LADS Translation Project

CN to EN Fan Translation Project Team Account

Translation & educational content about Chinese mythology & culture in Love and Deepspace!

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

LADS Translation Project now has a website!

Read annotated translations for Love and Deepspace along with cultural essays!

We just released Sea of Golden Sand! Next in queue is Snowfall's Embrace and When Shooting Stars Fall.

Check it out: https://t.co/bAFgpaWbod

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

@aabutler07 If you check our site, under the resources section, you can read the entirety of the Songs of Chu!

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

Did you know that Zayne is actually Si Ming of the Jiuli?

Zayne’s family name 黎 “Li” also comes from the second character in “Jiuli” (九黎）

According to the CN version of the game, the final line of the Master of Fate myth poem is, "He is called Si Ming of the Jiuli."

The Jiuli Tribe (also known as the Nine Jiuli) was historically an ancient tribe that is mythically associated with the deity Chiyou, which predates Daoism.

In the myth, Chiyou battles the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), the mythical legendary ruler of ancient China and considered the primordial ancestor of the Han Chinese. The Yellow Emperor is credited for instilling the imperial system of governance that abolished tribal and shamanic rule, with the power to commune with Heaven. Most importantly, the Yellow Emperor is said to have the Mandate of Heaven, the concept that legitimized imperial rule.

Based on the fact that Zayne is a 神仙 shenxian (Divine Immortal), it's possible to theorize that Zayne may have originally started out as a mortal cultivator from the Jiuli Tribe who cultivated his spiritual energy, transcended into an Immortal (仙 xian), and then continued cultivating until he was granted the mantle of 司命 Si Ming—a Celestial Bureaucrat who oversees fate. As Si Ming, he would be a mid-level god within the Celestial Bureaucracy.

In Chinese mythology, Si Ming is a mid-level god and the Controller of Fate, responsible for recording births, adjusting lifespans based on virtue and merit, and deciding the shifts of fate. In pre-Daoist mythology circa the Nine Songs (340-278 BCE), Si Ming also controls the balance of yin and yang. Within the Daoist Celestial Bureaucracy, he is connected to the Southern Dipper Six Stars, with his star, 司命星 si ming xing, or Si Ming Star, being the Southern Pole Star. This constellation governs birth, lifespans, and fate.

Within Daoist cosmology of the Nine Heavens, Si Ming resides in Stellar Heavens, which can be found in levels 4-6, also known as the Middle Three Heavens (中三天 zhong san tian). In other Daoist texts such as 《真诰》Zhen Gao these levels are 上青天 Shangqing Tian, which translates to “Upper Purity Heaven” and houses Heavenly Star Officials, thunder gods, and Northern and Southern Dipper Star Lords (Si Ming is one of them!)

In the Nine Songs from Songs of Chu, which Snow’s Embrace draws heavy influence from, there is a 大司命 Da Siming, or Greater/Big Si Ming, and also a 少司命 Shao Siming, or Lesser/Young Si Ming. In the poems, both Si Ming are gods of fate and lifespans, and both have a romance with a mortal human.

For more cultural context, read the annotated retranslation of Snow's Embrace here: https://t.co/GXhF3xIQxW

#zayne #ladstwt #loveanddeepspace

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

Of course it is not wrong for anyone to have their own opinion about MC, however, this gives her more of a benefit of a doubt.

As to why she would fail to understand that Xavier asking her to leave is romantic: here, she is the ruler, he is her knight. It is his duty to protect her. In Shooting Stars, he is the senior martial brother, she is the junior martial sister. It is also his duty to protect her.

Based on this, she could just as easily confuse his romantic intentions with his duty as senior martial brother or his duty as a knight. Both of these duties are grounded in Confucian virtues, with the first being 孝 xiaò filial (martial), and the second being 忠 zhōng, loyalty, which reflects the Confucian teaching of 忠君 zhōng jūn which means “loyalty to the ruler.”

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

Translation Note

We noticed a big translation difference in Chapter 3 of Xavier’s myth event!

