Chapter 5: The Weight of a Village’s Trust

Mo Bei stretched his arms, rubbing his temples as he stepped out of his small clinic. The morning sun had just risen, casting a golden hue over the village. The cool air carried the distant sound of farmers calling out to their oxen, and for the first time since his arrival, Mo Bei felt at peace.

Only for that peace to be shattered.

"Doctor Mo! Doctor Mo!"

A familiar, high-pitched voice rang out as A'Fu came sprinting toward him, his little feet kicking up dust.

Mo Bei sighed, already knowing what was coming. "What is it this time?"

A'Fu skidded to a stop, panting. "It's Little Bao! He's been sick all night, and his mother is crying—she says he won't stop shaking!"

Mo Bei's brows furrowed. Shaking? Fever? This could be serious.

"Lead the way."

When Mo Bei entered the small home, he was greeted by the strong scent of herbal incense—a common remedy used by those who didn't fully understand medicine.

Bao's mother was by his bedside, eyes red and puffy. The small boy, no older than five, lay on the wooden bed, his body trembling lightly under a thin quilt. His skin was pale, but his cheeks were unnaturally flushed.

Mo Bei stepped forward, placing a hand on the boy's forehead. Burning hot.

The system immediately popped up.

[Disease Identified: Early Stage Malaria - Swamp Wraith Variant]

[Difficulty Level: Medium-High]

[Recommended Treatment: Fever Reduction + Hydration + Quinine Equivalent Herbs]

Mo Bei's mind worked quickly. Malaria? That was dangerous. If not treated properly, it could weaken the body permanently—or worse.

As an experienced doctor, he knew malaria was a disease caused by mosquito bites, leading to cycles of fever, chills, and anemia. If left untreated, it could damage organs and even result in death. The presence of stagnant water in rice paddies made the village a breeding ground for mosquitoes, increasing the risk of such infections.

"What happened before he got sick?" he asked the mother.

She wiped her tears. "He was playing near the rice paddies two nights ago. He came home complaining of a headache, and then… then the fever came."

Mo Bei exhaled. Mosquitoes. Of course.

Step 1: Lower the Fever

"Get me cool water," Mo Bei ordered. The mother hurried to obey while he took out his system-enhanced Cooling Bandages from his inventory. The moment he placed them on Bao's forehead, the system reacted.

[Cooling Bandages Applied. Swamp Wraith Strength Reduced by 15%.]

Mo Bei then prepared a herbal mix, grinding dried qinghao (sweet wormwood) and mixing it into a light tea. This would work similarly to quinine, a natural treatment for malaria-like fevers.

After helping Bao drink the medicine, the trembling in his body lessened. The Swamp Wraith flickered in the system's display, its ghostly form looking displeased.

[Swamp Wraith Strength Reduced by 50%.]

Bao let out a small whimper, his breath slowing into a steadier rhythm.

Mo Bei turned to the mother. "He'll be fine, but he needs to stay hydrated. Give him rice water and more of this tea every few hours."

Tears streamed down the woman's face as she bowed deeply. "Thank you, Doctor Mo! Thank you!"

The villagers outside, who had gathered anxiously, began whispering among themselves.

"He even knows how to treat strange fevers?"

"He's not just any healer, he's a real doctor!"

Mo Bei, unused to praise, cleared his throat. "I'm just doing my job."

A Sudden Emergency

Mo Bei barely had time to return to his clinic before another voice called for him.

"Doctor Mo! My father—he's coughing blood!"

Mo Bei's eyes sharpened. Coughing blood? That wasn't just a cold.

The patient was an older man, his face gaunt, his breaths shallow. His lips had a faint bluish tint.

The system chimed in.

[Disease Identified: Tuberculosis - Lung Rot Specter]

[Difficulty Level: High]

[Recommended Treatment: Long-Term Herbal Therapy + Nutrition + Rest]

Tuberculosis. This was no simple fever.

Having worked in medicine for eight years, Mo Bei knew tuberculosis was a highly infectious disease that primarily attacked the lungs, leading to persistent coughing, fever, and eventual lung failure if untreated. The lack of sanitation and cramped living conditions in villages made it spread even faster. It was often called the "slow death," as it drained the life from patients little by little.

Mo Bei rolled up his sleeves. He was ready.

[System Rewards: 80 EXP, Disease Knowledge (Intermediate), Antiseptic Powder, 1500 Yen, +7 System Points]

The air in the room felt heavy, the family of the sick man looking to Mo Bei with desperate eyes.

The man coughed again, a speck of blood appearing at the corner of his lips. His wife gripped his hand tightly, while his son, a man in his early twenties, kept his jaw clenched, trying to keep his fear from showing.

"Doctor Mo, please…" the wife pleaded. "Tell us he'll be fine."

Mo Bei nodded, his voice firm but gentle. "He will, but it'll take time. Tuberculosis is not an easy sickness. He needs a strict regimen of medicine, food, and rest."

The son spoke up, his voice tinged with guilt. "He's always worked in the fields, through the cold and heat. We couldn't afford to stop…"

Mo Bei understood. Hardship forced people to push their bodies to the limit. But now, there was no choice.

"You'll have to let him rest completely," Mo Bei instructed. "No work. His body needs time to fight back."

The family nodded fervently.

He pulled out a small wooden container from his pouch, filled with antiseptic powder from the system's reward. "This will help lessen the infection in his lungs. Mix it with warm water and make him drink it twice a day."

The system dinged again.

[Antiseptic Powder Applied. Lung Rot Specter Strength Reduced by 20%.]

The old man looked at Mo Bei with tired eyes, but a weak smile crossed his lips. "A real doctor in our little village… what fortune."

Mo Bei smirked. "You'll be singing my praises properly once you're better."

The villagers outside had been listening closely, and soon the murmurs began again.

"He knows so much… it's like he sees the sickness itself."

"Our village has never had a doctor like him before."

"He saved my boy, and now he's saving Old Liu! How lucky we are!"

For the first time, Mo Bei saw it—real trust in their eyes.

The system's notification popped up again.

[Reputation Increased: Village Reverence Level 1 Achieved! Unlocking: Enhanced Consultation Ability.]

Mo Bei chuckled. Seems like he wasn't just curing diseases—he was earning the faith of the people.