A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 59

Martial Surgeon – Chapter 59

Chapter 10: Surgical Constitution (4)

Jun-hoo wanted to try applying a half cast himself.

He wanted to learn everything he could about medical techniques.

Even if he didn’t choose to specialize in orthopedics.

Who could guarantee that a situation wouldn’t arise where he’d have to apply a half cast himself?

When he became a medical officer in the military.

When he went abroad for medical 봉사 [Bongsa – volunteer work/service].

Or when the orthopedic department couldn’t provide a consultation, and so on.

Variables always existed.

Jun-hoo wanted the power to control any variable.

“Just because I make it look easy doesn’t mean it is, you know? You think you can do it just as well?”

Hyun-jin scoffed and continued,

“Don’t overstep and just assist properly.”

“But wouldn’t it be easier for you if I were good at casts and splints?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Hyun-jin was tempted by Jun-hoo’s suggestion.

But he was also hesitant to accept it readily.

Casts and splints were no joke.

It was a process included in the orthopedic specialist exam, and above all, Hyun-jin had learned it over a month while getting yelled at.

And Jun-hoo, a rookie intern, was going to handle it?

After watching just once from the side?

That was absurd.

“You can’t run a marathon just because you’ve learned to walk, can you? That’s exactly what you’re doing.”

“Still, could you give me a chance just once?”

“This guy, he doesn’t know how to give up. Fine, try it just once. But if you fail, don’t you dare act up again.”

“Thank you.”

Hyun-jin moved to the next 병실 [Byeongsil – hospital room] with Jun-hoo.

The patient who needed a half cast this time was a young man in his early twenties.

He had fractured his foot while playing soccer in his university club and had undergone surgery.

‘Hey, no way.’

No matter how meticulous he was, succeeding with a splint on the first try was an overreach.

Hyun-jin looked at Jun-hoo preparing the half cast with suspicious eyes.

The moment Jun-hoo failed the half cast.

He had also prepared a barrage of scolding and reprimands to unleash.

Perhaps this situation was actually a boon for Hyun-jin.

It might be a legitimate opportunity to discipline the reckless Jun-hoo.

“I’ll start now.”

“I’ll just be watching, so do it yourself.”

Hyun-jin crossed his arms and began supervising.

But what’s this?

Hyun-jin was shocked from the start.

Because Jun-hoo was perfectly imitating the half cast method that Hyun-jin had just done.

Fixing the ankle with one hand so that the plaster bandage didn’t lift.

Maintaining the ankle angle at 90 degrees.

Wrapping the regular bandage twice around the ankle joint and spiraling it upwards!

Looking at the procedure alone, it was hard to tell whether Jun-hoo or Hyun-jin was applying the half cast.

‘Is he human? Or a copy machine?’

While Hyun-jin was flabbergasted.

Jun-hoo finished the half cast in the blink of an eye, and Hyun-jin couldn’t find anything to criticize.

It was only natural.

Finding fault with Jun-hoo was the same as finding fault with himself.

‘I must be seeing things…’

Hyun-jin rubbed his eyes and carefully examined Jun-hoo’s half cast.

Even the position where the bandage ended.

Even the position where the band-aid was attached, Jun-hoo had perfectly absorbed it.

‘What is going on?’

“How does my splint look to you, 선배 [Seonbae – senior/mentor]?”

“Huh? Uh, you did well. How can you follow a splint after seeing it just once?”

Hyun-jin clicked his tongue and asked.

“I have a good memory.”

“You have a good memory… It doesn’t seem to fit the situation, but I understand.”

Hyun-jin’s gaze shifted to the patient.

Hyun-jin couldn’t completely acknowledge Jun-hoo’s half cast yet.

“Patient, how’s your leg? Does it feel well-fixed? Does it feel too tight?”

“Yes. It’s very good.”

Even the patient sided with Jun-hoo.

It seemed Jun-hoo had not only imitated Hyun-jin’s appearance.

He seemed to have reproduced the bandage’s fixation and pressure as well.

‘Ha… I feel pathetic.’

‘I learned while getting hit on the back of the head like a punching bag.’

As the situation reached this point, Hyun-jin felt a sense of defiance.

He was curious to see how far Jun-hoo could copy him.

“Seo Jun-hoo.”

Hyun-jin left the 병실 [Byeongsil – hospital room] and called Jun-hoo’s name.

“Yes, 선배 [Seonbae – senior/mentor].”

