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

Ling Ling stopped what she had been doing with her hands, also rather curious about those somewhat strange masked men. Tai-shu Ying crooked her head to look at the four of them, really wanting to find out what their goal was.

Sang Hanshui's gaze fell onto Chen Mu since he had no standing there to speak. He also felt rather puzzled. No matter how he looked at him, Qiao Yuan didn't seem like someone who could easily reciprocate someone else's hosting. Wei-ah and Bu Mo didn't even raise their heads, the two of them having always had a strange outlook—that sort of question would always be turned over to Chen Mu.

So, everyone's gazes were once again focused on Chen Mu.

Chen Mu had been wondering how he might respond, but Tai-shu Cheng had asked so directly that he just answered with equal directness. "I came looking for the master of your honorable house, Tai-shu Yong, with some important business."

Tai-shu Cheng’s Proposal