A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 259

The Typhoon (4)

Chapter 49: The Typhoon (4)

Lee Si-deok was a professor of neurosurgery at Daejeon Shinwon University Hospital.

A middle-aged professor with an intellectual and youthful appearance, perfectly complemented by his horn-rimmed glasses.

After attending a seminar in Seoul, Si-deok briefly visited the main branch in Seoul with his junior colleague, Professor Shin Dong-hoon.

There was a staff member he wanted to see.

His name was Seo Jun-hoo.

According to Dong-hoon, Jun-hoo was a resident with genius-level talent, surpassing even Park Jae-hyun.

Despite being only in his second year, his medical knowledge was extensive, and his surgical skills were already on par with a fellow [a doctor who has completed residency and is undergoing advanced training in a subspecialty].

-Dong-hoon, aren’t you exaggerating a bit too much? Comparing him to Professor Park Jae-hyun of all people?

One day, while chatting with Dong-hoon at the seminar, Si-deok overheard the story about Jun-hoo and scoffed.

Park Jae-hyun was the only surgeon Lee Si-deok truly respected. He was also the only triple-board certified neurosurgeon in the country.

But a rookie resident named ‘Seo Jun-hoo’ could be better than Park Jae-hyun?

That was utter nonsense.

That statement was an insult to Park Jae-hyun.

Si-deok thought so.

At least until the paper about Jun-hoo came out.

[Cerebral Revascularization for Moyamoya Disease Patients Performed Without a Microscope.]

About a month ago, a shocking paper was presented at the Neurosurgery Society.

The news that a doctor with 20/20 vision had sewn a child’s cerebral blood vessels with four stitches using only loupes (optical magnifying glasses) took the society by storm.

Surprisingly, the main subject was Jun-hoo.

So, immediately after the seminar today, Si-deok visited the on-call room at the main branch in Seoul with Dong-hoon.

It was to confirm the rumored Jun-hoo in person.

And now!

He recognized the young man practicing sutures in front of him as Jun-hoo.

Jun-hoo’s appearance was more suited to an actor than a doctor.

Skin as white and clean as milk.

Distinct facial features.

And a refreshingly tall and slender neck, arms, and legs.

Most impressive of all was that until Si-deok and Dong-hoon entered the on-call room, Jun-hoo was so ‘immersed’ in his practice that he didn’t even notice their presence.

And the size of the suture Jun-hoo was practicing with was a whopping 9-0.

For a second-year resident, that is.

Wasn’t this the time to just start learning craniotomies [surgical removal of part of the skull] and sewing up the scalp with 3-0 sutures?

But Jun-hoo was different from the start.

To dare to practice suturing with 9-0 sutures?

Handling 9-0 sutures required the skill of at least a fellow or professor level.

Perhaps that’s why Si-deok was convinced that the young man in front of him was Jun-hoo, even though he was seeing him for the first time.

“Hello, Professor.”

Jun-hoo noticed Si-deok and Dong-hoon and stood up from his seat.

He bowed politely.

“You were practicing sutures. Would you mind talking for a moment?”

“Of course.”

“This is Lee Si-deok, the head of the neurosurgery department at the Daejeon branch. He’s also my senior from medical school.”

Dong-hoon, an assistant professor in the brain tumor department who had worked with Jun-hoo on awake surgeries, introduced Si-deok.

“Nice to meet you, Director. I’m Seo Jun-hoo.”

“Yes, I’ve heard a lot about you from Dong-hoon. He said you’re very talented.”

Si-deok’s gaze turned to the desk.

The wound on the practice model on the desk was neatly sutured.

The total of 10 knots were tight.

And the spacing between the knots was as uniform as if measured with a ruler.

Si-deok calculated the length of the remaining suture and quickly came to a conclusion.

Jun-hoo had never broken the thread even once while suturing.

It was truly a monstrous talent.

“I honestly thought the rumors about Jun-hoo were exaggerated, but seeing you in person, it seems they were actually understated.”

“You flatter me. I’m still far behind the director and professors.”

“But is there a reason why you’re already practicing with 9-0 sutures?”

Si-deok adjusted his glasses and continued. “It looks like you’re entering middle school and studying university material in advance.”

“I believe patients don’t wait for my growth. To be ready for surgery anytime, anywhere, I need to build my skills in advance.”

