Mo Bei had been in many surreal situations before—emergency surgeries with little prep time, chaotic hospital wards overflowing with patients, and once, even a high-speed car accident on his way to work that forced him to perform roadside first aid. But nothing, nothing, could have prepared him for this.
[New Quest: Treat the Common Cold Goblin] [Reward: 10 EXP, Minor Herbalist Buff, Basic Mortar and Pestle, 200 Yen, +1 System Point]
Mo Bei rubbed his temples, trying to ignore the blue screen hovering in front of his face. It had been floating there ever since he successfully treated the little boy's fever. That wasn't even the strangest part. The real insanity began when he started seeing things.
The moment he diagnosed the boy, a grotesque little creature had appeared next to him—a tiny, green, snot-dripping goblin with puffy, red eyes. It was sitting on the boy's chest, kicking its stubby legs and sniffling noisily.
He had nearly jumped out of his skin.
Nobody else could see it. The girl, the mother, the villagers peering curiously through the doorway—they all just saw a doctor mixing medicine. Meanwhile, Mo Bei had been watching this disgusting little menace rub its snot-covered hands all over the poor child's face.
The goblin had groaned dramatically. "Ughhh, this one's a bad host. Too much sweating. Not enough suffering."
Mo Bei had stared. "...What."
"Give up, doc," the goblin had sneered. "Once I latch on, I ain't letting go."
He had debated smashing the thing with a clay pot, but it was clear no one else could see the creature. Instead, he settled for making the herbal decoction while mentally screaming. And when the boy drank the medicine and his fever broke, the goblin let out a long, exaggerated death cry before exploding into a cloud of mucus.
[System Rewards: 10 EXP, Minor Herbalist Buff, Basic Mortar and Pestle, 200 Yen, +1 System Point]
That was Mo Bei's introduction to the Doctor System's twisted sense of humor.
Present Time: The Next Morning
Mo Bei stood outside the clinic, gazing at the modest village with a thoughtful expression. The morning sun cast golden hues over the dirt paths and simple clay houses. Children ran past, giggling as they chased one another, while elderly villagers sipped herbal tea outside their homes.
For the first time since waking up in this world, Mo Bei took a deep breath and accepted it.
He had died back in his original world. There was no denying it. Whether it was fate, karma, or the result of an overworked doctor's final hallucination, he was here now. And if the system's notifications were anything to go by, he wasn't leaving anytime soon.
The smell of simmering herbs drifted from a nearby shop, catching his attention. A small apothecary, its wooden sign slightly askew, stood near the village square. An elderly man in faded robes was carefully arranging bundles of dried ginseng and wolfberry.
Mo Bei approached, his curiosity piqued. The old man noticed and gave a gentle nod.
"You're the new doctor," he said, his voice hoarse but warm. "Saved little Jin last night. Good work."
Mo Bei returned the nod. "Just doing my job."
The old man's eyes twinkled. "Not many would consider healing a duty. That's a good heart you have."
For a moment, Mo Bei was caught off guard. In his past life, being a doctor had been more about surviving the workload, meeting quotas, and balancing an endless cycle of exhaustion. Here, it felt… different. More real.
His moment of reflection was interrupted by a loud, hacking cough.
He turned toward the sound and nearly groaned. A middle-aged man, red-faced and wheezing, stumbled into the square. He had three tiny goblins clinging to his back, their clawed fingers scratching at his throat, chests inflating with every deep cough he let out.
[Disease Identified: Chest Cold - Phlegm Overload Variant] [Difficulty Level: Low-Medium] [Recommended Treatment: Loquat Leaf Tea + Steam Therapy]
Mo Bei pinched the bridge of his nose. Why did it have to be goblins again?
The creatures were howling with laughter, slapping their oversized bellies as the man wheezed and spat into the dirt. "Oh, yeah, that's a good one! Get it all out, boss! Give us that sweet, sticky phlegm!"
Mo Bei hated them.
"Doctor!" A young woman, presumably the patient's wife, rushed over, frantic. "My husband has been coughing all night! The village healer gave him dried orange peel, but it hasn't helped. Can you—?"
"I got it," Mo Bei sighed, rolling up his sleeves.
The goblins hissed as he approached. "Oh no, not you again!"
Mo Bei ignored them, grabbing the man's wrist to check his pulse. Rapid, weak. The man's forehead was damp with sweat, his breathing labored. He was already dehydrated, which meant the phlegm was thickening in his throat.
"You need warm loquat tea, and I'll need to prepare a steam treatment to loosen the phlegm," Mo Bei said, already calculating the steps in his head. "No more cold water for now. It'll only make it worse."
The wife nodded, already running to fetch a pot. Meanwhile, Mo Bei pulled out his system-enhanced herbal tool set and selected a sharp knife. He swiftly sliced through a bundle of loquat leaves, grinding them into a fine mixture before setting them aside.
The goblins began to panic.
"W-Wait, let's talk about this, doc—"
"Not interested."
Mo Bei worked quickly, ignoring their protests as he boiled the tea and prepared a damp towel, placing it over the man's chest. Within minutes, the patient's breathing started to ease. With one final, powerful cough, he expelled a thick glob of mucus.
The goblins screamed in unison. "NOOOOOO—"
And just like the last one, they exploded into sticky, green mist.
[System Rewards: 20 EXP, Minor Lungs Strengthening Buff, Herbal Processing Skill (Basic), Copper Herbal Grinder, 400 Yen, +2 System Points]
The patient wiped his mouth, blinking in surprise. "I… I feel better already."
The wife bowed deeply. "Doctor Mo, we are in your debt."
Mo Bei shook his head. "No need. Just take care of him."
As the couple thanked him and left, Mo Bei exhaled. He glanced at his hands, flexing his fingers. It was strange. In his past life, treating patients was routine. But here, in this world, with these ridiculous goblins and absurd system mechanics…
For the first time in years, he actually felt joy in his work.
As if sensing his shift in emotions, a new notification popped up.
[New Mission: Treat 10 Unique Diseases to Unlock System Upgrade]
Mo Bei chuckled softly. Alright. Let's see what else this world throws at me.