Fang Xiang

This is both a work of science fiction and an exploration of the meaning of life, love, literature and art. Brainpower is no longer the main ingredient for being human in this far distant future world.  Spirituality, physical balance, and diligence all come together as integrity for Chen Mu, the Card Apprentice.  The cards which Chen Mu masters in his own scrappy way, distill all the powers of the cosmos –  human and nonhuman –  into something that is not a book, not technology, and neither art nor magic, but is these and more.  Learn about these strange cards, which can embody everything you might imagine for the future of technology, but also a future beyond technology which promotes the best, and sometimes the worst, from mankind’s past.

The Card Apprentice

The thought of making such a high-level card just for an exercise routine was so absurd that Chen Mu wanted to slap his own mouth.

Chen Mu again remembered his own speculation when he had completed those actions himself and the figures darkened. Could that be the first step?

Right! The first step! That's what the old voice said at the time, "The first step is to please complete the eighteen actions!" It looked as though there might be some other new mystery behind it.

He had been scared by the card himself. He had to travel around such a huge bend to become clear about such a simple problem. Chen Mu mocked himself for having only just then cleared up the logic of its thinking.

Copper