A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 171

Chapter 32: Palette (1)

Snap, crackle, pop.

Jun-hoo cracked his neck from side to side as he approached the thugs.

Thirty minutes had passed since Ah-young and Hye-jin had left to buy snacks.

Anxiety began to creep up on Jun-hoo.

They were taking too long to return.

The food corner wasn’t that far away.

Even if there was a long line, it shouldn’t take this long.

So he came to check it out himself, and this mess had happened.

“Jun-hoo, you can’t handle them alone. I’ll go get a security guard,” Hye-jin’s voice came from behind him. She must have been worried when Jun-hoo tried to take on the thugs by himself.

“It’s not too much, it’s nothing.”

“Huh?”

“They’re all nothing.”

A sneer formed on Jun-hoo’s lips.

His steps towards the thugs were unwavering.

“Wow, look at this cocky bastard? Does he think he’s a movie star or something?”

“I know, right? He ambushed Hyung-seok and now he’s acting all cool.”

“Looking at his body, he seems to have done some weight training. But real combat is different, ya know?”

The thugs were whispering, seemingly for Jun-hoo to hear.

Among them, a burly and chubby man stepped forward and blocked Jun-hoo’s path.

“Well, there are always guys who act tough in front of women.”

“Are you talking about yourselves right now?”

“What? Is this guy for real?”

The chubby guy flared up at Jun-hoo’s retort.

“That’s right. I’m for real. You guys are about to make my head explode.”

Whoosh.

“Huh?”

The chubby guy swung his fist with all his might, but it only cut through the air.

Jun-hoo used the Azure Wind Steps [a martial arts technique focusing on agility] to dodge the punch and seize the chubby guy’s flank.

Thwack!

Jun-hoo’s Thunder Palm [a martial arts technique that delivers a powerful strike] struck the chubby guy’s side. The behemoth, who looked to be at least 220 pounds, was effortlessly launched into the air.

Like a home run ball hit perfectly with a baseball bat, he soared through the air and crashed into the pool.

Splash!

A pillar of water shot up, and water splashed everywhere.

He’s incredibly lucky.

He should be grateful this is a water park.

Jun-hoo had no mercy for evildoers, especially since his time in the Murim [a world of martial arts and cultivation].

If he had his way, he would have liked to send the thugs to hell, but there were too many eyes watching.

People had gathered to watch the fight.

“H-how did he send Ji-woo flying like that? W-what is that guy, anyway?”

“He seems tougher than he looks, boss.”

“Why are you whispering like that? If you have something to say, say it with me. Weren’t we all hanging out together?”

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

Jun-hoo stepped on his footwork, rapidly closing the distance between himself and the thugs.

Dashing forward like an arrow, Jun-hoo veered to the left.

He slammed his shoulder into the skinny thug’s abdomen on the left.

“Ugh.”

A short, painful groan.

Splash!

The skinny thug was also dunked into the water without even being able to lift a finger.

Now, all that was left was the thug wearing sunglasses, the one they called “boss.”

As his lackeys were taken down, the sunglasses-wearing thug froze in place, flustered.

“Hey, let’s talk this over! Violence is illegal in South Korea.”

“Only when it suits you? Was it legal for you to try and drag my friends away by force?”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I just wanted to have some fun, but it didn’t work out, so I got upset.”

The sunglasses-wearing thug chuckled awkwardly and approached Jun-hoo.

“I’ll even give you some pocket money, so buy something tasty with your friends. Okay?”

The thug chuckled and reached into his swimsuit pocket.

But the hand that came out of his pocket held not cash, but a box cutter.

Whoosh.

The box cutter, reflecting the sunlight, gleamed as it flew towards Jun-hoo’s chest.

“Kyaaa! That man has a knife!”

“This is really dangerous! Someone call the police!”

As the thug attempted to stab him, the onlookers were shocked and began to stir.

The situation had become serious.

Meanwhile, Jun-hoo stepped back and easily dodged the box cutter that the sunglasses-wearing thug swung horizontally.

“H-huh?”

The thug’s eyes widened.

He couldn’t believe that his attack had failed.

Pow!

“Kuh-ugh.”

Jun-hoo’s kick, which had retreated backward, burst forth.

Phoenix Kick [a powerful and swift kicking technique].

His right foot, soaring like a bird, accurately struck the thug’s wrist.

The thug dropped the box cutter.

He belatedly tried to retrieve the box cutter, but it was already too late.

Jun-hoo kicked the back of the box cutter, sending it flying far away.

The thug, having lost his only weapon, looked as if he had lost the whole world.

“Is that your pocket money? I bet you give your nephews box cutters for their New Year’s allowance too, huh?”

Jun-hoo smirked, glancing at the box cutter that had been kicked far away.

Jun-hoo hadn’t believed the thug’s words from the start. One should never trust the words of a villain.

When it comes to the words of a villain.

You should be suspicious even if they say they’ll make *meju* [fermented soybean block used to make soy sauce and doenjang] out of soybeans.

Because their tongues are as cunning and treacherous as snakes.

