A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 216

Chapter 41. Crossroads of Choice (1)

“This… This can’t be happening?”

Yongjae stared blankly at the phone Junhoo had returned to him.

Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!

He pressed the call button with his thumb, endlessly, but the Taoist didn’t answer.

Later, it seemed his number was blocked as spam.

The signal rang only once before a message indicated that the connection failed.

This couldn’t be happening.

He had believed that the Taoist would treat Jae-eun perfectly at a reasonable cost.

It felt like a bolt from the blue.

“Guardian, do you understand the situation now?”

The handsome, young doctor looked at Yongjae and said.

The doctor’s name tag read Seo Junhoo.

“Mr… Mr. Seo, isn’t the Taoist upset because you were rude? I can’t accept this.”

“Sigh… You’re frustrating me. Don’t you remember the call? He said he couldn’t come to the hospital and couldn’t treat her even if I went down there. What makes you trust that Taoist so much?”

“……”

“Th… That’s…”

Yongjae stammered.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand what Junhoo was saying. He just didn’t want to admit it.

That the Taoist was a fraud.

That his actions this morning had been foolish.

“Stop acting like a child and face reality. Jae-eun can only regain her health and live a normal life if you pull yourself together, Guardian.”

Junhoo’s eyes began to turn into a blue lake as he looked at Yongjae.

The moment he met those blue eyes.

Yongjae felt thoughts he had never had before flooding in like a tide.

I’m such an idiot.

What a pathetic guy.

I should have thought about working hard to earn more money when we were short on living expenses and medical bills, but instead, I tried to save money.

I should have worked as a construction worker instead of looking for a Taoist.

I feel sorry for Jae-eun and my wife.

They’re only suffering because of me?

Let’s get a grip now.

I need to fulfill my role as a father and a husband.

Clear and correct thoughts were etched into his mind, which had been as blank as a white sheet.

Yongjae quickly regained his senses.

“I’m sorry, Doctor. I was short-sighted… and did something stupid. Honey, I’m sorry. I was such a fool.”

Yongjae bowed to Junhoo and his wife in turn.

Then, his wife, who had been silent, stepped forward.

“Are you saying that sincerely?”

“Of course, I’m sincere. I’ll discuss anything I need to do with you from now on.”

“That’s strange? You’re not usually someone who gives up so easily?”

His wife tilted her head as if she was puzzled.

“If our family of three is going to live happily together, I need to fix my stubbornness—no, my stupidity. I’ll do better from now on.”

“Okay. I’ll keep an eye on you for now.”

His wife’s expression softened slightly.

In front of them, Yongjae deleted the Taoist’s phone number.

He showed them that he was belatedly regretting his foolishness.

Once he did that, he actually felt relieved.

It felt like he was born again.

“But Doctor, I have a question.”

“Yes, please ask.”

“I thought your eyes turned blue for a moment earlier. Or was I mistaken?”

“You must have been mistaken. My eyes are black.”

“Hahaha. I guess so. That Taoist must have messed with my eyes.”

“I’ll do everything I can to help Jae-eun’s treatment. Don’t worry too much.”

Junhoo said goodbye to the two and left the pediatric ward.

He returned to the neurosurgery ward.

The reason why the husband suddenly came to his senses.

It was thanks to the Righteous Eye.

The Righteous Eye was a technique that shot internal energy and righteous thoughts into the eyes.

In game terms, it was like a buff skill [a temporary enhancement] that removed mental status abnormalities or a righteous brainwashing skill(?).

Since successfully using the Righteous Eye on pianist Myunghan during the brain tumor awakening surgery.

He had been using it steadily in various ways.

Today, he saw its effects again.

If he had tried to get the husband to come to his senses with words alone, he would have had to do mental counseling for several days.

‘Those scammers, really…’

Junhoo gritted his teeth as he thought of the Taoist he had spoken to.

Scammers were rampant not only in the economy and real estate but also in the medical field.

There were cases where doctors were scammers.

And there were scammers who deceived and backstabbed patients and guardians with pseudo-medical practices, like today.

The targets were usually terminal cancer or rare disease patients.

Tempting a family of a Moyamoya disease patient was an unusual case, but it seemed that Yongjae was seen as an easy target.

While returning to the ward.

Junhoo thought about Jae-eun.

He looked for ways to help Jae-eun’s family financially.

He couldn’t help every patient in the world who was in financial difficulty.

But Junhoo’s goal was to take responsibility for the financial aspects of the patients he was in charge of.

When the Murim Father lost his life to Jeok Il-do.

And the Seo Clan went bankrupt.

Junhoo had also experienced bitter poverty.

He had felt the pain and sorrow that poverty brings.

So, he didn’t want Jae-eun to inherit the pain he had experienced.

Drrr-

As his thoughts came to an end, he arrived at the ward and entered the on-call room.

Minkyung was sitting in Kyungsoo’s seat.

Minkyung glanced at Junhoo indifferently.

A colder atmosphere than usual.

Minkyung had been distancing herself from Junhoo lately.

This was because Junhoo blamed Siho for the death of vegetative patient Min Taewoong, and Siho had snitched to Minkyung.

It was truly Siho’s shrewd social skills.

“Where have you been wandering around?”

“I got a call from the pediatric ward. Do you think I’m someone who slacks off?”

Junhoo sat down at the desk next to Minkyung.

“You’re so great. Really. But why are you so eager to devour Siho?”

“We’re just not compatible.”

“You’re talking nonsense. Siho is the most compatible person with you. He’s kind, considerate of others, and skilled.”

