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

Kai was flying at high speed, and Machida and Lu Xiaoru were calmly flying behind him. There were also 40 card artisans flying along with them. This was basically the main strength of the Central Island Firm. It was clear how great the boss's resolve was from the mobilization. They were going all-in, and Kai was quite curious about what was worth the boss doing such a thing.

Kai had the blood of a Paminian with his prominent brow ridge and deep eyes. His eye lines were some kind of natural blue, which was characteristic of Paminians. It would commonly make them look rather seductive, but on Kai's face, they looked unusually cold.

The operation was the biggest since he'd entered the firm. As the hidden force, they had very few ordinary responsibilities; the previous job was half a year prior. That was the first time the three of them had worked together.

Prologue