In Chinese, Xavier does not use the word “elope.”

首席骑士： 如果我说， 我想带你走呢？这是不是也是个放肆的要求？

Head Cavalier Knight: What if I said, I want to take you away? Is this also a presumptuous request?

Notably, he also does not say “elope” in Shooting Stars. Instead, he says “escape.”

The word “elope” in Chinese is 私奔 sī bēn, and it is always the term that is used for “elope” or “elopement.”

Disclaimer: The following is literary analysis based on the Chinese content:

The reason why MC never understood his intent and continued to not understand Xavier’s feelings is because in Chinese, he never once asked her to elope, but to escape/leave together. While the idea of running away together is very romantic, without the word “elope” being spelled out for her, MC could just as easily completely misunderstand Xavier’s true intentions and feelings, especially as he used the word “escape” in the Lightseeker myth.

After all, up until the end, she still thought Xavier was hung up on someone else who isn’t her—the person who gave him the star tassel.

So, for those of you who have always been confused as to why MC never understood Xavier’s true feelings, it isn’t because MC is stupid or blind to his feelings; rather, it’s simply because he never once asked her to elope in the original Chinese version of the game.

Read the annotated retranslation of Shooting Stars here: https://t.co/VErZ3NCoMd

#xavierspoiler

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

@Tomochiichan We were surprised to see that they once again went with “elope,” but perhaps they just wanted to maintain continuity despite it being a mistranslation.

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

@neuvihwa Because this is a voiced line, the likelihood of this getting fixed is most likely very low. 🥺 But, we are here to shed light on any translation differences to help you better understand the game. 🫶

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

@luminaxav Yes, exactly! You hit the nail on the head.

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

@xavieleb 🥹🥹🥹🫶🫶🫶

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

@arorossy Yes, that’s exactly why MC is completely clueless! It’s because he never actually asks her to elope with him in the first place… and here he just asks to take her away, so for MC, she could easily misunderstand.

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

Interestingly, “morning star” has approximately zero to do with Lucifer in Chinese culture and mythology, as Christianity did not enter China until the 1800s and has always been very strictly regulated, so it never had a chance to enter the larger cultural Chinese consciousness.

Similarly, angels are not a thing in Chinese culture, though there are divine winged beings represented in 山海经 (Shan Hai Jing) called 羽人 （feather people.) They are not messengers of the divine but instead are their own divine beings, who are immortal. In some depictions, they are part dragon, part humanoid.

Flying Immortals emerged in early Daoist thought during the Han dynasty (206BC-220CE), though instead of flying with wings, they ride clouds, the wind, swords, and mythical cranes.

It’s so fascinating to see how different cultures have developed over time. ☺️

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

A small translation note on the title you can get for ranking King Xavier’s myth cards to R3.

In Chinese, the title is 辰星女王 chén xīng nv wáng

辰星 chén xīng technically means “Mercury”, but if we break down the characters:

辰 chén - Stars and constellations; 5th of the 12 Earthly Branches in ancient Chinese cosmology associated with the dragon

星 xīng - Star

The title is “Queen of the Stars and Constellations” if we go character by character.

If we go by homophone wordplay, 辰 and 晨 have the same exact pronunciation, with the latter meaning “morning” or “dawn.”

Considering that QueenMC’s era is the 黎明 (lí míng) Dawn Era (or Morn Era in EN), this title can also be interpreted or translated as “Queen of the Morning Star.”

#xavierspoiler

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

@ivioivioivi Maybe the usage of 黎明 (dawn) here is to contrast 永夜 (eternal night) and it’s more of a literary motif. It’s unlikely that PG is doing “all MLs are the same soul.”

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

@qiiiaozh Oooh! That’s super interesting. Thanks for sharing!!!

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

Good luck to everyone who is pulling!

If we write about the myth, we will post under #xavierspoiler, to make it easy to mute.

For anyone who is still waiting for a response in DMs, we will get back to you soon. Thanks for your patience.

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

Idiom Spotlight

打草惊蛇 (dǎ cǎo jīng shé)

Literal meaning: strike grass and startle the snake.

