Ran Ryuuren playing his flute

Ran Ryuuren is best known for his eccentricity, which is often misunderstood as simple foolishness. However, beneath his peculiar behavior lies sharp intelligence and a unique perspective on life. His way of thinking and interacting with others makes him appear aloof and detached, yet he remains true to his ideals. Shouka once commented that geniuses tend to be lonely, which explains why Ryuuren struggled to form friendships until he met Kou Shuurei, who treated him like any other person rather than as an oddity.

Ryuuren possesses an extraordinary level of self-confidence, believing himself to be a great musician despite others often cringing at his flute playing. His unpredictable nature makes him difficult to deal with, yet he remains loyal to those he considers important. While many dismiss his antics, those who know him well recognize that his wisdom and perceptiveness often carry deeper meaning.

Ryuuren’s unusual nature is linked to his connection with the Blue Immortal, one of the legendary Eight Immortals. He serves as the host of the Blue Immortal, much like To Eigetsu and Byakuya, though his situation differs in that he retains control over his body most of the time.

When the Blue Immortal takes over, Ryuuren’s demeanor changes significantly. Unlike other Immortals, the Blue Immortal is lighthearted and playful, often displaying a mischievous sense of humor. He enjoys teasing others, particularly the Purple Immortal (Shi Shou), despite the latter’s short temper. The Blue Immortal is also fond of adorable things, such as Uu Uu, whom he likens to a doll.

Although Ryuuren is the youngest of the Ran siblings, he was bestowed with his title at the age of four, an honor that signifies his extraordinary abilities. The name “Ryuuren” was not his birth name, but rather a title given to a chosen genius in each generation of the Ran Clan. The kanji for his name is derived from “Twin Dragon Lotus Spring” (双龍蓮泉 Souryuurensen), the symbol of the Ran Clan. This title also serves as proof of his hidden identity as the host of the Blue Immortal, further reinforcing his unusual destiny.

Ran Ryuuren’s fashion sense is highly eccentric, often favoring flashy, mismatched clothing adorned with an assortment of unusual accessories. These accessories may include vegetables and fruits, such as pears and cabbages, as well as random trinkets he finds on the side of the road, like feathers or other peculiar items. His outlandish appearance frequently draws bewildered reactions from those around him.

However, when dressed in “normal” clothing, Ryuuren is considered extremely handsome. Kou Shuurei, who had grown accustomed to his flamboyant style, was shocked and unable to recognize him when she saw him in formal attire on the day of the Imperial Exam. She later admitted that he looked like a regular, refined young noble.

When the Blue Immortal takes control, Ryuuren’s expression changes drastically. His usual lively and carefree demeanor is replaced with a calm, composed, and somewhat cold aura. His playful eccentricity fades, revealing a serene but intense presence, emphasizing his status as the host of a powerful Immortal.

Ran Ryuuren is known as the Dragon Flute Gambling Master (龍笛賭博師 Ryuuteki tobaku-shi) due to his reputation as a wandering musician and gambler. Despite his eccentric lifestyle, his family allowed him to travel freely under the condition that he would place among the top three examinees in the Official Exams.

When Ryuuren arrived in Kiyou to take the exams, his assigned dormitory quickly earned the nickname “Cursed 13th Building” because instead of studying, he spent his time playing his flute, much to the dismay and frustration of other examinees. His behavior was so bizarre and incomprehensible that seven officials resigned after attempting to have conversations with him. Among all those who encountered him, only Kou Shuurei could tolerate his eccentricities, prompting Ryuuren to declare her his “Soul Friend #1”. Soon after, he added To Eigetsu as “Soul Friend #2” and later counted Eigetsu’s alter-ego, Yogetsu, as “Soul Friend #2.5”.

During the Official Exams, Ryuuren successfully passed with the second-highest score, earning the Bougen ranking, while To Eigetsu claimed the top spot as Jougen. However, many believed that Ryuuren was capable of securing the highest score but deliberately gave a dismissive answer to the question, “Why do you want to serve the Emperor?”, writing that he simply did not wish to serve the Emperor at all. True to his nature, he skipped the Shinshi Ceremony, the official induction of new court officials, and resumed his travels, claiming that the wind had called him to embark on a new journey.

Although Ryuuren expresses no interest in politics or leadership, Kou Kurou seriously considers a marriage proposal from the Ran Clan to betroth him to Shuurei. Meanwhile, Emperor Ryuuki entrusts him with the important task of delivering the governor’s seal to Shuurei and Eigetsu in Sa Province. While Shuurei warns him to stay away from the dangers of their political conflict, Ryuuren insists that he wishes to remain involved precisely because of the danger, declaring that his “Soul Friends” are the only people who can take advantage of him.