“……”

“Our neurosurgery department is so short-staffed that we always need even a cat’s paw, don’t we?”

Jun-hoo’s answer was firm.

It would be hard enough just to survive each day as a resident…

Unlike other residents, Jun-hoo was looking to the future.

His caliber was definitely different.

After that, Si-deok asked Jun-hoo a few more questions.

Jun-hoo answered immediately without hesitation.

No hesitation didn’t mean he wasn’t thinking.

It meant he had been contemplating for a long time and had already found his own answers.

As evidence, Jun-hoo’s answers were profound.

They had a resonance that resonated with the inner self.

So, Si-deok coveted Jun-hoo.

He desperately wanted to get his hands on him.

He was burning with extreme thirst.

A resident with Jun-hoo’s mindset and skills couldn’t be found anywhere in Korea, or even the world.

Just staring blankly at such a wonderful gem was no different from torture.

“Jun-hoo.”

Si-deok called Jun-hoo in a low voice.

During the conversation, they had agreed to speak comfortably to each other.

“Yes, Director.”

“What do you think about working in Daejeon? Would you at least consider coming on a dispatch [temporary assignment]?”

Si-deok threw out a tempting offer.

“What makes a surgeon grow is, without a doubt, the patient. And Daejeon is designated as a regional trauma center, so you can see a lot of diverse cases.”

“……”

“If you want, I’ll accommodate you as much as possible. Even if you’re a second-year, I’ll let you perform solo surgeries.”

“Senior, isn’t that too radical?”

Dong-hoon, who had been silent, was deeply worried.

Entrusting a solo surgery to a second-year resident?

It was truly a dangerous idea.

If a problem occurred during the surgery, the aftermath could involve being a defendant in court.

The guardian would file a lawsuit.

“And isn’t it too much to try and poach Jun-hoo?”

“I only gave him a choice.”

Si-deok shrugged.

He stared intently at Jun-hoo, who was contemplating.

“……”

Jun-hoo was silent for a long time.

It wasn’t a silence of refusal, but a silence of contemplation and conflict.

Si-deok’s advice was so radical and right up his alley.

Solo surgery in the second year…

If solo surgery was possible, Jun-hoo’s skills could skyrocket.

He could freely unleash the surgical techniques of professors he had stored like a herbivore.

-Yes. I definitely want to go!

However, Jun-hoo suppressed the words tickling in his throat.

Jun-hoo sincerely wanted to go to Daejeon, but now was not the time.

Until he dealt with the ‘time bomb’ called ‘Si-ho,’ he couldn’t go to any branch.

“I’m sorry. I don’t think now is the right time.”

“Hmm. That’s a shame. It would have been better if you had said you would go willingly.”

A bitter smile hung on Si-deok’s lips.

The gentle and docile atmosphere changed 180 degrees. It was as if a beast had awakened within Si-deok.

“What do you mean by that……”

“I’m the type to get what I want right away. So, you’ll eventually have to come to Daejeon.”

“……”

“Wouldn’t it be better to come on your own than to be dragged?”

“I’m sorry, Director, but I have an unresolved issue. I can’t go anywhere until I resolve that issue.”

“That’s what you think.”

“Is there anything more important than my thoughts in life?”

Jun-hoo and Si-deok’s gazes collided intensely in the air.

Neither side easily backed down.

No one yielded.

It was a clash of strong wills.

Ziiiiing~

Ziiiiing~

Just as the air in the on-call room became suffocating due to the two men’s battle of wills, someone’s pager rang.

It was Dong-hoon’s pager, who had been anxiously watching the situation.

Dong-hoon took out his pager from his gown and connected the call.

“Oh, why? What’s wrong?”

-……

“Ha… that’s troublesome.”

“What’s wrong? Why are you sighing from the start?”

Si-deok asked Dong-hoon.

“The hand surgery department is asking to borrow a fellow-level staff member. They need to perform a finger replantation surgery now, but they don’t have a suitable staff member.”

Dong-hoon’s brow furrowed.

The hand surgery department’s situation was pitiful, but fellow-level staff members were as precious as gold in the neurosurgery department as well.

And currently, all the neurosurgery fellows were in surgery.

“You’re worrying about something that’s not even a worry.”

“It’s hard to refuse outright, isn’t it? There are many professors and staff members from our neurosurgery department in the hand surgery department.”

