The third patient was Park Hyunwoo, a kitchen worker with a second-degree burn on his hand from spilled hot water. The angry red blistering covered his palm and extended partially onto his fingers, causing obvious pain with even the slightest movement.
"Burns are tricky," Mu-shin explained as he gently examined the injury. "They can appear less severe initially but worsen over time as the tissue damage evolves."
He activated his [Basic Meridian Sensitivity] skill, detecting disruptions in the energy flow through the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian that traversed the affected area. According to his newly acquired knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, this meridian was associated with elimination of toxins and waste—appropriate, given the body's need to clear damaged tissue after a burn injury.
"We'll cool the burn first to limit further tissue damage," he explained, directing Jae-won to prepare a basin of cool—not cold—water. "Then we'll apply specialized burn cream and a non-adherent dressing."
As Hyunwoo's hand was immersed in the cool water, the relief on his face was immediate. "That feels much better," he sighed.
"The cooling helps in multiple ways," Mu-shin explained. "It reduces pain, limits the depth of the burn, and decreases inflammation. We'll keep it immersed for about ten minutes."
While they waited, Jae-won prepared the dressing materials. "You seem to have experience with burns," she observed.
"They're common injuries," Mu-shin replied, careful not to reveal the source of his knowledge. "Proper initial treatment makes a significant difference in healing time and outcomes."
After the cooling period, Mu-shin gently patted the area dry with sterile gauze, taking care not to break any blisters. He then applied a specialized burn cream containing silver sulfadiazine.
"This cream helps prevent infection and creates an optimal environment for healing," he explained to Hyunwoo. "The dressing we're applying is designed not to stick to the burn, making changes less painful."
After completing the dressing, Mu-shin provided instructions for home care and scheduled a follow-up appointment. "Burns can worsen in the first 48 hours, so don't hesitate to return if the pain increases significantly or if you notice any signs of infection."
The morning progressed with a variety of cases, each requiring different skills and approaches. Choi Yena arrived with a deep splinter embedded in her finger—a seemingly minor injury that required precision and patience to address properly.
"Foreign bodies like splinters can cause significant inflammation if left in place," Mu-shin explained as he examined the finger under good lighting. The splinter was deeply embedded beneath the skin, with only a tiny dark spot visible at the entry point.
"This will require local anesthesia and careful extraction to ensure we remove the entire splinter without fragmenting it," he told Yena. "Even a small fragment left behind can cause ongoing problems."
After numbing the area with a small injection of lidocaine, Mu-shin used a sterile needle to carefully expose the end of the splinter, then grasped it with fine forceps. With steady, gentle traction, he removed the splinter intact—a sliver of wood nearly a centimeter long.
"That was in my finger?" Yena asked, eyes wide with surprise as Mu-shin showed her the removed splinter.
"It's surprising how much can hide beneath the skin," he confirmed. "I'm going to clean the area thoroughly and apply antibiotic ointment, but it should heal quickly now that the foreign body is removed."
As the day continued, Mu-shin and Jae-won fell into a comfortable rhythm, their movements becoming increasingly synchronized. Between patients, they found moments to exchange observations and insights.
"You have an interesting approach to patient care," Jae-won noted during one such moment. "Most doctors focus exclusively on the physical injury, but you seem to consider something more."
Mu-shin considered his response carefully. "The body isn't just a collection of separate parts. Everything is connected—physical symptoms, emotional state, energy flow. Treating only the obvious injury misses the bigger picture."
Jae-won's eyes widened slightly. "That sounds almost like traditional medicine philosophy. Not something I expected from a modern medical school graduate."
"I believe in integrating different approaches," Mu-shin replied. "Western medicine excels at acute intervention, but traditional practices offer insights into balance and holistic healing that shouldn't be dismissed."
"A doctor with an open mind," Jae-won said with a warm smile. "How refreshing." She moved closer than strictly necessary as she handed him a fresh pair of gloves, her fingers brushing against his. "I think we're going to work very well together, Dr. Yoon."
The fifth patient of the day presented a different challenge—Jung Seojin, a young woman with a facial laceration from slipping in her bathroom. The cut ran along her cheekbone, approximately four centimeters long but fortunately not deep enough to involve the facial muscles.
"Facial lacerations require special attention," Mu-shin explained as he examined the wound. "Not just for cosmetic reasons, but because the face has a rich blood supply and complex underlying structures."
Seojin's eyes filled with tears. "Will I have a scar? I'm getting married next month."
