A sharp, medicinal scent lingered in the air. The warmth of the afternoon sun filtered through the wooden slats of the modest clinic, casting thin lines of golden light onto the aged floorboards. Mo Bei stirred, his fingers instinctively reaching for his glasses, only to grasp at nothing. A sharp pain shot through his skull, and his mind swam with confusion.

He wasn't in his hospital.

The last thing he remembered was the emergency room, the beeping monitors, and the hushed urgency of nurses scrambling to assist him. A reckless driver had caused a massive pile-up, flooding the ER with critical patients. He had worked for thirty-six hours straight, pushing his body to the limit, his mind honed to a razor's edge as he performed surgery after surgery. Then, there was pain—a heavy, crushing weight against his chest—and darkness.

And now, he was here.

Mo Bei sat up slowly, his body oddly light yet sore, as though he had been bedridden for weeks. He examined his hands—no longer the strong, steady hands of a seasoned surgeon but slightly calloused, slender fingers that belonged to someone else. His breath quickened as he touched his face, realizing his features were unfamiliar.

Before panic could set in, a soft chime echoed in his mind.

[Doctor System Activated]

His vision blurred momentarily before a translucent blue screen materialized before him.

[Welcome, Host. You have been granted a second life.] [Status: Reincarnated as Mo Bei, a village doctor.]

[Beginner Reward: Body Enhancement Pill (+4 to all stats, including Luck)]

Mo Bei exhaled sharply, gripping the side of the wooden cot he was resting on. His rational mind told him that this was absurd. But the logical part of him also knew that what he was experiencing defied all medical explanations. His heart pounded in his chest—not from fear, but from the slow realization that he had been given another chance. A new life.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Adapt. Assess. Execute. It was the same process he had followed in every high-stakes surgery.

His mind flickered back to the system message. A second life. A village doctor. He glanced around the room—simple wooden shelves stocked with jars filled with dried herbs, a mortar and pestle on a nearby table, and a faintly pungent aroma of medicinal paste hanging in the air.

Then, there was the pill.

A small, porcelain dish sat on the bedside table, holding a single, unassuming white pill. He picked it up, rolling it between his fingers before popping it into his mouth.

A rush of warmth spread through his body. His muscles loosened, his breathing steadied, and his mind felt sharper than before. The dull ache in his bones dissipated as though he had just woken from the most restful sleep of his life.

[All Stats Increased by +4]

A knock at the clinic door startled him. He barely had time to collect himself before it creaked open, revealing a young girl, no older than twelve. Her thin frame was wrapped in a faded cotton robe, her dark eyes large and filled with hesitation.

"Doctor Mo, my little brother… He's burning up," she said, voice wavering. "Please, help."

Instinct kicked in. Mo Bei stood up, noting the slight dizziness that followed as his body adjusted. He grabbed a small satchel from the nearby table and followed the girl outside.

The village was modest, nestled in a valley surrounded by rolling green hills. Clay houses lined the dirt paths, their thatched roofs swaying gently with the breeze. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and fresh herbs drying in the sun.

The girl led him to a modest home where a small boy lay on a straw mat, his tiny frame trembling under a thin blanket. His face was flushed red, sweat beading on his forehead as he whimpered softly in discomfort. A woman knelt beside him, her hands wringing the damp cloth she had been using to cool his fever.

Mo Bei knelt beside the boy, placing a hand on his forehead. Burning. Rapid breathing. Dry lips. Fever-induced dehydration. He had seen it a thousand times before.

[Disease Identified: Common Cold - Mild Fever Variant] [Difficulty Level: Low] [Suggested Treatment: Herbal Decoction (Mulberry Leaf, Licorice Root, Honeysuckle)]

A second window popped up.

[First Cure Bonus: Herbal Tool Set Unlocked]

A weight materialized in his satchel, and Mo Bei reached in, pulling out a polished wooden case. Inside were neatly arranged medical tools—scalpels, tweezers, a set of silver acupuncture needles, and a small, fine-mesh sieve for filtering herbal mixtures.

The villagers murmured in awe at the sight of the pristine tools, but Mo Bei ignored them, focused entirely on the task at hand. He turned to the mother.

"Bring me a pot of clean water," he instructed gently but firmly. "And some dried mulberry leaves and licorice root if you have them."

The woman hesitated for only a moment before hurrying outside. Mo Bei took the opportunity to open his system inventory, a silent thought pulling up the interface.

[Inventory] [1. Herbal Tool Set]

[2. 2000 Yen]

[3. Training Card (Locked)]

As soon as the herbs arrived, he set to work. He ground the dried leaves into a fine powder before adding them to the pot of boiling water. The scent of medicinal tea filled the room as the liquid darkened.

Once cooled, he carefully lifted the boy's head and helped him drink. It would take time, but the fever would break.

[Patient Treated: Recovery Expected in 6 Hours] [Loot Obtained: Basic Diagnosis Skill]

A new notification popped up right after.

[Beginner Reward Unlocked: 2000 Yen and Intermediate Herbology Knowledge]

The screen faded as quickly as it had appeared, but Mo Bei barely paid it any mind. The tension in his shoulders eased as the boy's breathing slowed, his small body finally relaxing as sleep claimed him.

Mo Bei turned to the mother. "He'll be fine. Let him rest, keep him hydrated, and the fever will be gone by morning."

Tears welled in the woman's eyes as she bowed deeply. "Thank you, Doctor Mo… Thank you."

Mo Bei exhaled, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction. This was different from his past life. There were no sterile hospital lights, no endless bureaucratic paperwork—just a sick child, a worried mother, and the simple act of healing.

He had been given a second chance. And this time, he wouldn't waste it.

[New Mission: Cure 10 Patients to Unlock Training Card]

Mo Bei smiled faintly.

A doctor's work was never done.