Li Shan

Biodata

Background / History

Li Shan was once his family’s main provider and a skilled hunter renowned throughout the surrounding villages. He had encountered mountain bandits in his younger years and possessed experience beyond ordinary village life 1 33 50.

His wife died giving birth to their daughter, Li Xiuer, and his second son disappeared several years before the story begins. He spoiled his youngest son, Li Xuan, whose pursuit of Miss Xu subsequently drained the household’s resources 1.

Six months before Li Xuan’s transmigration, Li Shan entered the mountains to obtain a fine fox pelt that his son could use to court Miss Xu. While pursuing the fox deep into the mountains, he fell and broke his leg. The lasting injury prevented him from returning to regular mountain hunting, and the family eventually struggled to afford his medicine 1.

Appearance

Li Shan is depicted as an ailing older man with a waxy-yellow face, clouded eyes, and a stooped back. When demonstrating archery, his posture briefly straightens and his seasoned hunter’s bearing returns 3 12.

• Walks with a crutch and is frequently shown hobbling or shuffling 6 38.
• Suffers heavy coughing fits that can interrupt his speech 3 5.
• Often carries or smokes a tobacco pipe 12 33 49.

Personality

Li Shan combines stern parental authority with considerable tenderness toward his children. He blames himself for spoiling Li Xuan, yet initially tries to divide his own portion of rabbit meat between Li Xuan and Xiuer. His suspicion of his youngest son gradually gives way to relief as Li Xuan begins feeding and protecting the household 1 4 11.

He fiercely defends the family’s dignity, rejecting a marriage arrangement that would require Li Xuan to adopt the Xu surname. At the same time, he values survival over pride: he advises his son to surrender prey rather than risk a dangerous fight with Wang Kui’s gang 5 39.

His caution does not exclude ruthlessness. After learning that Li Xuan killed the men who stole their boar meat, he focuses on protecting the family and keeping the killings secret. He nevertheless warns his son not to kill indiscriminately, distinguishing necessary violence from needless bloodshed 43 44.

Abilities & Skills

Hunting Experience

• Recognizes fresh arrow wounds on Li Xuan’s rabbits, helping establish that they were genuinely hunted 3.
• Identifies the rescued cub as a wolf and warns that its mother could follow its scent to the house 17.
• Detects human blood mixed with wild boar blood on Li Xuan after the confrontation with Wang Kui’s gang 43.
• His lasting leg injury prevents regular mountain hunting, although he still goes onto the mountain path with Li Zhong when Li Xuan is overdue 1 43.

Archery Instruction

• Teaches Li Xuan stable footing, a lowered shoulder, back-driven drawing, straight-line aiming, controlled breathing, and decisive release 12.
• Recognizes the unexpectedly polished quality of Li Xuan’s drawing stance and concludes that he has nothing further to teach him 12.
• Passes down the family’s powerful hunting bow while emphasizing caution in the mountains 12.

Arrow Making

• Fits iron arrowheads using fish bladder glue and tightly wound hide strips, with a final glue layer to resist moisture and loosening 34.
• Explains that alignment and binding pressure must be precise: excessive tension can split the shaft, while loose binding leaves the head insecure 34.
• Helps Li Xuan complete five iron arrows over most of a morning 34.

Threat Assessment and Practical Judgment

• Knows Wang Kui’s history of martial training and predatory behavior toward isolated hunters 38 39.
• Questions Li Xuan about the locations, methods, and disposal of the three killings before judging how securely their involvement has been concealed 43.
• Recognizes Wang Kui’s incomplete cultivation manual as genuine but warns that practicing it blindly is unsafe 44.
• Seeks support from the village chief and elders when outsiders implicate Li Family Village in Wang Kui’s disappearance 50.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ox-Horn Bow / Mulberry-Hardwood Bow — A powerful hunting bow inherited from Li Xuan’s grandfather. Li Shan keeps it wrapped in oilcloth before giving it to Li Xuan 12.
• Crutch — Supports his impaired mobility, including during his search for Li Xuan on the mountain path 38 43.
• Tobacco pipe — Frequently used while discussing family matters and assessing threats 33 38 49.
• Arrow-making materials — Prepared fish bladder glue and thin hide strips used to secure iron arrowheads 34.

Relationships

• Li Xuan — Youngest son. Li Shan’s earlier indulgence gives way to disappointment, then renewed trust as Li Xuan becomes a capable provider. He serves as his hunting instructor, confidant, and adviser, but is not told about the Hunting Panel or its traits 1 4 12 43.
• Li Zhong — Eldest son. Accompanies Li Shan to meet Li Xuan on the mountain path and is sternly instructed to keep the killings secret 1 43.
• Li Xiuer — Daughter. Comforts him during his coughing and anger, supports him while walking, and is among the children he tries to share his food with 3 4 9.
• Wang — Daughter-in-law and Li Zhong’s wife. Cares for the household and serves Li Shan substantial, tender portions of food. The men initially keep the Wang Kui killings from her 1 4 49.
• Unnamed wife — Deceased; died giving birth to Xiuer 1.
• Unnamed second son — Missing for several years before the opening chapter 1.
• Wang Kui — A hunter whose name provokes immediate disgust from Li Shan. He warns Li Xuan about Wang Kui’s gang and later helps conceal his son’s involvement in their deaths 38 39 43.
• Zhou Hong — Constable investigating Wang Kui’s disappearance. Li Shan urges silence and village solidarity against accusations unsupported by evidence 46 49 50.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Notable Quotes

“Good... good lad... your father has nothing left to teach you.” 12

“When it's time to be ruthless, you can't go soft, but you mustn't kill indiscriminately either. What we want is to survive, and to live without fear.” 44