Xiong Yuanxian (simplified: 熊元献, traditional: 熊元獻, pinyin: Xióng Yuánxiàn, jyutping: hung4 jyun4 hin3) is the Escort Chief of the Pingtong Armed Escort in Beijing in Flying Fox of the Snowy Mountain, and a master of Ground Tumbling Dao. His senior fellow disciple is the imperial guard Liu Yuanhe.
Biography
The feud with Yinma Creek
The Yinma Creek Stockade once robbed a large consignment in Xiong’s care, and one of his escort captains, Zheng Sanniang’s husband, was killed in the robbery. Xiong never recovered the goods, and repaying their value the year before left him nearly ruined (ch. 1).
Liu Yuanhe had hidden under Tian Guinong’s bed on the night Tian died and heard him order Tao Zian to bury the iron box beyond the pass. Because of Xiong’s feud with Yinma Creek, the two brothers came north together (ch. 7).
The ambush
With Liu Yuanhe, Zheng Sanniang and the monk Jingzhi, Xiong waits three days and nights in pits under the snow. When Tao Baisui and Tao Zian dig up the box, they spring out and demand it. Xiong would rather have the Taos buy their lives with Yinma Creek’s gold and silver than see them killed, and calls a halt. Tao Zian pretends to hand the box to Liu, then triggers the darts hidden in it. One lodges in Xiong’s left shoulder.
The Tianlong School party then strikes and seizes the box. Xiong ends up wrestling Zhou Yunyang in the snow until the monk Baoshu pulls them apart. Baoshu leads everyone to his host’s manor on Jade Brush Peak, and Xiong carries the wounded Zheng Sanniang on his back (ch. 1).
On Jade Brush Peak
When Hu Fei’s twin page boys fight the Tianlong School men at the manor, Xiong and Liu join in, hoping to snatch the box in the confusion; Xiong’s weapon is cut through (ch. 2). When Liu Yuanhe goes to strike the maid Qiner, Xiong blocks the blow. He tells Liu that the treasure matters more and that no lives need be taken, fearing Miao Renfeng’s vengeance if his daughter were harmed (ch. 8).
The treasure cave
Xiong leads the way into the cave behind the peak with a torch, and tries to burn through the ice that binds the boulders sealing the treasure chamber. Inside, he and Zhou Yunyang are soon rolling on the ground again (ch. 8, 10). He is among the treasure-seekers whom Hu Fei seals in when he rolls the boulder back across the entrance. The novel leaves their fate open (ch. 10).
Personality
Xiong Yuanxian is lean and dark-faced and speaks in a soft, careful voice, the opposite of the thunderous Tao Baisui. A lifetime of escort work has made him timid, cautious and steady. Unlike his shixiong, who thinks nothing of killing common folk, he avoids needless bloodshed (ch. 1, 8).
Relationships
- Liu Yuanhe (Shixiong): They trained under the same shifu from boyhood and understand each other without words.
- Zheng Sanniang (Ally): The widow of one of his escort captains.
- Tao Baisui (Enemy): Head of the stockade that robbed his consignment.
Martial arts
Xiong is thoroughly versed in Ground Tumbling Dao, a dao art fought low to the ground with rolls and sweeps (ch. 1).