What it actually means: startling the grass and notifying the enemy, allowing them to prepare.

Used in Sea of Golden Sand, when Rafayel explains why he hasn’t taken action to Amund in Ch. 2.

#learnchinese #idiom

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

Shen Xinghui, Dark Corrosion King
Xavier, King of Darknight

Bold strokes for a bold king.

——

This style of calligraphy is called running script, which is the style that Xavier uses himself!

Running script is one of the major styles of Chinese calligraphy, and originates from the late Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 BE) as an evolution from clerical script.

It is best known for flowing continuous strokes that are connected, and combines legibility with aesthetic form.

It was (and still is) believed that training your calligraphy trains your spirit and character, and that you can see a person’s virtue, strength, and personality in their calligraphy.

#xavier #chinesecalligraphy #loveanddeepspace

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

We’re here to support you if you are interested in learning Chinese! If you have questions, feel free to ask or DM.

Chinese can seem very daunting when you don’t know anything about it, but with the right tools and enough dedication, you can definitely learn it! Just take it one step at a time.

You can do it! 💪

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

@woon1572047 抱歉，这是一个乙女游戏饭圈，不是一个寻找语言交流伙伴场地。如果你想联系英文，建议你最好不要在和你无关的游戏饭圈里找。 也许小红书对你来说比较妥当。

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

Did you know that it's possible to analyze MC and every LADS LI with Chinese archetypes from Classical Chinese Literature and genre literature?

Let's start with Linkon Xavier, since his myth is coming!

✨ Linkon Xavier's Chinese Archetype is the Knight-Errant 游侠 (yóuxiá) ✨

*Linkon Xavier = Everything we presently know about Xavier.

(Disclaimer: this is just literary analysis based on Chinese character archetypes!)

The Knight-Errant is an archetype found in the wuxia genre in Chinese Literature.

Wuxia is a martial arts historical romance fiction genre that is philosophically Confucian (with sprinkles of Daoism and Buddhism), featuring a chivalric, heroic swordsman.

Wuxia stories take place in the human world—specifically “the martial world” or jianghu (江湖), which literally translates to “river and lakes.” The martial world exists parallel to and outside of “official” society. Wuxia heroes are often known to “wander the martial world” 行走江湖 (xingzou jianghu), where they wander the world and fight for justice while carrying a sword.

Like all Wuxia heroes who typically train under a martial arts master or within a martial sect, in Shooting Stars, Xavier trains under the Grandis Knight's sect alongside MC—they are both martial disciples to the same grandmaster and refer to each other as "senior brother" and "junior sister."

Universal Wuxia Heroic Traits:

⭐️ Altruistic - Genuinely seeks to help others solve difficulties and resolve disputes without expecting anything in return

⭐️ Righteousness - Even at the cost of their lives, wuxia heroes will always choose righteousness above any personal or external interests

⭐️ Idealistic Moral Code - Adheres to chivalric principles even if it leads to them paying a significant price

⭐️ Utopic Counter-Society - Creates utopian counter-society built upon relationships forged through shared gallantry (See Uluru for reference)

⭐️ Marginalized but Noble - Exists outside corrupt official society but maintains high moral standards, epitomizing the concept of “noble hero” despite being marginalized

In addition to the above universal wuxia traits, wuxia archetypes also have defining traits and characteristics.
The Knight-Errant is a wandering hero who:

💫 Travels alone, following their own personal moral code over institutional loyalty.
💫 Protects the innocent
💫 Values personal freedom as the highest virtue
💫 Rejects social conventions

The knight-errant typically embodies Confucian virtues: benevolence (仁 rén), justice (义 yì), loyalty (忠 zhōng), courage (勇 yǒng), truthfulness (信 xìn), disregard for wealth, desire for a righteous/moral reputation, and individualism.

What makes Xavier a Knight-Errant?

