkable focus and concentration in battle, able to ignore psychological tactics like Big Headed Ghost’s thunderous roaring and Pretty Ghost’s eerie laughter, maintaining his composure and fighting effectiveness despite attempts to distract him.
Family loyalty
Like all his brothers, Shi Mengjie demonstrated absolute loyalty to his family, particularly regarding Shi Shugang’s health crisis. He was willing to kneel before Yang Guo alongside his brothers to beg for help in capturing the nine-tailed fox needed for his third brother’s treatment.
Martial arts abilities
External combat techniques
Shi Mengjie’s martial arts were based on ape and monkey movements, emphasizing:
- Exceptional Speed: His attacks were extraordinarily fast, allowing him to fight multiple opponents simultaneously without falling into disadvantage
- Agile Movements: His fighting style incorporated the nimble, unpredictable movements of primates
- Rapid Strikes: His technique focused on quick, successive attacks that overwhelmed opponents through sheer velocity
Weapons mastery
He wielded a judge’s pen (判官双笔) as his primary weapon, which complemented his speed-based fighting style with:
- Quick, precise strikes that could target vital points
- Techniques that emphasized finesse over raw power
- Combat methods that allowed for rapid combinations and continuous attacks
Beast control abilities
As part of the Shi family tradition, Shi Mengjie commanded one hundred giant apes in organized formations, demonstrating his natural affinity with primates and his ability to coordinate complex group movements.
Relationships
Family relationships
As the youngest brother, Shi Mengjie held a special position within the family hierarchy. His brothers were protective of him, and he showed deep respect for their guidance and decisions, particularly during the family crisis surrounding Shi Shugang’s illness.
Professional relationships
After Yang Guo helped heal Shi Shugang, Shi Mengjie became one of the Divine Condor Hero’s loyal followers, participating in various activities under Yang Guo’s direction and showing the same dedication his family was known for.
Combat relationships
His encounters with opponents like Guo Fu and the Ghosts of the Western Mountain Cave revealed his tactical intelligence and ability to adapt his fighting style to different types of opponents, though his courteous nature sometimes put him at a disadvantage against less honorable foes.