Dai Zong serves Liangshan well with his running speed, which is especially important in an emergency situation. For example, when Song Jiang is thwarted by the sorcery of Gao Lian in his military attack on Gaotangzhou (高唐州; around present-day Gaotang County, Shandong) to rescue Chai Jin, Dai Zong is despatched to Jizhou (薊州; present-day Ji County, Tianjin) with Li Kui to locate the Taoist magician Gongsun Sheng, who could rival Gao. Gongsun has left Liangshan to visit his mother and has failed to return. Li Kui is enabled to travel in the same pace as Dai, but he could not make a brake when propelled by Dai into dizzying speeds after he infringed the latter's order to keep to vegetarian food. They eventually find Gongsun and the three speed to Gaotangzhou. In another instance, Dai brings the physician An Daoquan speedily back to Liangshan to cure Song Jiang of a deadly tumour. Dai's speed is also crucial in the collection and conveyance of intelligence when Liangshan faces a hostile force. His speed could help make friendship too, such as when Yang Lin notices his unusual pace and calls out his name.