“Well, I have a different opinion. By the way, you’re still upset that I was rude to Siho, right?”

Junhoo changed the subject.

“Yes. I’m still very angry. It’s sad that your patient died, but you shouldn’t blame Siho for it, right?”

“I was wrong. Please, forgive me.”

Junhoo apologized readily.

It wasn’t an apology to Siho, but an apology for Minkyung.

Looking back, he had been somewhat careless. If he was going to corner Siho, he should have cornered him with evidence.

Trying to get a confession through leading questions, and recording it with a voice recorder app was a somewhat shallow tactic.

“What? You’re giving in so easily?”

“It’s natural to apologize if you’ve done something wrong.”

“Tch. That’s why I can’t hate you.”

Minkyung smiled, as if her anger had subsided.

“Don’t lie. You hate me, don’t you?”

“Me? Why?”

“Because of this.”

Junhoo took off the Crocs he was wearing and held out his foot to Minkyung.

The moment Minkyung saw Junhoo’s toe socks, which clearly showed his five toes.

Minkyung cringed.

“Ew. Disgusting! Seo Junhoo is so disgusting!”

Minkyung was the best at delivering playful blows.

* * *

At that time, in the conference room.

Assistant Professor Minseok of the neurovascular department and Cheolwoo, a first-year fellow of the neurovascular department, were sitting at an oval table, talking.

The two were discussing the surgical method for the Moyamoya disease patient who was admitted today.

This surgery was especially important to Minseok.

Because he was planning to apply a new surgical technique to the patient.

There were two main surgical methods for Moyamoya disease.

One was direct anastomosis, which connected the blocked blood vessels to other blood vessels.

The other was indirect anastomosis, which transplanted superficial tissue to replace the blocked blood vessels around the blocked blood vessels.

Using indirect anastomosis, new blood vessels could be created to replace the blocked blood vessels.

The former, direct anastomosis, was performed on adult Moyamoya disease patients.

This was because adult brain blood vessels were much thicker and stronger than those of children.

The latter, indirect anastomosis, was performed on pediatric Moyamoya disease patients.

Again, it was a matter of blood vessel stability.

However, Minseok had a plan to perform direct blood vessel anastomosis on the child patient.

It was a difficult and challenging surgery, but if successful, the patient’s progress would be remarkable.

Moreover, if successful, he would receive the attention of the academic world.

And he would be able to outshine Shin Donghoon of the brain tumor department, who was competing for the associate professor position.

Minseok was already excited just imagining it.

“Do you have a second assistant in mind?”

At Cheolwoo’s question, Minseok returned to reality.

“Of course. I do.”

“Who is it?”

“I’m thinking of using Junhoo.”

“Isn’t Junhoo a first-year resident? Isn’t he too inexperienced to be in charge of this surgery?”

Cheolwoo continued, looking doubtful.

“In my opinion, Siho would be much better. I’ve been watching him for a long time, and he’s meticulous and has excellent concentration.”

“Siho is a good guy too. But I’m more interested in Junhoo.”

“Is there a reason?”

Minseok nodded instead of answering.

The reason Minseok paid attention to Junhoo was because of his rival, Professor Shin.

Recently, Professor Shin had been actively using Junhoo as an assistant, and since then, the success rate and progress of the surgery had increased dramatically.

There must be something about Junhoo.

“Isn’t it a stretch to say that the surgery goes well because of Junhoo?”

Even after hearing Minseok’s explanation, Cheolwoo still looked dissatisfied.

“I know. But it’s worth checking.”

“Professor, what you say is true, but… there’s no need to use Junhoo in a position to test a new surgery…”

“Cheolwoo.”

Minseok called Cheolwoo in a low voice. There was a subtle power in his low voice.

“Yes, Professor.”

“I know you’re meticulous and good at your job, but do you think I’m not thinking about what you’re thinking?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know my place.”

“We’ll know if Junhoo is capable or not if we test him.”

“Test, you mean…”

“Let’s have him do what you’ve been practicing lately.”

“Wouldn’t it be too difficult?”

“Of course, I don’t expect him to succeed. What’s important is how far he can go.”

“I understand. Then I’ll call Junhoo.”

Soon after, Cheolwoo brought Junhoo.

Junhoo bowed to Minseok and sat next to Cheolwoo.

‘That guy, his looks are amazing. It makes me wonder why he’s a doctor.’

Minseok stared at Junhoo’s face and muttered to himself.

“You probably don’t know why I called you here, do you?”

“No. I don’t know.”

“About the Moyamoya disease patient who was admitted today. We’re going to do direct blood vessel anastomosis on that patient. I’ve chosen you as the second assistant.”

“……”

“How is it? Can you do it?”

“If you entrust it to me, I will live up to your expectations.”

Junhoo’s answer was cool and refreshing.

He was definitely a gutsy guy.

Usually, a first-year wouldn’t have answered like that.

Because it would be normal to hesitate or be reluctant in the face of a difficult surgery.

He didn’t even say he would try his best, but that he would live up to his expectations….

Minseok felt like he knew why Professor Shin cherished Junhoo.

‘I’m starting to like him more and more?’

Hiding his true feelings, Minseok changed the subject.

“But there’s a condition.”

“What condition?”

“It’s known that pediatric blood vessel anastomosis is difficult. If your skills are lacking, I can’t use you as an assistant. So, I’m going to test your skills first.”

Minseok turned his gaze to Cheolwoo.

“Cheolwoo.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Bring that here.”

Cheolwoo, who received the instruction, moved to the refrigerator and brought something to the table.

Surprisingly, the identity of that object was….

A thawed chicken wing.