"With proper technique and aftercare, scarring should be minimal," Mu-shin assured her. "Facial wounds actually heal remarkably well due to the excellent blood supply."
He administered local anesthetic with extreme care, using the smallest effective dose to minimize tissue distortion. While waiting for it to take effect, he prepared for the suturing.
"For facial lacerations, I prefer to use smaller sutures and place them closer together than for wounds elsewhere on the body," he explained to both Seojin and Jae-won. "This creates less tension on the healing tissue and results in a finer scar."
Using 6-0 monofilament sutures—finer than those used for most body wounds—Mu-shin closed the laceration with meticulous precision. Each stitch was placed with perfect spacing and tension, the knots tied so they would not rest directly on the wound line.
"Your technique is beautiful," Jae-won commented as she watched him work. "Almost artistic."
"Medical procedures can be technical and artistic simultaneously," Mu-shin replied. "Especially when working on the face, where form and function are equally important."
After completing the sutures, he administered a tetanus booster and provided detailed aftercare instructions. "The stitches will need to be removed in 5 days—sooner than for body wounds—to minimize scarring. After removal, you can apply silicone gel sheets to further reduce scar formation."
Seojin touched her cheek gently, wincing slightly at the tenderness. "Thank you, Doctor. I was so worried about my wedding photos."
"Follow the care instructions carefully, and by your wedding day, the scar should be barely noticeable," Mu-shin assured her. "Congratulations, by the way."
As the day progressed, the variety of cases continued to challenge Mu-shin's skills and knowledge. Han Jaemin arrived with a small but bleeding scalp laceration after bumping his head on a cabinet door—a minor injury complicated by the fact that scalp wounds tend to bleed profusely due to the rich vascular supply of the area.
"Scalp lacerations often look worse than they are because of the bleeding," Mu-shin explained as he cleaned away the blood to better assess the wound. "But they do require proper closure to heal well."
For this wound, Mu-shin opted to use surgical staples rather than sutures. "Staples are often preferred for scalp wounds," he explained to the patient. "They're faster to place, which means less time under local anesthesia for you, and they're very secure in an area that moves frequently."
After numbing the area, Mu-shin carefully approximated the wound edges and placed three staples with precise spacing. "These will need to be removed in 7 to 10 days. Until then, you can wash your hair gently after the first 48 hours, but avoid scrubbing directly over the staples."
The seventh patient presented a different type of challenge—Seo Nayeon had caught her finger in a door, resulting in a subungual hematoma, or blood collection under the nail. The pressure from the trapped blood was causing significant pain, evident in her pale face and the way she cradled her hand protectively.
"This type of injury is extremely painful because the blood has nowhere to expand under the rigid nail," Mu-shin explained. "We need to relieve the pressure by creating a small hole in the nail to allow the blood to drain."
The procedure, called nail trephination, required precision to avoid causing additional pain or damage. Mu-shin used a specialized heated instrument to create a tiny hole through the nail, immediately resulting in drainage of the dark blood trapped beneath.
"The relief should be almost immediate," he told Nayeon as the blood drained. "The nail may eventually fall off as a new one grows underneath, but this procedure prevents the pressure that could cause permanent nail bed damage."
Nayeon's expression transformed from pain to relief as the pressure subsided. "It already feels so much better," she said, looking at her finger with fascination as the last of the trapped blood drained away.
"Keep it clean and covered for the next few days," Mu-shin instructed. "If the pain returns or you notice any signs of infection, come back immediately."
As the afternoon wore on, Mu-shin and Jae-won continued to work together with increasing efficiency. Their brief conversations between patients revealed a growing mutual respect and interest that went beyond professional collaboration.
"You're not what I expected from an intern," Jae-won commented as they prepared for the next patient. "Most are either overconfident to hide their insecurity or so cautious they can barely function without constant supervision."
"And what am I?" Mu-shin asked, curious about her assessment.
Jae-won tilted her head, studying him with those expressive half-lidded eyes. "Balanced," she decided. "Confident without arrogance, careful without hesitation. It's like you've been doing this for years, not days." She moved closer, adjusting his mask with unnecessary but not unwelcome familiarity. "It's quite attractive, actually."
Before Mu-shin could respond to this direct flirtation, their next patient arrived—Yoon Taeyang, a construction worker who had stepped on a nail that penetrated his work boot and into his foot.
"Puncture wounds are deceptive," Mu-shin explained as he examined the small but potentially dangerous wound on the sole of Taeyang's foot. "They may not bleed much or look serious, but they carry a high risk of infection because they're deep and often contaminated."