“I didn’t say to refuse.”

“Is there another way besides refusing? If you had such a clever solution, you should have told me sooner.”

“I’m about to tell you now.”

Si-deok shrugged and began. “The hand surgery department said they needed a fellow ‘level’ assistant, right?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you so anxious when the solution is right in front of you?”

“No, Senior. Isn’t Jun-hoo a second-year resident?”

Si-deok asked, feigning protest. The hand surgery department clearly wanted a fellow-level assistant.

Sending Jun-hoo would be nothing short of asking for trouble.

“It’s okay. The hand surgery department wanted a fellow ‘level’ assistant, not a fellow.”

“……”

“If you can handle 9-0 sutures, isn’t that a fellow ‘level’ assistant?”

Si-deok said with a nonchalant attitude and pointed to the on-call room entrance behind him with his thumb.

“Seo Jun-hoo.”

“Yes, Director.”

“I’ll take care of the aftermath, so go to the operating room right away. Help the hand surgery department.”

“I have another surgery assist in 30 minutes.”

“I’m saying this after considering all of that, so go quickly. I’ll take responsibility.”

Jun-hoo hesitated for a moment and then bowed his head.

*Turbuk. Turbuk. Turbuk.* [sound of quick footsteps]

He left the on-call room at a brisk pace.

To be honest, Jun-hoo was happy to help with the hand surgery.

Finger replantation surgery was much more difficult and challenging than the spinal surgery he had in 30 minutes.

[Adversity makes me grow.]

This was one of Jun-hoo’s mottos since his days in the Murim [martial arts world].

Jun-hoo believed that humans could break their limits only when they struggled to solve the adversity or difficulties in front of them.

‘Anyway, I like his straightforward personality. I wish our director would emulate that aspect, although the subtly revealed authoritarian appearance was not to my liking.’

Still, Jun-hoo felt a liking for Si-deok.

He liked his strong charisma and decisive 추진력 [drive/pushing power].

‘Daejeon… it won’t be too late to go after dealing with Si-ho.’

Jun-hoo’s pace gradually quickened, and he soon began to step on Cheongpungbo [a martial arts technique for moving swiftly].

Despite squeezing through the narrow corridors, his speed and movements were mysterious.

Jun-hoo didn’t even brush against anyone among the passersby.

It was like ‘막 가 through the rain’ [skillfully navigating through a crowd without touching anyone].

Meanwhile, in the on-call room, Dong-hoon crossed his arms and stared at Si-deok with a dissatisfied expression.

“You should be acting like a king in Daejeon, why are you doing it here? You’re only making things difficult for me.”

Dong-hoon’s lips were pouting.

It seemed that Dong-hoon’s dignity and gravitas were lower than usual when he was with Si-deok, a close senior.

“You confidently said you would poach Jun-hoo, and you arbitrarily sent Jun-hoo as an assistant to the hand surgery department.”

“……”

“I have to deal with the aftermath. Why are you doing this when you know everything?”

“I’m doing this because it’s you. You have the ability to solve everything.”

“Hoo. I’m glad I’m in Seoul at times like this.”

Dong-hoon sighed as if he had given up.

Si-deok was a runaway train.

Once he started running, no one could stop him.

The only person who could stop Si-deok was Si-deok himself.

So, it was easier to give up early.

“But, Senior.”

“Yeah. Why?”

“How are you going to poach Jun-hoo? These days, our director is slowly setting his sights on Jun-hoo as well. He won’t willingly let him go to Daejeon, will he?”

Dong-hoon asked out of curiosity.

Si-deok scoffed as if it was nothing.

“You still don’t know anything. You don’t know that there’s no one as easy to handle as your director in the world.”

A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]

A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]

무공 쓰는 외과 의사
Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] Haunted by vivid dreams of a life lived in a world of martial arts, Seo Jun-hoo finds himself at a crossroads. Is he the martial arts master of his dreams, or the high school student of the present day? The answer is both. He discovers he can cultivate internal energy even in the modern world, a power he never imagined possible. Torn between two lives, Seo Jun-hoo seeks a path that blends his extraordinary abilities with a desire to help others. Leaving the sword behind, he chooses the scalpel, aiming to save lives instead of taking them. Witness the rise of a doctor unlike any other, a healer wielding the power of martial arts. Could this be the destiny he was always meant for?

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