Sho Yosei’s primary loyalty does not lie with the kingdom itself, but rather with the individual who proves himself to be a worthy emperor. Rather than serving the nation in a traditional sense, he acts only when necessary to ensure its continued survival. This mindset led him to remain neutral during the previous succession struggle, refusing to back any of the princes. His perspective on humans has grown increasingly cynical since the era of Sou Gen, and he rarely forms attachments to them. However, he has shown interest in select individuals such as Shi Senka, Kou Shouka, and Shi Chouka. Despite his general disdain for humanity, he became good friends with Sa Enjun and Sou Shungai, two of the most influential figures of their time.

In his old man form, Sho Yosei appears easygoing, humorous, and sly, often getting his way through clever manipulation. However, in his true Immortal form, his demeanor changes drastically he becomes cold-hearted, short-tempered, and far less tolerant. His sharp tongue was especially evident in his interactions with Shi Ryuuki, whom he frequently scolded and insulted, much like Ryuuki himself did to him in the past. Although he maintains a warm and grandfatherly façade, those who know him well such as the other Immortals, Shouka, and Kai Yu can recognize his true sardonic nature lurking beneath the surface.

In his human form, Sho Yosei takes the appearance of a frail, shriveled old man with a long beard, giving him the outward impression of a harmless elder. This deceptive appearance allows him to navigate the political landscape without drawing too much suspicion or attention to his true identity and power.

However, in his true Immortal form, he is strikingly different. As Shi Shou, the Purple Immortal, he has long, flowing black hair and cold, piercing purple eyes that exude an aura of authority and mystery. His clothing reflects the traditional fashion of ancient times, further emphasizing his timeless and otherworldly presence.

Sho Yosei, also known as Shi Shou, the Purple Immortal, has long held the position of Grand Advisor (Taishi) in the imperial court. He was a close friend and ally of the other Grand Advisors, Taiho Sa Enjun and Taifu Sou Shungai, and together, they served Emperor Senka, the father of Shi Ryuuki. Unlike many others in the court, Sho Yosei did not serve Saiunkoku out of patriotism; instead, his loyalty lay solely with a ruler he deemed worthy. For this reason, he refused to support any of the warring princes during the succession struggle eight years prior, only doing the bare minimum to ensure the country’s survival while waiting for the right leader to emerge.

Recognizing Ryuuki as different from his brothers, Sho Yosei forced him to ascend the throne, yet he did not immediately acknowledge him as a worthy emperor. Instead, he chose to assist him only once, much like he had done for Senka in the past. To push Ryuuki toward greatness, he manipulated Kou Shuurei into entering the imperial palace as a temporary consort, knowing her presence would motivate Ryuuki to take his responsibilities seriously. His plan also led to the exposure of Sa Enjun’s assassination plot, which, although a necessary development, deeply saddened him.

Sho Yosei wielded great political and military influence, controlling the Black Wolf and the Wolves of the Wind. However, his involvement endangered both Shuurei and Shi Seiran, leading Kou Shouka to sever ties with him and vow to kill him should they meet again.

During his friend Sa Enjun’s final moments, Sho Yosei revealed his true Immortal form, appearing as a young man rather than his usual frail, old-man disguise. He later summoned Enjun’s spirit to communicate with him. As Ryuuki matured and embarked on his journey to Ran Province, Sho Yosei arranged for the Black Wolf to act as his bodyguard.

For much of Ryuuki’s reign, Sho Yosei remained a silent observer, stepping in only when necessary. When the Noble Faction backed Ryuuki into a corner, he confronted the emperor in his true form, ruthlessly chastising him for his failures and missed opportunities. After the fall of Ou Ki, Sho erased his presence from history, vanishing without a trace.

Years later, at Shuurei’s funeral, Sho Yosei briefly reappeared before disappearing once more. However, when Shi Chouka, Ryuuki’s daughter, was still a young girl, she encountered a black crow with piercing purple eyes—the disguised form of Sho Yosei. Although Ryuuki was wary of the crow, as its cold, sardonic gaze reminded him of someone he did not fully recognize, Chouka was inexplicably drawn to it.

At one point, Chouka escaped the palace alongside Ryuuki and his escorts, pursuing the crow across the kingdom. According to her, the crow was an unhappy old man who always slept on trees, a statement that shocked Sho Yosei, as she was supposed to see him as nothing more than an ordinary bird. Despite his initial reluctance, Sho secretly protected Chouka on her journey, though he often found himself annoyed by Ran Shijaku, who jealously resented the crow for receiving so much of Chouka’s attention. At one point, Shijaku even suggested tying up the crow and dragging it along, making Sho cower in fear.

One night, Sho perched beside Ryuuki as he sat alone on a boat, watching in silent amusement as Shijaku proposed to Chouka. When Chouka unknowingly rejected the proposal, Ryuuki sighed, jokingly wondering if she might end up becoming the crow’s bride instead. He then turned to Sho Yosei, half-seriously considering him as a potential son-in-law. As Ryuuki drifted off to sleep, murmuring about Shuurei and the past, Sho Yosei, in his crow form, snapped at him to stop talking in his sleep, startling him awake.

When Chouka decided to return to the palace, she hugged and kissed the crow, which momentarily warmed Sho’s cold, immortal body an unfamiliar yet pleasant sensation for him. As he gazed into her eyes, he realized that in over 1,000 years, he had never encountered another being with such pure and kind eyes.