The [Eye Of The Doctor] skill revealed that the nail had penetrated approximately two centimeters into the foot, fortunately missing any major structures but creating a perfect environment for infection to develop.
"This requires thorough irrigation and prophylactic antibiotics," Mu-shin decided. "And definitely a tetanus booster, given the nature of the injury."
After numbing the area, he used a pressurized irrigation system to flush the wound tract thoroughly, ensuring that any debris or contaminants were removed. "The depth of puncture wounds makes them difficult to clean completely," he explained to Taeyang. "That's why we use high-pressure irrigation and why antibiotics are important in this case."
After completing the irrigation, Mu-shin applied an antibiotic-impregnated dressing and provided a prescription for oral antibiotics. "Keep weight off this foot as much as possible for the next 48 hours, and watch carefully for signs of infection. Puncture wounds to the foot can develop serious infections that spread quickly."
The ninth patient of the day presented yet another type of challenge—Kang Chaewon had developed a small but painful abscess on her thigh that required incision and drainage.
"An abscess is essentially a collection of pus—the body's immune response to infection," Mu-shin explained as he examined the red, swollen area. "The definitive treatment is to drain it, but the procedure needs to be done carefully to ensure complete drainage while minimizing discomfort."
After thoroughly cleaning the area and administering local anesthetic, Mu-shin made a small incision over the abscess. Thick, purulent material immediately began to drain.
"We need to ensure all loculations are broken up," he explained to Jae-won as he gently probed the cavity with a sterile instrument. "Abscesses often have multiple compartments that need to be connected for complete drainage."
After ensuring all the purulent material had been evacuated, Mu-shin irrigated the cavity with antiseptic solution. "Rather than closing this type of wound, we'll pack it lightly to allow continued drainage and healing from the inside out," he explained to Chaewon. "The packing will need to be changed daily until the wound heals completely."
He provided detailed instructions for wound care and prescribed antibiotics to address the underlying infection. "This should start feeling better within 24 to 48 hours, but complete healing will take longer. Don't hesitate to return if the pain increases or if you develop fever."
The final patient before their lunch break was Baek Junseo, a young boy with facial abrasions after falling from his bicycle. The superficial scrapes covered his right cheek and forehead, painful but not serious.
"Road rash like this needs thorough cleaning to prevent traumatic tattooing," Mu-shin explained, referring to the permanent discoloration that can occur when road debris becomes embedded in healing skin. "It's uncomfortable, but proper initial care makes a significant difference in the final appearance."
With gentle patience, he cleaned the abrasions using mild antiseptic solution and soft gauze, ensuring all dirt and debris were removed. The boy winced but remained brave throughout the procedure.
"You're doing great," Mu-shin encouraged him. "This is the hardest part. Once it's clean, we'll apply an antibiotic ointment and a special dressing that won't stick to the wounds."
Jae-won assisted with quiet efficiency, occasionally distracting the boy with gentle questions about his bicycle and school. Her natural warmth seemed to put the young patient at ease, complementing Mu-shin's more focused approach.
After applying the dressing, Mu-shin provided care instructions to the boy's mother. "Keep the dressings in place for 24 hours, then gently clean the areas daily and reapply the antibiotic ointment. The abrasions should heal within a week or so, but sun protection will be important for several months to prevent discoloration of the new skin."
As their morning session concluded, Mu-shin and Jae-won had treated ten patients with various minor injuries and conditions. Each case had presented unique challenges that tested not only Mu-shin's medical knowledge but also his ability to communicate effectively with patients and work collaboratively with Jae-won.
"That was quite a morning," Jae-won commented as they cleaned and restocked the procedure room during their brief lunch break. "You handled each case with such confidence and skill. Are you sure you're really just an intern?"
Mu-shin smiled. "I've had good training," he replied, the answer technically true if incomplete.
"And a natural talent, I think," she added, moving closer to wipe a spot of antiseptic solution from his cheek. Her touch lingered longer than necessary, her eyes meeting his with unmistakable interest. "Some people are just born to heal others. You seem to be one of them."
The moment was interrupted by a knock at the door—more patients waiting to be seen. The afternoon would bring many more cases, each with its own challenges and learning opportunities. But as they prepared to continue their work, Mu-shin felt a sense of satisfaction that went beyond the successful treatments they'd provided.
In this room, working with these patients and this unexpectedly skilled nurse-in-training, he was finding his place in this new world—not as a soldier who took lives but as a healer who saved them. The Doctor System had given him skills and knowledge, but how he applied them was entirely his choice. And today, that choice felt right.