The role An Ning was preparing to fight for was not the female lead.
It was the sect's Senior Sister.
In a xianxia story, the Senior Sister was never ornamental. She was the backbone of the sect, the senior disciple who carried both authority and responsibility. She was the one who guided juniors, steadied the reckless, and stood firm when the world tilted toward chaos. Calm in crisis. Disciplined. Unyielding.
A character who rarely cried, rarely faltered, and never needed saving.
To some actresses, it might have seemed like a supporting role. To An Ning, it was anything but.
The Senior Sister demanded presence rather than noise. Strength that did not shout. A performance built on restraint, control, and credibility. Every glance had to carry weight. Every line had to sound earned.
It was the kind of role that revealed an actor's foundation.
And it suited her.
