Revelations from among the ashes

In my last few days in this world, I think I may be the only one who still has the leisure to go through ancient books. The world out there has been messed up like an expired egg cake, with people tearing each other apart over a soon-to-expire can of instant noodles, and I, in the corner of this soon-to-be-collapsing library, am trying to find salvation in a moldy book.

Yes, you heard me right, I'm looking for redemption. In a time when there is no internet, no law, and even a decent breakfast is a luxury, I still believe in redemption. I know what you must be thinking right now, "Is this guy out of his mind?" But let's put my mental state aside for a moment, because I did find something.

The title of the book is blurry, but the content is amazingly clear - it's about a plant called tulip that not only cures all kinds of ailments, but even has the legendary ability to travel through time and space. Time travel sounds like something out of a science fiction novel, but against the backdrop of an apocalyptic world, even the most absurd hope is enough to make people look forward to it.

I stuffed the book into my worn out backpack and decided to give this last hope a chance. The world outside was still a mess, but there was a strange peace in my heart. I knew that I needed to find this legendary tulip next. According to the book, it grows in an ancient village with a name that has been lost to history, where there is one of the last unspoiled lands in the world.

Walking out of the library, I looked around at the crumbling streets, the burnt out cars, and the desperate faces wandering around looking for food. I suddenly wanted to laugh, not at the absurdity of it all, but at the inexplicable excitement of the absurd journey I was about to embark on.

I began to make my way to the forgotten village. On the way, I met all kinds of people, some of whom said "you're crazy" to me, while others were pointing behind my back. But I didn't care, because at the end of the world, who can guarantee that you are not crazy?

On my journey, I passed by deserted farmlands, dried up rivers, and the remains of those once prosperous cities. I kept reminding myself that tulip was just ahead, that salvation was just ahead. This simple, almost childish belief surprisingly gave me strength in this apocalyptic atmosphere, like lighting a faint lamp in the endless darkness.

Then, just when I was almost about to give up, I found the village. It was tucked away in a forgotten valley, surrounded by thick forests as if it were a small, isolated world. Everything in the village seemed unusually quiet, and the houses, though ancient, were quite well preserved. I walked down the paths of the village, my footsteps echoing in the silence, each step seeming to move forward in time.

I started looking for the tulip. According to the book, it should grow on the north side of the village, by a small lake surrounded by ancient myths. I walked through the village, meeting a few villagers along the way. They seemed curious about my presence, but showed no hostility. When I mentioned tulip, they exchanged glances, and then an old man stepped forward and told me that tulip's did exist, but that its power was not something that could just be exploited.

The old man took me to the small, legendary lake with its crystal clear water and surprisingly quiet surroundings. At the edge of the lake, I saw the tulip - it was like a beam of light that pierced through the gloom of this apocalyptic world.

But it was at this moment that I realized something: although the tulip holds power, the real salvation comes not from it, but from the heart. It was the calmness of this village, the wisdom in the eyes of the old men, the people who remained kind and hopeful in the midst of the doom.

I returned to the library and hid Tulip safely. The world outside was still in chaos, but a calmness came over me that I had never felt before. I began to write my story, not to make the tulip a target for people to fight over, but in the hope that those who were looking for light in the darkness would find a glimmer of hope in it.

Perhaps what we all need in this apocalyptic world is not some kind of supernatural power, but to rediscover that forgotten humanity - the respect for life, the love for others, and the courage not to give up even in despair.

So this is my story, a story of finding revelation amongst the ashes. In this story, the tulip is not the end, but a journey, a profound exploration of humanity. In this journey, I have found true redemption - and it is a redemption that exists for all.