There were more than one or two righteous sect members in the Murim who had been backstabbed after believing that villains could be reformed.

So, to Jun-hoo, evil was a weed.

It could only be removed by pulling it out by the roots.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh.”

The thug groaned in pain, looking up at Jun-hoo.

He was clutching his injured right wrist with his left hand. His will to fight seemed to have already been lost.

“Tell me. Do you give your nephews box cutters for their New Year’s allowance?”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

The thug smiled obsequiously and made a pathetic excuse.

“I just got upset because my boys were getting beat up. Isn’t it normal for people to swing whatever they can grab when they’re angry?”

“Don’t bullsh*t me. You’re not human. No, you’re worse than a beast.”

The box cutter that the thug had swung was a clear assassination attempt.

It was only because it was Jun-hoo that he was able to avoid it.

Even if a well-known mixed martial artist had been in this place, they would have been helpless against that surprise attack.

And if they had been properly cut by the box cutter.

A major disaster would have occurred, with bleeding and pneumothorax [collapsed lung].

“But. Student. How can you do anything more to me when there are so many people watching?”

The thug quickly regained his composure and provoked Jun-hoo.

“If you hit me, it’s mutual assault. You’ll be punished the same as me. So, why don’t we just end it here?”

It was frustrating, but the thug’s words were true. Jun-hoo couldn’t punish the thug any further.

The thug had started the fight first.

And responding to that fight was self-defense, but.

If he assaulted the defenseless thug, Jun-hoo couldn’t avoid mutual assault.

“Hit me if you want. Hehehe. Since the water’s already been spilled, I might as well get some decent compensation.”

“You seem to be in a good mood? Do you think you’re on top of me now?”

“Yeah. That’s right. Hit me. Go ahead, you little sh*t.”

Without another word.

Jun-hoo grabbed the back of the thug’s t-shirt and dragged him.

The thug was helplessly dragged by Jun-hoo.

“Hey! Hey! What are you doing?”

“None of your business.”

Jun-hoo grabbed the thug’s collar, dragged him to the pool, and threw him into the pool.

As if throwing away a trash bag.

Splash!

At Jun-hoo’s satisfying finish, the people who had been watching the fight all cheered and applauded.

“Wow. I feel so refreshed.”

“That was really cool. Those kinds of thugs need to be taught a lesson.”

“Good job. Good job!”

Amid the enthusiastic cheers, Jun-hoo approached Ah-young.

Hye-jin, who had gone to call the guard, was nowhere to be seen.

“Were you surprised? It’s okay now.”

“You idiot. No matter how strong you are, how could you fight a thug with a knife?”

Ah-young asked, looking tearful.

What was a natural action for Jun-hoo was not natural for Ah-young.

Ah-young has been watching this side of me for 7 years. I’ve really done some terrible things all this time.

Even after saving Ah-young and Hye-jin, Jun-hoo somehow felt bitter.

“Sorry. I’ll be careful from now on.”

* * *

The altercation with the thugs was resolved about an hour after it started.

First, the guard came and listened to the details of the incident.

Feeling that the situation was unusual, the guard called the police.

“That young punk beat us up!”

“Excuse me, is it even possible that that young man beat up the four of you by himself?”

“It seems like he’s learned some kind of kickboxing. His movements were no joke.”

Like adding insult to injury.

The thugs distorted the truth, claiming that Jun-hoo had assaulted them.

But the thugs’ lies were quickly exposed.

Those who had witnessed the scene all took Jun-hoo’s side and testified.

Some even filmed the fight with their cell phones.

The tide quickly turned in Jun-hoo’s favor.

“These people are really vicious. Especially you, you even swung a box cutter?”

At the police’s stern rebuke, the thug boss only gaped like a goldfish.

There was clear evidence.

He had no excuse, even with ten mouths.

Meanwhile, Jun-hoo had defended himself in self-defense, so he would not be punished.

“Officer. Is it possible to just let these people go?”

“Huh? Are you serious, student?”

The police stared at Jun-hoo with a dumbfounded expression at his request.

“These guys not only ganged up on you four at once, but they even swung a box cutter. You’re going to forgive these bad guys?”

“Student, now that I see it, you have a heart of gold. Can you really do that?”

“I was really sorry earlier. Student.”

“Please forgive me.”

Since Jun-hoo hadn’t revealed that he was a doctor.

And because he looked young.

The thugs continued to call Jun-hoo “student.”

“Officer. If I want, can you just let these people go?”

“Well, since it’s an assault case, if both sides agree… but think about it again. These guys need to be taught a lesson.”

“But they’ve already been publicly humiliated in front of people, so they’ve probably come to their senses.”

“That’s right. I’ll live a good life.”

“Please give me one more chance.”

“I think this is enough.”

As Jun-hoo pleaded(?), the thugs were able to be released on the spot.

The police also left empty-handed.

As the situation was resolved.

Tae-seop, who had joined later, looked at Jun-hoo with a dissatisfied expression.

“Seo Jun-hoo, are you crazy? How could you just let those bastards go?”

