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

Thirty seconds was quite sufficient for Chen Mu as long as he could find a way; sufficient, that is, for Chen Mu in the state of breath control!

Without any hesitation, he raised another tailless shuttle in his hand.

The strange whoosh of the tailless shuttle sounded again, somewhat startling the big bug whose body flinched back with exceptional agility.

Chen Mu had been examining its style of activity for the last two minutes. In that brief time, he had analyzed a large quantity of data. Chen Mu didn't understand the principles of breath control himself, but every time he entered the state he would always naturally employ frightening computational ability.

The probability of hitting the target was 55 percent!

With a poof, the tailless shuttle grazed the joint on one of the big bug's legs, leaving a finger-sized hole, and fell onto the ground.

Chen Mu’s Proposal