“It seems you’re somewhat capable with 처치 [Cheochi – procedures]?”

“I’m still far from 선배 [Seonbae – senior/mentor].”

“Good to know. Next, we’ll do a full cast. I’ll demonstrate first this time, so try to follow along.”

“Understood.”

Hyun-jin took Jun-hoo to four 병실 [Byeongsil – hospital rooms].

He performed full casts and half casts on the patients’ arms and legs, respectively.

And checked if Jun-hoo could digest it.

If he succeeded once, it was a coincidence.

If he succeeded twice in a row, it was skill.

There was a saying that if he succeeded three times in a row, it was fate.

Jun-hoo seemed to be naturally gifted with full casts and half casts.

Whether it was an arm or a leg.

Whether it was a full cast or a half cast.

It didn’t matter.

Jun-hoo had an amazing ability to reproduce what he had seen once.

He had mastered cast 처치 [Cheochi – procedures] in just one hour.

Truly an amazing learning ability.

Hyun-jin even suspected for a moment that Jun-hoo was not human but a monster.

“Wow… I’ve never seen anyone like you in my life.”

“If it’s a compliment, I’ll gratefully accept it.”

“This isn’t a compliment, it’s shock.”

Jun-hoo’s talent was so overwhelming that Hyun-jin didn’t even feel jealous.

He couldn’t feel envy or jealousy unless he could compete in some way.

“But don’t you think you made a big mistake?”

Hyun-jin changed the subject.

“In what way?”

“If you’re so good at 처치 [Cheochi – procedures], I’ll pass the work on to you, right?”

“I told you before. I also wanted to relieve 선배 [Seonbae – senior/mentor] of some of your work.”

Jun-hoo’s answer was so kind and pretty.

Hyun-jin smiled unconsciously.

‘This is the first A turn in a while [A turn – good thing].’

‘At least I can take a breather this month.’

“Let’s go to the on-call room. I’ll make you a special cup of delicious coffee.”

Hyun-jin’s steps across the 병동 [Byeongdong – ward] hallway were light.

* * *

“Thank you for the meal.”

Jun-hoo accepted the mug Hyun-jin handed him and took a sip of coffee.

It was clear that he had only poured hot water into a mix coffee packet.

But there was one more special flavor added to the coffee.

“Did you put anything else in it?”

“Secret. Guess it later.”

Hyun-jin smiled and sat opposite Jun-hoo.

During a moment of silence.

Jun-hoo recalled the time when he was learning casts and splints.

Thankfully, his experiences in the 무림 [Murim – martial arts world] were never in vain.

The habits of learning, mastering, and applying various 초식 [Chosik – martial arts moves/techniques].

It was also applied when learning 처치 [Cheochi – procedures].

‘If I do well, I might be able to memorize and apply the surgical methods of surgeons called 명의 [Myeong-ui – master/famous doctors].’

As his thoughts stretched that far.

Jun-hoo’s body heated up.

He wanted to go into the operating room right away.

“What do you think of the atmosphere in orthopedics?”

Hyun-jin, who had been silent, asked.

“Can I be honest?”

“You can lie.”

“Hmm… Compared to the emergency department, it feels much calmer and more stable. Both the patients and the guardians.”

“That’s the advantage of orthopedics.”

Hyun-jin added.

Due to the nature of the diseases treated in orthopedics, there were almost no emergency patients.

Therefore, there were also very few emergency room calls.

“I think 선배 [Seonbae – senior/mentor] is right. I don’t think I made many orthopedic calls when I was working in the emergency department.”

“…”

“Except for T.A (traffic accident) patients.”

“You’ll feel how big of a blessing it is to have no emergency room calls when you go to another department.”

“But why did 선배 [Seonbae – senior/mentor] choose orthopedics as your major?”

Jun-hoo changed the subject.

Jun-hoo was dreaming of becoming a surgeon but had not yet decided on a major.

So he was curious to know what Hyun-jin was thinking when he chose orthopedics.

“Why do you think I chose orthopedics?”

“Well, because the prospects are good?”

“I can’t say there’s none of that, but there was a phrase that I really liked.”

Hyun-jin smiled and continued.

“The phrase ‘An orthopedic surgeon is a carpenter who fixes people’s bodies.’ The surgical tools are also like hammers, screws, and saws, aren’t they?”

“Yes. Orthopedic surgical tools are known for being brutal.”

