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 stopped what she had been doing and looked at Bo Wen surprised. She found it a little strange that Bo Wen would ask such a question. Bo Wen had always been very direct in his speech, and since he had asked it that way it must have implied some sort of issue. She also took a look at Chen Mu wondering to herself whether Chen Mu could have the hobby of gathering materials.

"I don't know how to collect materials." Chen Mu responded very plainly.

"Ha, a card master with an 'A' level of contribution points actually doesn't know how to collect materials!" Bo Wen was taken aback and suddenly started to laugh a little wildly and with a hint of ridicule.

A card master with an "A" level of contribution points? Cheng Ying's gaze went straight, suddenly thinking about that "A" level card master that Will had spoken of. Cheng Ying immediately said in a halting voice, "You . . . you're the card master who made the 'hundred blades' card for Will?"

Card Artisan? Not Me