Once Xavier discovers the horrible truth about Philos in Shooting Stars, he condemns the cruelty and the injustice, and chooses to follow his own personal moral code and save MC, instead of upholding his duty as the Crown Prince of Philos. He departs on Operation Traceback to return to the past, where he spends the next two hundred years as a solitary hero, who asks for nothing in return, as he fights to protect the innocent from Wanderers in his quest to uphold his own personal brand of justice for MC.

All of the above makes him quintessentially a knight-errant when we analyze him from the perspective of Chinese literary archetypes!

Additionally, in When Shooting Stars Fall (Anecdote 3), Xavier is literally described as "世外高人 shì waì gāo rén", which refers to a reclusive master or expert with profound cultivation powers and knowledge who, like many wuxia heroes, lives and operates outside of society and is unconcerned with the trivialities of the mortal world.

This is an idiomatic term originates from and is overwhelmingly used in wuxia, though it does sometimes appear in xianxia, and xuanhuan, as well as historical dramas and Buddhist or Daoist-influenced poetry and literature. It does not usually appear in modern or sci-fi settings, which makes its appearance here particularly interesting!

Let's count the ways Xavier fits the knight-errant wuxia hero archetype:

✅ Altruistic - Xavier genuinely seeks to help others without expecting anything in return. Whether it's a little kid who's lost or a Wanderer that needs to be killed, Xavier is altruistic to a fault. He’s paid for damages for the city subway, willinging gives to good causes, all under “Anonymous.”

✅ Righteousness - Even at the potential cost of his life, Xavier always chooses righteousness above external interests, such as his duties to the Philosian Crown. His sense of righteousness propels him over filial duty into rejecting his father’s philosophy and choosing not to walk the same path.

✅ Idealistic Moral Code - Xavier pays a huge price, willing to sacrifice everything to uphold his chivalric principles of saving MC and restoring justice to her. His moral code is so strong that he even kills ex-Traceback members who are turning into Wanderers. (“No one should go near her, not even me.”) He also sacrifices his identity in Anecdote 2 and fakes his death in order to ensure that he can carry out a dangerous operation by himself and protect his team from potential harm.

✅ Utopic Counter-Society - Both MC and Xavier dream of a utopia on Uluru in Shooting Stars, and in Linkon, MC dreams of “a world with no Wanderers” with Xavier as the perfect ideal. Xavier also seems hellbent on finding a solution to saving Philos that doesn’t come at the cost of MC’s life force, including promising Jeremiah that they’ll get to go home, despite it being 200 years.

✅ Marginalized but Noble - Xavier's not really part of "official society", he always stands aloof and apart from it, yet remains a noble hero.

✅ Travels (mostly) alone. While he does have a whole team on Operation Traceback, he operates in a very solitary manner apart from them.

✅ Follows own personal moral code over institutional loyalty. Quite literally is willing to give up his crown and even an entire planet in the name of justice and morality. Instead of upholding his duty as Crown Prince, he instead upholds his morality over loyalty to an unjust throne.

✅ Protects the innocent, which includes MC.

✅ Values personal freedom as the highest virtue

✅ Rejects social conventions. Anecdote 1 seems to show that he doesn’t care what others think about him or how his actions may affect people not related to MC. Instead of going out of his way to show off and be a good role model, he refuses to do what the kid wants him to do simply because it’s expected of him. Xavier does not operate according to what society expects of him, but according to his own code of conduct.

What do you guys think? Does this sound like Xavier to you?

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Read the annotated retranslation of When Shooting Stars Fall (Anecdote) here: https://t.co/EOiO97jc6d

Read the annotated retranslation of Shooting Stars (Myth) here: https://t.co/VErZ3NBQWF

Read the annotated retranslation of Fallen Crown’s PV here: https://t.co/kNjmVbR45A

#xavier #loveanddeepspace #ladstwt

[LADS Translation Project @ladstranslation]

@YuzyNyaa We’re just here to help the community! Thanks so much for your kind words and support. ❤️

For these novels, a small tip, you can try to google them + 第一章 and sometimes you’ll be able to find free versions. Once you load it into Readibu or Pleco or LingQ, the ads disappear.