Brought up in Jiankang Prefecture, which is present-day Nanjing in Jiangsu, Shi Xiu is a tall, muscular, and good-looking young man, who has learnt martial arts since childhood.

One day, when passing a busy street carrying firewood, Shi Xiu comes upon Yang Xiong, the chief warden of Jizhou's prison, being attacked by a group of hooligans.

Shi Xiu is sharp-eyed and soon detects that Yang's wife Pan Qiaoyun is having a secret affair with the monk Pei Ruhai.

One night, Shi Xiu ambushes and kills Pei Ruhai in a deserted lane outside Yang Xiong's house when the monk is leaving it after a tryst with Pan.

Now quite convinced by Shi, Yang Xiong lures Pan Qiaoyun to Mount Cuiping (翠屏山; in present-day Jizhou, Hebei) under the pretext of visiting his ancestors' graves.

Shi Qian steals the inn's only rooster to cook for a meal as the place has nothing nice to offer, sparking off a fight between the three and the innkeeper.

Li writes two consecutive letters to the Zhu Family Manor asking them to free the man, but the Zhus refuse both times.

Before the first battle between Liangshan and the Zhu Family Manor, Shi Xiu sneaks into the village disguised as a firewood seller.

Meanwhile, Yan Qing, who is rushing to Liangshan to seek help, runs into Yang Xiong and Shi Xiu, who are going to Daming to check on Lu.

Just as Cai Fu, the executioner, is about to chop off Lu's head, Shi Xiu leaps off from the building, shouting "Liangshan fighters are all here!

Shocked by Shi's fearless look and defiant words, Liang decides to keep them alive as they could be used as bargaining chips if Liangshan attacks.

In the battle of Yuling Pass (昱嶺關; near present-day Zhupu Village, She County, Anhui) in the campaign against Fang La, Shi Xiu is shot dead in an ambush by the archers of Pang Wanchun.