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

<p>Lin Yao had been rejected, and it was easy to imagine how angry she was. She had never seen such an ungrateful jerk as Qiao Yuan. She had thought that by coming personally, Qiao Yuan wouldn't be so likely to outright refuse. Then, as she went over things slowly, she realized she should have been able to accomplish the matter. She had the capital for such confidence. Given her appearance and temperament, along with her aristocratic identity, she had never been so directly refused like that.</p>

<p>Qiao Yuan's refusal had been so blunt that it left no room for ambiguity—not even a glimmer! She had always thought highly of herself, and she had wanted to demonstrate some ability in front of her elder classmate Zeng. Who would have thought her counterpart would have finally been so rude as to leave her no face? The affair far exceeded common sense with her taking such a firm shutting of the door.</p>

Viciousness