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

The second young master, Tai-shu Shen, had a thin-looking face and eyes that were slightly sunken in, which was unsettling. His eyes were keen and sharp, though. Beside him stood a man who looked like a tower. Chen Mu guessed it was Ba Luojia, whose body was huge and strong. His eyes seemed to always be half-shut, and he was wearing simple clothes with his feet bare. No wonder someone would guess he had come from the Bitter Solitude Temple.

The Bitter Solitude Temple was known for its harshness when it came to card artisan training. They trained really hard in secret and favored clothes that weren't flashy. Among the Big Six, they were the most low-profile and secretive group.

Ba Luojia opened his eyes abruptly and stared at Chen Mu. The white mask on Chen Mu's face stood out among the group of people. Tai-shu Shen snorted coldly. "Such arrogance from third brother's White Commander. We are not at a masquerade ball, so is there really a need to hide your appearance?"

The News