The river pirate who commanded the water. Li Jun was born to the currents - smuggler, pirate, master of every waterway in the region. His nickname "Turbulent River Dragon" wasn't poetry, it was warning. When Li Jun moved through water, he became something else entirely, as dangerous and unpredictable as a dragon thrashing through rapids. The Liangshan outlaws needed someone who could control the rivers and lakes around their marsh stronghold, and Li Jun was the obvious choice.

Kuniyoshi captures him in brutal action - surging from the water with both arms raised, shoving a boat over with raw strength. A massive spray of turquoise water erupts around him as his enemy tumbles backward out of the capsizing vessel. His heavily tattooed body is coiled with power, beard wild, expression fierce and determined. The river itself seems to be his weapon - he rises from the depths and the boat simply can't resist, timber tilting as his opponent falls helplessly into the waves. This is ambush from below, the attack you never see coming until the water turns violent.

This is from Kuniyoshi's legendary 1827 Suikoden series. He shows Li Jun doing what made him legendary - not fighting on land or even in fair combat, but erupting from his element to overturn everything. The Turbulent River Dragon doesn't ask permission - he just capsizes your world.

This is Li Jun (李俊), the "Turbulent River Dragon" (混江龍); known in Japan as Konkōryū Rishun (混江龍李俊), from the series Tsūzoku suikoden gōketsu hiyakuhachinin no hitori (通俗水滸伝豪傑百八人之一個, One of the 108 famous Water Margin heroes) 1827.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳, 1798-1861)