In these largely fictionalized stories, he was shot to death with countless arrows by the vengeful Song commander Pan Renmei while seeking reinforcement for his trapped father in battles against the Liao dynasty army.

The novel Records of the Two Songs, South and North (1593) portrayed him as young, impulsive and reckless, and mentioned a time in battle where he without notifying anyone decided to lead 3000 men for a night raid of the enemy's camp.

However, realizing the competition rules set by Pan Bao, Emperor Taizong merely sentenced Yang Qilang to three years in prison.

[3] Later, when Yang Qilang was pardoned by the emperor in face of an imminent war with the Liao dynasty and reinstated to the military to "expiate crimes by good deeds", Pan Renmei decided to carry out "justice" himself.

When a badly injured and tired Yang Qilang finally arrived, Pan Renmei had him arrested, tied up on a pole, and ordered his soldiers to shoot arrows at him.