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

Cheng Ying had a commission that day and she needed to leave the base. Women very seldom went out so late, but that wasn't any problem for someone like her who wasn't just any weak woman but was rather an outstanding card artisan. She had the strength to defend herself. So, she hadn't hesitated to take it when she saw the commission.

She had been training diligently during that time, and had already become rather well-known at the base, though she still wasn't satisfied. She hoped to become even stronger, to achieve her dreams which still seemed so far away.

She had joined the Ning family base entirely because of the excellent training facilities there. She had already confirmed her decision. And with so many aces at the base, like Mark Victor or Bo Wen – and by that time even Will couldn't be underestimated – every time she thought about it she cheered for herself. How could she be outdistanced by them?

The Best Breath Control