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

"Gold-mottled liquid-soft fungus? Why are they interested in that?" Mobley found it strange.

Ah Zhe gave a handsome shrug. "Who knows? Maybe they feel like they've made a lot lately and wanted to buy something to make up for it! Ha ha!"

Mobley shook his head. "That couldn't be. It's not that you haven't seen that gang; they're not that short-sighted. Furthermore, they certainly know the value of the gold-mottled liquid-soft fungus, which can't even be bought with money."

Ah Zhe remained as aloof as ever. "What does that have to do with us? They only came to us for some information. Yikes! Isn't this a waste of the time we could use picking up girls?"

Not understanding Ah Zhe's annoyance, Mobley said after thinking it over, "Ask around. If we don't do a good job with the first thing they ask us to take care of, this ally of ours will have no way to relax. We need to put on a little display of our power."

Deep Layers of Serenity