Mo Bei had begun to settle into his role—no longer just an outsider who had mysteriously appeared in the village, but a crucial figure whom people depended on. The small clinic that had once felt like a solitary place of work was now a bustling center for treatment, knowledge, and conversation. The transformation was slow but undeniable. The village was changing, and he was at its heart.
Mo Bei woke to the soft rustling of fabric. Xiao Lian, a young girl who had volunteered to help around the clinic, was carefully pouring herbal tea into a wooden cup. She was no older than fifteen, eager to learn, but her hands still trembled slightly as she worked.
"Doctor Mo, I boiled the herbs just like you taught me," she said, excitement and nervousness blending in her voice.
Mo Bei took the cup and examined the color of the brew before taking a sip. The bitterness was sharper than it should be. He smiled gently. "Good effort. But next time, keep the fire lower. High heat weakens the active ingredients."
Xiao Lian nodded quickly, absorbing his words like a sponge. These small teaching moments reminded him that he was no longer just a healer. He was becoming a mentor.
Healing Beyond the Clinic
The village square was already lively when Mo Bei stepped outside. His reputation had grown beyond treating the sick; people now sought his advice on everyday ailments—joint pain, child nutrition, and even the best foods to eat for strength. It was a stark contrast from when he had first arrived, a stranger they had hesitated to trust.
A hunched middle-aged man shuffled forward, his face pinched in discomfort. "Doctor Mo, my back has been aching terribly. Is there a cure?"
Mo Bei guided him to a stool and examined him. Years of hard labor had worn down his muscles, and poor posture had only made it worse.
"It's not just your back," Mo Bei observed. "Your knees must ache, too."
The man grimaced. "Aye, they do."
Surgical solutions weren't an option in this era, but traditional medicine and lifestyle changes could help. "I'll prepare an ointment to relieve the pain, but you also need to stretch your muscles every morning. Otherwise, it will only worsen."
The old man frowned. "Stretch? Like those young martial artists?"
Mo Bei chuckled. "Not quite. Here, let me show you."
He demonstrated a few simple movements. Curious onlookers gathered, and soon, a few children began mimicking him, laughing as they copied his stretches.
Mo Bei smirked to himself. "Maybe I should start a morning exercise group."
An Unseen Enemy: The Arrival of Measles
The morning patients trickled out, and just as Mo Bei thought of resting, a worried mother rushed in with her young son. The boy's skin was covered in red blotches, his face pale, his breathing shallow. Mo Bei's sharp eyes immediately identified the signs.
[Measles (Intermediate) Detected! System Evaluation in Progress…]
A chill ran down his spine. Measles—highly infectious. While not as deadly as the plague, it could still claim lives if untreated, especially in a village with no natural immunity.
The system chimed.
[System Reward: Intermediate Knowledge – Measles Management.]
Relief washed over him. With this, he could manage the illness properly.
He turned to the mother. "Your son has measles. He must be kept away from other children until he recovers. I'll prepare an herbal mix to reduce his fever and ease his discomfort."
Tears welled in her eyes. "I'll do anything! Just please save him."
Mo Bei mixed a concoction of mulberry leaves and honeysuckle, known to reduce fever and boost the immune system. He also emphasized hydration and rest.
After she left, he exhaled. "If one case has appeared, there will be more."
His fears were confirmed when several more villagers arrived with similar symptoms. It wasn't a full outbreak yet, but it was dangerously close.
He knew this was a defining moment.
Mo Bei stood in the village center and raised his voice. "Listen! There is an illness spreading. It passes easily from person to person. Keep your children indoors. Boil your water before drinking. If anyone shows symptoms, isolate them immediately."
Murmurs of uncertainty spread through the crowd.
Then, a firm voice cut through the noise. "Doctor Mo hasn't been wrong before! If he says to do it, we should listen."
It was the village head. His support silenced the doubts, and soon, the villagers followed Mo Bei's instructions.
By nightfall, the spread had been contained.
[Measles Contained! EXP +500, System Points +30, Silver Coins +15]
[New Skill Unlocked – Preventative Medicine (Proficient)]
A New Chapter: Public Health and Education
That night, as Mo Bei reviewed his system, he noticed something new.
[System Store Upgraded – More Items Available!]
He scrolled through the selection:
Advanced Herbal Guide (30 silver) – Expands knowledge on rare herbs. Sanitation Kit (40 silver) – Includes soap, disinfectants, and clean cloth. Medical Tools (50 silver) – A set of scalpels, tweezers, and precision instruments.
His eyes locked onto the sanitation kit. Hygiene was still a foreign concept to many villagers. This could make a huge difference.
Without hesitation, he bought it.
The system chimed again.
[Special Purchase Bonus – Public Health Awareness (Basic) Unlocked!]
A grin spread across Mo Bei's face. The system was nudging him toward education, and he was ready.
The next morning, he gathered the villagers once more. This time, he wasn't just treating them—he was teaching them.
He demonstrated proper handwashing techniques, explained the importance of clean water, and even taught the children a small rhyme to remember the steps.
At first, the villagers were skeptical. But as they saw how simple these changes were, acceptance followed. The village women, in particular, took a keen interest, eager to protect their families.
Still, Mo Bei knew that spoken words could be forgotten.
That night, he sat down with parchment and ink and carefully drafted a book:
"The Commoner's Guide to Health and Illness Prevention."
It would be a simple, easy-to-understand book filled with basic hygiene practices, common illnesses, and their preventions. A resource for every family, a guide for future generations.
As he wrote the final words, exhaustion tugged at him, but satisfaction filled his heart.
He had started as a lone doctor, just trying to survive.
Now? He was something more.
A healer. A guide. A leader.
And he wasn't going to stop.
[To Be Continued…]