Let's Fight or Lai Zhan -- Upcoming Chinese Drama

Let's Fight or Lai Zhan

At the dawn of the world, humans cultivated immortality, demons took human form, but the Penglai clan could only grow stronger by stealing others' power. Feared and sealed away, they caused chaos.

A young beggar, A Dai, becomes the disciple of the carefree immortal Xiao Yi Han. While he's lazy, she is hardworking and rises to fame by taming a divine hammer. Just as their bond grows, Xiao Yi Han betrays the sect to save his brother trapped in Penglai. Feeling betrayed, A Dai sets out to stop him.

Through many trials in Penglai, the two begin to understand each other and the misunderstood Penglai people.

(Source: MyDramaList)

~~ Adapted from the short story "Shi Fu Lai Zhan" (师父来战) of the novel "Shi Fu Xin Sai" (师父心塞) by Jiu Lu Fei Xiang (九鹭非香).

Let's Fight (来战): The Xianxia Drama That You Must Add To Your Upcoming Watch List

Xianxia dramas follow a pretty predictable formula at this point — cold immortal master, crying disciple, misunderstanding, separation, reunion. You know the drill. So when Let's Fight started making noise on Weibo, I was skeptical. Then I saw the casting: Ju Jingyi and Zhang Yunlong. Okay. Now I'm paying attention.

The setup alone is different. Ju Jingyi plays Ah Dai — an orphan from the sealed Penglai clan who fights like her life depends on it (because it does) and trains before sunrise while everyone else sleeps. No delicate flower energy here. She wields a hammer. She's scrappy, stubborn, and genuinely funny. Watching Jingyi step out of her usual "sweet girl" comfort zone is honestly half the reason to watch this.

Zhang Yunlong plays her master, Xiao Yihan — and he's basically the opposite of every stern xianxia shifu you've seen before. This man would rather nap than teach. He snacks during training. He's that friend who somehow aces every exam without trying. Except underneath all that casual energy, there's something deeper going on. That tension between his lazy surface and what he's actually capable of is what makes him interesting.

Their dynamic — fans have called it "对抗路师徒" (rival-road master and disciple) — is essentially two people who won't stop butting heads because they respect each other too much to stop caring. The banter is sharp, the pranks are ridiculous, and then suddenly you're watching a scene that hits completely different.

The story takes a darker turn when Xiao Yihan tries to break the Penglai seal to save his brother — and Ah Dai, loyal to her clan, has to hunt him down. That falling-out between them is supposed to be the emotional gut punch of the series. Based on the promo content, it lands.

Production-wise, this one isn't cutting corners. Thirty-four separate costumes for Ju Jingyi, drawing from Dunhuang art styles. Zhang Yunlong in a white-haired immortal look that has already broken the internet twice. Action sequences built on Peking Opera martial arts foundations. Over 800,000 VFX shots. The director is Zhao Yilong, who did Yongye Xinghe, so expectations are high and apparently justified.

Pre-registration numbers crossed 5.1 million across iQIYI and Tencent before the show even dropped a full trailer. That's not hype built on nothing.

Why This Drama Stands Out

1. Role Reversal That Works

Ju Jingyi breaks away from her usual “sweet girl” image, playing a hardworking, hammer-wielding warrior who trains before dawn and refuses to back down. Zhang Yunlong, on the other hand, delivers a refreshing take on the xianxia master—charmingly lazy on the surface, but deeply principled and emotionally complex underneath.

2. The Chemistry

The dynamic between Ah Dai and Xiao Yihan has been dubbed “对抗路师徒” (rival-road master and disciple). They bicker, prank, and challenge each other constantly—but beneath the banter lies mutual respect and growing affection. Fans have described their interactions as “暗争明爽” (secret competition, open joy), a perfect blend of tension and tenderness.

3. Top-Tier Production

Directed by Zhao Yilong (Yongye Xinghe) and produced by Hengxing Yinli (Cang Lan Jue), the drama boasts:

34 elaborate costumes for Ju Jingyi, blending Dunhuang aesthetics with fantasy elements Zhang Yunlong’s striking white-haired immortal look Action choreography infused with Peking Opera martial arts Over 800,000 VFX shots bringing mythical realms and epic battles to life

The second cooperation

Their first collaboration was in the 2019 mythological drama “The Legend of White Snake”, where Ju Jingyi played Bai Suzhen and Xiao Yan played Xiao Qing, forming a popular on-screen sisterhood known as "Qingbai. Their reunion in “Lai Zhan” has been widely discussed by fans and media as a “second collaboration” (二搭), marking a reunion of the two actresses approximately seven years after their first project together. Reports indicate that the two maintain a close off-screen friendship, with Xiao Yan having publicly supported Ju Jingyi during difficult times in the past.

Veil of Shadows (2026):

If you watched Veil of Shadows and fell for Ju Jingyi's performance there, Let's Fight (来战) needs to go on your watchlist immediately. The chemistry between her and Tian Jiarui, Chen Duling, Joseph Zeng — that whole ensemble energy — translated into something genuinely watchable, and Jingyi carried a lot of it.

Now imagine her in a role that actually lets her fight back. Let's Fight gives her exactly that. Ah Dai isn't waiting to be saved. She trains before sunrise, swings a hammer, and refuses to lose. It's the kind of character shift that makes you realize how much range she's been holding back.

Don't sleep on this one.