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>For no reason, Chen Mu had a feeling that if he made a move to fight back, Ba Luojia would kill him without a second thought. He had no idea why the thought had crossed his mind; Ba Luojia was always taciturn, giving people a sense of kindness. But the thought was so strong that it felt real.</p>

<p>Chen Mu's mind was unexpectedly calm. He'd had such strong intuition before, and it had been strangely accurate each time. His body was pinned down by the vibration, and he looked as if he'd already lost his ability to resist. Fundamentally, Ba Luojia's sound wave had reached his body through the vibration of air, which had caused every cell in his body to be in a state of vibration. Thus, he had no control over his body.</p>

The First Trial