Toru was a young man and member of a winter caravan. Hidekazu, the disciple of the dragon P'an Ku, took over his identity when he gave up being Moto Chiang. The caravan was heading towards the Imperial City. Hidekazu thought it would become an exciting and adventurous winter. Due to the identity change, inspired by a vision of P'an Ku, Hidekazu escaped Moto Hotei and others, who were investigating two of Hidekazu's murders in the city.