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

"Didn't Uncle Oscar pick up those cloud-bird eyeballs last time? It's said that those eyeballs turn into crystals after it dies, and then turn into gems. Really curious! If I remember correctly, Uncle Bullet seems to have some anaconda jelly, which is really something special." Li Duhong said laughing.

Oscar and Bullet looked at each other, both a little helplessly. They hadn't thought that Li Duhong might know everything about them so well. It looked like the little devil had memorized what they had.

"OK." The two answered at the same time, since they knew that they might as well gamble if Li Duhong had memorized that, since otherwise there would be more trouble later on. The little guy was so good at blackmail that no one in the village could fight it. Bullet patted Alfonso on his shoulder, "Alfonso, don't drop the ball!"

Alfonso stared him down and said grimly, "Is that the kind of person I am?"

The Bet