Ryūren earned the nickname while wandering the countryside and playing cards, which his family allowed on the condition that Ryūren would take one of the top three places in the Official Exams. When he comes to the Imperial capital just before the exams, his dorm becomes known as the "Cursed 13th Building" because he would play his flute instead of studying, which drove the other examinees insane. During the exams, seven officials resigned from the Examination Board after having incomprehensible conversations with him. Ryūren takes the Official Exams with Shūrei and Eigetsu and passes with the second highest score, taking the "Bougen" spot, but then skips out on the Shinshi Ceremony that inducts the examinees as new officials. Claiming that the wind called to him to start a new voyage, he resumed wandering because he had fulfilled his promise to excel in the exams.