An eight chi tall skilled warrior, Sun Li has a broad face studded with whiskers and jet black eyes.

The Xies have smashed up the house of one Squire Mao after failing to find a tiger they shot that had fallen into the old man's garden.

As Sun Li has been taught combat skills by the same teacher of Luan Tingyu, the village's martial arts instructor, he suggests he can use that link to win the confidence of the Zhus and then topple them from within their ranks.

He participates in the campaigns against the Liao invaders and rebel forces in Song territory following amnesty by Emperor Huizong for Liangshan.

Reinstated as garrison officer in Dengzhou, he goes back to his previous place of service while his brother Sun Xin and sister-in-law Gu Dasao also return there to resume the business of running an inn.

In Iron Arm, Golden Sabre, Sun Li is portrayed to be studying martial arts alongside Zhou Tong and Luan Tingyu.

Zhou Tong becomes a drill instructor of the Imperial Guards and uses his influence to get Sun Li the position of garrison major in Dengzhou.