Dressed like a Taoist priest and often carrying a hand fan made of crane feathers, Zhu Wu is good in devising military stratagems and deploying soldiers in formation for pitched battle.

One day a hunter discovers a reply letter from the bandits accepting an invitation by Shi Jin to attend a festive gathering at his house.

Trying to save a woman abducted by Prefect He of Hua Prefecture (Huazhou), Shi Jin falls into the official's trap and is captured.

After saving Shi Jin and Lu Zhishen, the Mount Shaohua bandits, including Zhu Wu, are absorbed into Liangshan.

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

When the survivors are returning to the imperial capital Dongjing in expectation of rewards, Zhu Wu decides to leave the group accompanied by Fan Rui to take up Taoist practice under Gongsun Sheng.