“That’s right. This is too unfair. Those kinds of people will definitely do this again later, even if you let them off.”

Hye-jin, who had been silent, also sided with Tae-seop, huffing and puffing.

“Sometimes it’s good to show the virtue of forgiveness, right?”

“No, there are things you can forgive and things you can’t.”

“Let’s stop talking about this. Sorry, but I’m going to go to the bathroom for a bit. You three go outside first.”

After parting ways with the three, Jun-hoo went to the locker room.

He returned his swimsuit, changed into his regular clothes, and followed the thugs.

The thugs, who had been thoroughly beaten by Jun-hoo and lost their excitement, were wearing their regular clothes.

They were leisurely leaving the water park.

While tailing the thugs.

Jun-hoo touched his face with fingers imbued with internal energy.

Snap, crackle, pop.

As his facial structure changed, Jun-hoo’s face became completely different.

* * *

“Ha… what a f*cking disgrace. What kind of humiliation is this?”

The thug boss, Young-jin, frowned and scratched his short, bluish hair with his hand.

Although he was a low-level thug, Young-jin was a bona fide local gangster.

For him and his boys to be subdued by a young college student…

He had never been so embarrassed in his life.

Young-jin suddenly looked up at the sky and saw that the sunlight was bright.

Was it just his imagination?

The sunlight felt like it was mocking him.

“Just think of it as stepping on sh*t, boss. That bastard wasn’t normal.”

“He seemed like he was majoring in some kind of martial arts or sports? His movements were no joke.”

“Anyway, it’s a great relief that we got out of there without any problems, right?”

Among his boys’ words, the words of bald-headed Hyung-seok were the most pleasing to Young-jin.

It was definitely a great relief that they hadn’t been caught by the police.

If the student had wanted them to be punished.

The four of them wouldn’t have been able to leave the water park so peacefully and would have had to go to the police station and undergo a troublesome investigation.

“He was tough on the outside, but soft on the inside. I can’t believe he let us go so easily.”

“I know, right? What a moron. If I ever see him again, I’ll break his back.”

“You were the first one to get beat up, but you’re talking big.”

“I was caught off guard! If we fought properly, I would definitely win!”

Hyung-seok flared up at Young-jin’s remark.

“Who are you talking big to? Should I stab your fat belly full of lard with a knife so you can come to your senses?”

“S-sorry.”

As they were chatting and heading towards the parking lot.

A man blocked the path of the four.

The man looked to be in his early 30s.

He had a pointed chin and prominent cheekbones, giving off a somewhat sly vibe.

“You all look like you’re having fun? Can I join in?”

“What the f*ck, who are you?”

Young-jin clicked his tongue and asked.

It seemed like his luck was really bad today.

To think that even some random bum would pick a fight with him.

“Get lost if you don’t want to die.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Ha… I’m already in a bad mood, and now some piece of sh*t like you.”

“Boss. I’ll take care of him.”

Hyung-seok confidently approached the man, but surprisingly, he was knocked out with a single punch from the man.

The man’s solid fist had struck Hyung-seok’s face.

Pow!

Thud!

“Ugh! My nose!”

Hyung-seok, who had fallen to the ground, clutched his face and cried out in pain.

His face was covered in blood as his nose bled.

It was a terrible sight.

“Seriously, why is this happening today?”

“It was good when you were picking a fight, right? How does it feel to be on the receiving end?”

The masked man’s words were ominous.

Come to think of it, the man’s build and voice were somehow familiar.

In an instant, goosebumps rose on Hyung-seok’s back.

“You, you son of a b*tch, could you be that…”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about? Have you ever met someone who looks like me?”

“No… that…”

Hyung-seok couldn’t continue speaking.

The man’s voice and build seemed exactly the same as that student from earlier, but his face was completely different.

What on earth was going on?

Was he dreaming?

“Why? If you have something to say, say it to the end.”

“No, it’s too absurd…”

“How boring…”

The man shrugged his shoulders and quickly closed the distance between himself and Hyung-seok.

Pow!

A dull impact was transmitted to his head.

The man grabbed Hyung-seok’s head with one hand, and then grabbed another of his boys’ heads with the other hand.

Then, he made them headbutt each other.

Perhaps because of the severe impact.

Hyung-seok could see stars clearly, even though it was daytime.

“Ugh… you crazy bastard. Why are you doing this…”

Hyung-seok, who had collapsed to the ground, barely managed to open his mouth.

“If you’ve committed a crime, you have to be punished.”

“You son of a b*tch. Are you a *Jeongseokpa* [a traditionalist gang] gang member? But you’ve chosen the wrong place. There are CCTV cameras all over this parking lot, you know?”

Hyung-seok tried to intimidate the man.

But it wasn’t just a simple threat, as the water park parking lot was actually full of CCTV cameras.

The man’s face would have been captured and saved on video.

“CCTV. That kind of thing is meaningless. Do you know why?”

“…”

“Because I’m not a person who exists in this world.”

A cold smile appeared on the man’s lips.