Under the cold moon and snow, Wen Chaoshen stood in front of the archway of Wind Willow Pavilion, holding the slender sword as he waited according to Madam Lü's instructions.

The snow-laden wind swept in, quickly chilling his exposed hands.

Wen Chaoshen looked down, experimentally flexing his fingers, realizing that the days of chopping wood had not been in vain; at least his body was now more resistant to the cold than before.

He waited in place for about a quarter of an hour, shaking off the accumulating snow, until he finally saw a shadowy figure in the distance on the street.