Xue Yong
| Xue Yong | |
|---|---|
| Water Margin character | |
| Nickname | "Sick Tiger" 病大蟲 |
| Rank | 84th, Tranquil Star (地幽星) of the 72 Earthly Fiends |
| Infantry leader of Liangshan | |
| Origin | Medicine peddler |
| Ancestral home / Place of origin | Luoyang, Henan |
| First appearance | Chapter 36 |
| Names | |
| Simplified Chinese | 薛永 |
| Traditional Chinese | 薛永 |
| Pinyin | Xuē Yǒng |
| Wade–Giles | Hsüeh Yung |
Xue Yong is a fictional character in Water Margin, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. He ranks 84th of the 108 Liangshan heroes and 48th of the 72 Earthly Fiends. He is nicknamed "Sick Tiger".
Xue Yong is from Luoyang, Henan. He excels in martial arts and specialises in staff and spear movements. He earns a living as a medicine peddler by performing martial arts and physical feats on the streets to promote the drugs he sells. He is nicknamed "Sick Tiger".
Xue Yong arrives in Jieyang Town (揭陽鎮; believed to be in present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi), near the Xunyang River, while roaming around. He unknowingly offends the Mu brothers (Mu Hong and Mu Chun), the most influential men in the town, by failing to acknowledge their presence. In revenge, Mu Chun forbids the townsfolk from buying Xue Yong's medicine or paying him for his performance. At the time, Song Jiang passes by Jieyang Town on his way to exile in Jiangzhou (江州; east of present-day Chongzuo, Guangxi), and he pays Xue Yong five silver taels for his performance. Mu Chun is furious with Song Jiang for disregarding him and wants to beat up Song, but Xue Yong comes to Song's aid and defeats Mu in a fight.
Song Jiang thanks Xue Yong for saving him and they become friends. Xue Yong intends to join Song Jiang on his journey to Jiangzhou, so he returns to the inn and packs his belongings. While he is preparing to leave, the Mu brothers and their followers show up at the inn, overpower and capture him, and then beat him up before moving off in pursuit of Song Jiang, who has fled from Jieyang Town after overhearing the Mu brothers' plans to take revenge on him.
In desperation, Song Jiang boards Zhang Heng's boat, without knowing that Zhang is actually a pirate who robs unsuspecting travellers. When the boat reaches the middle of the river, Zhang Heng wants to kill Song Jiang and rob him, but is stopped by Li Jun. Zhang Heng and the Mu brothers are shocked when they learn of Song Jiang's true identity from Li Jun, because they have heard of his reputation as a generous and chivalrous hero who helps those in need, and have been wanting to meet him. They apologise to him, treat him like an honoured guest and release Xue Yong. Later, they see Song Jiang off on his journey to Jiangzhou.
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