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

Chen Mu stayed home an entire three days to recuperate. It was also his first time to cut a class at Eastern Wei Academy. The injury to his back was a small matter – the big problem was still his perception. It wasn't until the third evening that he felt some stirring with his perception. That both thrilled him and filled him with concern.

He still hadn't found out that there were wanted posters pasted in every corner of the city, on which a picture of his former self was conspicuous. In the declaration, he had been successfully transformed into an impoverished evil insanely murderous criminal, with four lives on his hands, who would kill women and children.

There hadn't been that sort of big news event for a long time in Eastern Shang-Wei City. Everyone felt insecure, such that parents wouldn't dare let their children go out by themselves.

At the top was posted a large bounty to get the attention of numerous card artisans.

Poverty is Just a Word