As the story progresses, it is revealed that the name “Ran Ryuuren” is bestowed upon those chosen to serve as the living host of the Blue Immortal. This Immortal, known as the “Lord of Time”, possesses knowledge of past, present, and future across multiple worlds. Only a genius capable of processing this vast amount of knowledge can act as his vessel.

The Blue Immortal first manifests in Ryuuren’s body within the Cave of Immortals, where Ran Shuuei and Shiba Jin attempt to travel to the Hyou Clan. Upon encountering them, Shuuei mistakes him for Ryuuren, but the Blue Immortal ignores him and transports both men to the Hyou domain before disappearing. Later, the Blue Immortal teases Uu Uu, calling him “a doll”, and thanks him for aiding the Red Immortal in the past.

Unlike Ryuuren’s usual boisterous and flamboyant personality, the Blue Immortal’s presence transforms him into a completely emotionless and inhuman being. Shuuei later notes that Ryuuren’s usual eccentric aura completely vanishes when the Blue Immortal takes over. However, Shuuei and most others remain unaware that Ryuuren and the Blue Immortal share the same body.

The Blue Immortal himself acknowledges that Ryuuren is meant to be an observer rather than an active participant in history. Hyou Riou Jr. confirms this, criticizing Ren for causing even Ryuuren to intervene when he was meant to remain uninvolved.

It is said that while the Ran Clan has official leaders, the person who bears the title “Ran Ryuuren” holds supreme authority meaning that his orders must be obeyed, even over the will of the clan head. It is believed that the Ran triplets Ryuuren’s older brothers are aware that he serves as the vessel for the Blue Immortal. The Blue Immortal’s true name is suspected to be “Ran Ryuuren”, as each of his hosts throughout history adopt the name when they become his vessel.

Prophecy
As the host of the Blue Immortal, Ryuuren possesses the ability to see the future. The Blue Immortal occasionally reveals prophecies to the other Immortals, foretelling significant events that shape the world. One of his most famous prophecies was the story of the Rose Princess, which predicted the fate of the Red Immortal.

Because of his deep connection to time and fate, Ryuuren is aware of nearly everything happening across the country, even when he is not physically present at the scene. His predictions and insights often seem strange or cryptic, but they eventually prove to be true.

Martial Arts
Despite his artistic and eccentric nature, Ryuuren is a highly skilled martial artist. He began training in hand-to-hand combat and weapon-based martial arts because he admired the power and elegance of nature’s forces. Over time, his skills became formidable, allowing him to hold his own against highly trained warriors.

Physical Strength
Ryuuren possesses unexpected physical strength, despite his slender and unassuming appearance. His most notable display of strength was when he threw a heavy door off its hinges with ease, shocking those around him. His strength is believed to be enhanced by his connection to the Blue Immortal, giving him greater endurance and durability than an average human.

Yokobue Flute
Ryuuren is notorious for playing the yokobue flute in an erratic and disruptive manner, which often results in disastrous consequences. His cacophonous playing style is so overwhelming that it has been known to cause Birds to fall from the sky mid-flight, Listeners to suffer severe mental distress and Nearby objects to vibrate from the sheer force of the sound.

Ironically, Ryuuren is actually highly skilled at playing other musical instruments, which he demonstrates when he plays them with technical mastery and precision. His brothers are baffled that, despite his talent, he chooses to perform the yokobue in such a bizarre manner. Some speculate that he deliberately plays it poorly to test people’s endurance, while others believe it is simply his way of expressing himself artistically.

The Immortals
As the host of the Blue Immortal, Ryuuren maintains complex relationships with the other Immortals.

Ran Shuuei
Ryuuren refers to Shuuei as “Foolish Elder Brother #4”, showing his lack of regard for his older brother. He never liked Shuuei much, often mocking him for his lack of discipline and womanizing tendencies. However, after meeting Shuurei, Ryuuren softened his stance toward Shuuei, suggesting that he came to respect him in some way.

Kou Shuurei and To Eigetsu
Among all the people Ryuuren has met, Shuurei and Eigetsu are the only ones who tolerate his eccentricities. Because of this, he considers them his “Kindred Spirits” and holds them in high regard.

Ran Jyuusan
Ryuuren seems to genuinely care for Jyuusan, as seen when he tried to “comfort” her by playing his flute when she was feeling down. However, his efforts were not well received—Jyuusan deeply dislikes him and once compared him to horse dung.