I love sharing the routes that actually respect the creators. First thing I do is treat it like any other Chinese
web novel/manhua hunt: look for official publisher listings and storefronts. Many English translations of Chinese works appear on platforms like
webnovel (which hosts a ton of licensed web novels), Qidian International (the original publisher’s global branch), and occasionally WuxiaWorld if a team has secured rights. For the manhua/comic version you might find official releases on apps and sites such as Bilibili Comics or Tencent’s manhua platform if they’ve licensed an English partner — these platforms sometimes offer paid chapters or subscription models and show clear publisher info. If a title has been picked up for print or ebook distribution, places like Amazon Kindle, BookWalker, or mainstream retailers will list the official volumes. I always check the author’s or original publisher’s social accounts to confirm what’s official before I pay for anything; that saves me from accidentally supporting a scanlation instead of a licensed release.
When the exact title is tricky to track down, MangaUpdates (or similar databases) is my go-to detective tool: it aggregates licensing info and lists English publishers if they exist. Libraries are another underappreciated option — use Libby/OverDrive to search for licensed ebooks or digital comics; sometimes publishers put official volumes in library catalogs. If you care about supporting the creators (and I do), buying digital chapters through the official app, subscribing to the publisher, or buying print volumes helps the artist and translator get paid. I try to avoid sketchy scanlation sites: they might be quick, but they cut into creators’ pay and often disappear or carry low-quality scans.
Finally, if you can’t find an English legal release yet, bookmark the publisher’s page and follow the creator — licenses sometimes take time and announcements drop on social media or publisher news sections. Personally, I love spotting when a
beloved novel gets a proper release because then I can re-read it in high quality and actually support the people who made it. Happy hunting, and I hope you find a cozy, legal place to read 'Sword Snow Stride' soon — it makes the story taste sweeter when it’s aboveboard.