When Ryūren wanders back to the capital, Ryūki gives him the important task of delivering the governor's seal to Shūrei and Eigetsu in Sa province. Shūrei tells Ryūren to stay clear of their dangerous political situation, but Ryūren says that the danger is why he wanted to stay involved, and that his "Soul Friends" are the only people who he'll let take advantage of him. Though Ryūren claims to have no interest in becoming an Imperial official or the head of the Ran clan, Kurō Hong seriously weighs a proposal from the Ran clan to marry Ryūren to Shūrei. Later in the series, Ryūren is revealed to be the Blue Immortal, one of the Eight Sages who served the first emperor of Saiunkoku.