Shi Qing

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Shi Qing (石清)
Alias(es)	Leader Shi; Stoneman
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Big Stone Camp (former leader); sheltered by Great Xia Camp after Big Stone Camp's fall
Occupation/Role	Camp leader; lumber-team commander; archer
Status	Alive; severely injured and no longer able to lead Big Stone Camp’s fighters effectively 49 50
First Appearance	Chapter 17

Background / History

Shi Qing led Big Stone Camp, one of the small camps around Redwood Ridge. He was regarded as calm and comparatively kind, balancing his younger brother Shi Dong’s fiery temperament. When Wang Ming reported that Great Xia Camp’s young members had reached the Lumbering Realm, Shi Qing suspected that Great Xia had secretly profited from Big Stone’s earlier Snow Mane hunt and prepared to confront them. 17

Despite his anger, Shi Qing initially intended only to warn Xia Ding rather than seriously harm him, remembering that Xia Ding had assisted Big Stone Camp during past hunts. He led twelve lumber-team members to search Great Xia’s territory, where they encountered the Wood Puppet Grotesque’s puppets disguised as Xia Ding and his team. 22

Shi Qing organized a counterattack using Wang Ming’s saber group as a feint while he and Shi Dong took concealed positions for the main assault. Once Xia Ding’s inhuman strength exposed the deception, Shi Qing ordered a retreat and deliberately led the survivors away from Big Stone Camp so the pursuing Grotesques would not find it. Most of his team was killed during the escape. 23

Yang Ning, Li Hu, and Luo Ming ultimately rescued Shi Qing’s remaining group from the pursuing puppets. Shi Qing showed deep gratitude to them and later joined Luo Ming in seeking assistance against the Wood Puppet Grotesque. 24 25 27

After further losses, Shi Qing withdrew from the attempt to hunt the Grotesque, citing Big Stone Camp’s lack of food and the near-destruction of its Lumbering Realm force. He and Shi Dong returned toward their camp with Crystal Fruits supplied by Luo Ming. 40 45

Shi Qing initially mistook Xia Hong’s rapidly strengthened group for Grotesques, believing Great Xia Camp had already fallen. Although Xia Hong allowed him and Shi Dong to leave, the real Shi Dong had already been replaced by a Grotesque. Shi Qing unknowingly brought the impostor back into Big Stone Camp. 45 46 47

The impostor bound Shi Qing with threads and massacred the camp in front of him. Xia Hong’s group arrived too late to prevent the slaughter but rescued Shi Qing and killed the impostor. Shi Qing found both his wife, Chun Yu, and Shi Dong dead; 132 camp members had died, with 187 survivors remaining. 48 49

Unable to continue protecting the survivors due to his injuries and Big Stone Camp’s loss of combat strength, Shi Qing entrusted the remaining people to Xia Hong. He later shared his knowledge of the Nine Towns, North Shuo Town, and the Wood Puppet Grotesque, helping convince Xia Hong to rush to Rogue Camp. 49 50

Appearance

Shi Qing was part of Big Stone Camp’s poorly equipped lumber team, whose surviving members wore worn, hole-ridden animal-skin skirts rather than proper cold-weather gear. 24

• Usually had a kind-looking face, though he became visibly stern when he believed Great Xia had stolen Big Stone Camp’s prey. 17
• After the fall of Big Stone Camp, his shoulder blades, limbs, torso, and lips bore thread-pierced wounds; he was covered in blood and struggled to move. 49

Personality

Shi Qing is cautious, responsible, and restrained. Though he was angered by the apparent theft of the Snow Mane, he did not seek needless bloodshed against Xia Ding because he remembered Xia Ding’s past help and recognized that nearby camps were all struggling to survive. 22

He is a pragmatic leader in crisis. During the Grotesque ambush, he quickly arranged a counterattack; when escape became necessary, he chose a route away from Big Stone Camp rather than risk leading the enemy to its civilians. 23

Shi Qing is deeply devoted to his camp and family. The loss of his team, brother, and wife devastated him, but Xia Hong’s warning about the remaining survivors forced him to regain enough composure to organize an evacuation. 49

Abilities & Skills

Archery

Shi Qing is an archer with notably strong eyesight and combat awareness. 22

• Climbed trees with Shi Dong to prepare a concealed ranged assault during the confrontation with puppet-controlled lumber-team members. 23
• Carried a bow and used iron arrows to protect Shi Dong from two suspected replacements. 38
• Reacted quickly enough to duck an unseen thread attack and warn his remaining men. 23

Leadership and Tactical Judgment

Shi Qing commanded Big Stone Camp’s lumber team and made decisions under severe pressure.

• Organized a feigned frontal assault and hidden flanking attack against the apparent Xia Ding. 23
• Ordered a retreat as soon as he recognized the enemy’s overwhelming strength. 23
• Chose not to lead the Grotesques back toward Big Stone Camp. 23
• Directed Shi Ping and Shi Lu to count casualties, search for hidden survivors, gather belongings, and begin evacuation after the massacre. 49

Knowledge of the Surrounding Region

Shi Qing possessed information beyond Great Xia Camp’s knowledge.

• Knew of Rogue Camp, the Nine Towns of Mount Ao’s southern foothills, North Shuo Town, and the Ice Abyss. 25 50
• Identified the Wood Puppet Grotesque as an old-man-like creature with blood-red pupils, a small knife, and transparent thread as weapons. 50
• Warned Xia Hong that the Grotesque could have infiltrated Rogue Camp through the replaced Shi Dong. 50

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Bow and iron arrows — Used while protecting Shi Dong from suspected Grotesque replacements. 38
• Two recurve bows and quivers of arrows — Given to Xia Hong before the latter departed to rescue Rogue Camp. 50

Relationships

• Shi Dong — Younger brother and trusted combat partner; Shi Dong was later replaced by a Grotesque and killed during the fall of Big Stone Camp. 17 23 49
• Chun Yu — Wife; murdered by the Grotesque during the massacre of Big Stone Camp. 49
• Shi Ping — Son; helped count casualties and carried Shi Qing during the evacuation. 49
• Shi Lu — Daughter; helped organize the survivors’ belongings and evacuation. 49
• Xia Hong — Initially regarded with suspicion over the Snow Mane incident; later rescued Shi Qing, accepted Big Stone’s survivors, and received vital information from him. 17 49 50
• Luo Ming — Leader of Rogue Camp; rescued Shi Qing’s group alongside Yang Ning and Li Hu, supplied Crystal Fruits, and treated Shi Qing with consideration. 25 40 45
• Luo Feng — Shi Qing’s idol; Shi Qing admired Luo Feng’s past achievements and wished to visit him. 42
• Wang Ming — Big Stone Camp’s saber-wielding fighter; followed Shi Qing’s counterattack plan and died fighting the puppet-controlled Xia Ding. 23
• Yang Ning and Li Hu — North Shuo Town fighters who saved Shi Qing’s group; Shi Qing respected their strength but withdrew after Big Stone could no longer contribute fighters. 24 40

Notable Quotes

“We can't run back to the camp. If we lead them there, we'll all die.” 23

“Big Stone Camp's Lumbering Realm fighters have all died except for my brother and me. We truly cannot contribute anyone or offer much help.” 40

Trivia

• Shi Qing considered Luo Feng, Rogue Camp’s former leader, his idol. 42
• He knew the locations of all six Ice Vast Trees within Big Stone Camp’s territory. 45
• His initial belief that Xia Hong’s young Lumbering Realm fighters were Grotesques helped Xia Hong realize that Big Stone Camp had encountered the Wood Puppet Grotesque. 45 47