One night, as he was silently departing from the palace, Chouka caught him and chased after him. In the midst of her pursuit, she witnessed a terrifying vision of Sho Yosei walking mercilessly over the skulls of countless past emperors, his form soaked in blood. Shocked, she stopped him and kissed his cheek, leaving Sho Yosei utterly speechless. When she became momentarily distracted by the wind, he vanished without a trace. Later, reflecting on the moment, Sho grumbled to himself, admitting that if she were still a child, he would have scolded her for such unnecessary gestures.

Although the Immortals had sworn not to interfere in human affairs for at least a century, Sho Yosei broke that vow upon hearing that Chouka had chosen to become a ruling Empress rather than a government official like her mother. To support her reign, Sho returned to the court, secretly taking the Imperial Exams and earning the top rank (Jougen), effectively inserting himself into her government.

During the New Year’s celebration, when Ryuuki suddenly collapsed, Sho Yosei now disguised as Grand Advisor Sho once again violently beat him with the legendary sword “Kanshou” to wake him up. While Ryuuki’s spirit drifted near death’s door, he and Sho Yosei argued in the netherworld.

After their heated exchange, Sho delivered a powerful roundhouse kick, sending Ryuuki’s soul hurtling back into his body reviving him

Keen Intellect
Sho Yosei (Shi Shou) possesses a formidable intellect, making him one of the most cunning and strategic minds in Saiunkoku’s history. His keen intelligence earned him a place as one of the Three Grand Advisors, a position he used to shape the imperial court and the country’s future.

During Emperor Senka’s reign, Sho served as his Prime Minister, orchestrating numerous devious and calculated plans to ensure the Emperor’s survival and strengthen his rule. Aware that many assassins sought Senka’s life including those sent by Kou Reishin Sho eliminated them with ruthless efficiency, ensuring that Senka remained in power.

Sho’s ability to anticipate and manipulate political events made him a fearsome force in the court. He could navigate power struggles with ease, always remaining several steps ahead of his opponents. While others acted on impulse, Sho worked in shadows, pulling strings behind the scenes to guide the empire’s fate.

Though his actions were often morally ambiguous, his intelligence and cunning ensured the stability of Saiunkoku through multiple dynasties, proving him to be one of the most powerful figures in the empire’s history.

The Immortals
Shi Shou has a complicated relationship with the other Immortals. He is particularly severe on the Blue Immortal, often chastising him for his carefree and impudent nature. In contrast, he seems to be closer to the Yellow Immortal, as the two are frequently seen drinking together. He also holds high regard for the Black Immortal, respecting his abilities and intellect.

Sou Gen
Sou Gen was the first human whom Shi Shou truly respected. His admiration for Sou Gen was so strong that he, along with the other Immortals, assisted him in founding Saiunkoku. This marked a rare moment where Shi Shou directly intervened in human affairs, showing the depth of his regard for Sou Gen’s leadership.

Shi Senka
Shi Shou deeply respected Emperor Senka, finding him similar in both actions and behavior to Sou Gen. Because of this, he deemed Senka a worthy ruler and dedicated an entire human lifetime to serve as his Prime Minister, guiding him through countless political trials.

Shi Chouka and Ran Shijaku
Shi Shou has watched over Shi Chouka since her childhood, fascinated by her resilience and determination. Though usually distant, he has protected her on multiple occasions and even comforted her in times of distress. He finds himself conflicted by her genuine affection towards him, as no one in over 1,000 years has ever displayed such kindness toward him.

His decision to return to the imperial court despite his vow to avoid human affairs for a century—was triggered by Chouka’s decision to ascend the throne. This action strongly implies that he considers her a worthy ruler, just as he did with Sou Gen and Senka.

However, his relationship with Ran Shijaku is the complete opposite. Shijaku’s persistent arrogance and jealousy toward Shi Shou’s bond with Chouka irritates him. Unlike his usual aloof demeanor, Shi Shou openly expresses contempt for Shijaku, often desiring to punch him in human form rather than merely pecking him on the head while disguised as a crow.

Kou Shouka
Shi Shou finds Kou Shouka intriguing, though their interactions often result in heated feuds due to their equally foul tempers. Despite their frequent clashes, Shi Shou has assisted Shouka on multiple occasions, indicating a level of mutual respect hidden beneath their verbal skirmishes.

Shi Ryuuki
During his tenure as Grand Advisor, Shi Shou enjoyed teasing and frustrating Ryuuki, often feeding him falsehoods just to provoke him—especially knowing that Ryuuki was merely a puppet under Ou Ki’s control.

However, after Ou Ki’s downfall, Shi Shou took a different approach, erasing his existence from everyone’s memories before disappearing. When he reappeared years later, his dynamic with Ryuuki had shifted he now spoke to him harshly, mirroring the way Ryuuki once spoke to him.

Kou Shuurei
Unlike his usual disdain for humans, Shi Shou never harbored hatred toward Shuurei. In fact, he showed a degree of care for her, which was rare for him. In his human form, he was often seen enjoying her handmade steamed buns, an action that subtly indicated his appreciation.

One of the few moments where he revealed genuine concern was when Shuurei collapsed from exhaustion, Shi Shou appeared at her home in his true Immortal form, visibly worried about her well-being.

The last time he was seen in the human world was at Shuurei’s funeral. He silently observed the ceremony in the form of a crow, watching over her one last time before leaving. However, he later returned years later to observe Chouka, continuing to watch over the next generation.