The upcoming period romance “Generation to Generation” (江湖夜雨十年灯) is officially locked for a February 22 premiere, with streaming confirmed on Tencent Video and WeTV. The announcement arrived alongside a newly released trailer and character posters, drawing renewed attention to what’s shaping up to be one of 2026’s most anticipated martial arts romance dramas.
Produced by Tencent Video and Xinguang Pictures, the series adapts the novel “Ten Years Lantern on a Stormy Martial Arts World Night” by Guan Xin Ze Luan—a writer recognized for hit adaptations such as The Story of Minglan and Love Like the Galaxy. Executive direction is handled by Lu Hao Ji ji, with Guo Feng directing and Shao Si han penning the screenplay.
Zhou Yiran and Bao Shang En Lead an Enemies-to-Lovers Arc
Front and center are Zhou Yiran as Mu Qingyan and Bao Shang En as Cai Zhao—two rising Post-00s actors making their first collaboration. Their casting has already generated discussion online, largely due to their contrasting character setups and noticeable “On-screen chemistry.”
Mu Qingyan is introduced as a decisive yet “black-bellied” dual-faced young lord. He carries the weight of being the heir to the “Demon Sect.” Cai Zhao, by contrast, is portrayed as free-spirited and “Buddhist-style,” coming from a righteous orthodox sect. That ideological divide fuels the drama’s central conflict.
The trailer outlines a relationship that begins in opposition. Mu Qingyan goes undercover inside the Qingque Sect, where he encounters Cai Zhao. Amid sword fights and life-or-death confrontations, their connection slowly forms. A long-buried martial arts vendetta surfaces as the story unfolds—decades old, unresolved, and dangerous.
Their identities create what seems like an unbridgeable gap. Still, Cai Zhao’s vow of “Even when surround on all sides, i don’t care.” and Mu Qingyan’s promise that “I told you, i’d protect you. i won’t ever let you face it alone.” position their relationship as more than forbidden romance. It becomes, in effect, a joint challenge to the established order of the Jianghu.
A Multi-Generational Cast Strengthens the Martial Arts World-Building
Beyond its central pairing, the drama assembles a wide-ranging ensemble to depict layered factional struggles and inherited grievances within the martial arts community.
Younger cast members—Yu Jiacheng, Fan Jingyi, Bian Tianyang, Duan Yu, and Yan Yuchen—contribute to the portrayal of ambitious, fearless youth navigating shifting alliances. At the same time, veteran performers including Yuan Wenkang, Li Yuan, Lu Shan, Jing Chao, Sheng Yilun, Wan Peng, and Li Yunrui take on roles tied to power structures and entrenched rivalries. Their presence adds weight to the broader narrative, and that’s been emphasized in early promotional materials.
Established Creative Team Behind the Scenes
Industry observers have also noted the production team’s track record. Guan Xin Ze Luan, as the original author, has prior successful television adaptations. Lu Hao Ji ji is known for distinctive visual aesthetics (including work on The Double), while Shao Si han has built a reputation for managing intricate emotional arcs within expansive settings, such as in Swords of Legends.
With this lineup—both on screen and behind the camera—the series is positioned to compete strongly within the 2026 Chinese period drama and wuxia romance market.
Premiere Details and Streaming Information
“Generation to Generation” will debut February 22 (platform release, China) via Tencent Video and WeTV. The series blends historical romance, martial arts action, undercover intrigue, and factional conflict—key search drivers for viewers tracking upcoming Chinese wuxia dramas in 2026.
How Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao confront sect politics, generational grudges, and their own divided allegiances remains central to the story. For now, audiences won’t have to wait long. The countdown has, officially, begun.