Jun-hoo nodded.

He was very curious to know how those tools were actually used in surgery.

“I’m actually a Christian. Since Jesus was a carpenter who healed people’s hearts, I thought, ‘What if I became a carpenter who fixes people’s bodies?'”

“That’s romantic.”

Jun-hoo felt a sense of kinship after hearing Hyun-jin’s inner thoughts.

Deep down, Jun-hoo’s heart was not much different from Hyun-jin’s.

The desire to alleviate the pain of others, even a little.

Having been directly injured in the 무림 [Murim – martial arts world].

Having died directly in the 무림 [Murim – martial arts world], it was difficult to ignore the suffering of others.

“Oh, this story is embarrassing. Let’s stop.”

After speaking, Hyun-jin circled his wrist.

He seemed to be stretching.

“선배 [Seonbae – senior/mentor], if your wrist isn’t feeling well, should I take a look?”

“You’re going to treat me? Are you overstepping again this time?”

Hyun-jin chuckled.

“Not that kind of treatment. I’m really good at massage.”

Jun-hoo approached Hyun-jin and applied 추궁과혈 [Chugunggwa hyeol – acupressure technique] to both wrists in turn.

Releasing the tense muscles.

Widening the temporarily narrowed blood vessels and relaxing the compressed nerves.

While listening to the anatomy professor’s special anatomy lecture during medical school, Jun-hoo’s 추궁과혈 [Chugunggwa hyeol – acupressure technique] became more sophisticated.

It was several times better than most physical therapy.

“Wow! Are you crazy?”

Hyun-jin moved both wrists again and widened his eyes.

He clearly felt the difference between before and after receiving 추궁과혈 [Chugunggwa hyeol – acupressure technique].

“The pain is gone and my joints feel much more flexible? Where did you learn this?”

“I just did it on my own and it worked. Stay still. I’ll loosen your shoulders and neck too.”

Jun-hoo also applied 추궁과혈 [Chugunggwa hyeol – acupressure technique] to Hyun-jin’s shoulders and neck.

Press. Press. Press.

Pressing the blood vessels, nerves, and muscles with fingers containing 내공 [Naegong – internal energy].

Loosening the tense areas by drawing circles, and so on.

He had felt it before, but 추궁과혈 [Chugunggwa hyeol – acupressure technique] was not only effective in relieving the fatigue of his colleagues but also in increasing their favorability.

Hyun-jin was the same.

In an excited voice, he kept repeating how amazing the casts and splints Jun-hoo had done earlier were.

But it was at that moment.

Creak.

A sturdy resident entered the on-call room.

Even Woo-hyun, who was a 짝턴 [Jjakteon – someone who does things by the book], was quite large, but he couldn’t even compare to this resident.

‘So this is the gorilla.’

His name was Kim Dong-seok.

The 3rd year who was the head of military discipline and the 악한 [Akhan – villain] who had kicked a fellow intern in the shin, leaving a bruise.

“Ah. You’re here?”

Hyun-jin, flustered, shook off Jun-hoo’s touch and straightened his posture.

He began to make excuses in a rapid-fire manner.

“I was resting for a moment, and Jun-hoo said he would give me a massage.”

“How nice. Getting a massage from an intern when you’re only in your first year. I couldn’t even breathe when I was in my first year.”

“I… I’m sorry.”

“Hyun-jin 선배 [Seonbae – senior/mentor] is right. I offered to give him a massage first.”

“Huh? Did I give you the right to speak?”

Dong-seok’s eyebrows soared sky-high.

He looked at Jun-hoo as if he were a bug.

“Kang Hyun-jin, are you not going to educate the interns properly? What did I tell you before?”

“I said that interns can only answer with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

Dong-seok nodded at Hyun-jin’s answer and looked at Jun-hoo again.

“Intern. Do you get it now?”

Jun-hoo was shocked by Dong-seok’s question.

He doubted the hearing in his ears.

He wondered if that was a story that could come out of a person’s mouth.

This wasn’t just strong military discipline, it was a terrible 가혹행위 [Gahokhaengwi – abuse/mistreatment].

‘To be treated like a slave and train for a month?’

Jun-hoo could never do that.

Tuk. Tuk. Tuk.

When Jun-hoo didn’t answer, Hyun-jin nudged Jun-hoo with his elbow.

It was a signal to answer quickly.

So Jun-hoo answered quickly.

“Do I get it? I don’t get it at all.”