Illustrated Phonetic Edition -- Li Kui, the Black Wind

Author: Editorial Committee of "Water Margin Heroes"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Ministry of Education Designated Required Reading - "Water Margin", Illustrated and Pinyin Edition.
Lives in the east of Cui Ridge in Yi Prefecture, kills and robs with impunity.
Unsmudged with ink, his whole body is black;
Like wearing cinnabar, both eyes are red.
Leisurely grinds a giant axe by the stream;
When bored, chops tall pines by the cliffs.
His strength is fierce as an ox, and his body is hard as iron;
He shakes the sky and darkens the world with his whirlwind.
Li Kui, with a dark complexion and rough demeanor, is nicknamed "Iron Ox" and known in the martial world as "Black Whirlwind." He ranks 22nd among the heroes of Mount Liang and is the fifth leader of the infantry. When Song Jiang was exiled to Jiangzhou, Wu Yong wrote a letter to Dai Zong, the prison warder of the two courts in Jiangzhou, asking him to take care of Song Jiang. At that time, Li Kui was a low-ranking guard under Dai Zong and thus met Song Jiang. When Dai Zong’s fake letter to Mount Liang was exposed, both he and Song Jiang were escorted to the execution ground to be beheaded. Li Kui led the charge with his pair of battle axes, killing indiscriminately with unmatched bravery.
After joining Mount Liang, Li Kui’s longing for his mother led him back to Yi Prefecture to fetch her. While crossing Yi Ridge, his mother was eaten by a tiger. Enraged, Li Kui killed four tigers. During the recruitment of Mount Liang, Li Kui refused to submit and caused chaos in the capital, tearing down the imperial edict, demanding the execution of the imperial envoy, and cutting down the yellow banner of Mount Liang, vowing to attack the capital and seize the throne for Song Jiang. He was repeatedly restrained by Song Jiang. After being recruited, Li Kui was appointed as the Military Commissioner of Zhenjiang and Runzhou.
When Song Jiang was poisoned by the wine sent by Gao Qiu, he feared that Li Kui would incite rebellion after his death, tarnishing the reputation of Mount Liang’s loyalty and righteousness. Therefore, he had Li Kui drink the same poisoned wine and die alongside him.