According to folklore, he was also a prodigy of the Chinese god, Erlang Shen, who helped the people of Xiangyang defeat a river dragon that terrorized the area.
Deng Xia's strength was very well-known even among the common people, who began comparing him to the famous Han dynasty general Fan Kuai.
Deng Xia and the General of the Household Gentlemen of the North, Yu Xi (庾希) were sent by Huan Wen to reinforce the defenders.
Deng Xia advanced to Xincheng (新城; around present-day Fang County, Hubei), where he camped to defend the place.
"[6][a] Deng Xia died not long after, and he was posthumously awarded the office of Grand Warden of Luling (廬陵; around present-day Ji'an, Jiangxi).
Deng Xia, serving as the Grand Warden of Xiangyang at the time, pulled out a sword and dived into the depths to kill it.
The river ran red with blood, and with Deng Xia's bravery, the people of Xiangyang no longer worried about the dragon.