Xie Bao, nicknamed the “Double-Tailed Scorpion,” is a Liangshan hero in Water Margin and, together with his elder brother Xie Zhen, a hunter from Dengzhou. The brothers make their living in the mountains and are experienced in hunting, tracking, and close combat.
After Xie Zhen and Xie Bao shoot a tiger, the wounded animal falls into the estate of the Mao family. The family claims the tiger for itself and then turns the dispute against the brothers, causing them to be falsely accused and imprisoned.
When Gu Dasao learns what has happened, she joins Sun Xin, Sun Li, and other relatives in organizing a rescue. The group breaks Xie Zhen and Xie Bao out of prison and, unable to remain in Dengzhou afterward, eventually makes its way to Liangshan.
At Liangshan, the two brothers continue to appear together as infantry fighters. After the imperial amnesty, they take part in the later campaigns, and Xie Bao is eventually killed during the war against Fang La. Their background as hunters and the dramatic Dengzhou prison rescue define their place within the brotherhood.
