A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 514

‘Oops, was that too much?’

Jun-hoo hastily withdrew the fighting spirit he had unleashed on Cheon Seok-yeong.

If he had miscalculated, a major disaster could have occurred, potentially causing Cheon Seok-yeong to lose control of his bladder.

Fighting Spirit (鬪氣) [a martial art technique that projects one’s fighting will using internal energy].

It was a technique Jun-hoo often employed when dealing with petty thugs in the Murim [martial arts world].

In fact, even in modern times…

Simply using fighting spirit was usually enough to overwhelm almost anyone, but Jun-hoo refrained.

He feared becoming corrupted if he started using martial arts to suppress others.

All evil originates from pursuing power alone and solving every problem with force.

“Professor Cheon, are you okay? Your complexion suddenly turned pale.”

Soon-daeng and Jung Min-jae looked at Cheon Seok-yeong with concern.

Cheon Seok-yeong waved his hand dismissively, as if to say he was fine.

However, his eyes still seemed unfocused, as if he were in a daze.

“Ahem. From now on, I will briefly explain how to use the surgical robot. Watch carefully how it moves.”

Jun-hoo sat down at the controls.

The surgical robot’s controls resembled the cockpit of a robot from cartoons.

First, there was a backrest seat.

In front of it was a monitor displaying the surgical view.

Jun-hoo positioned his head into the monitor. His head fit perfectly into the ‘∩’ shaped monitor opening.

“When you put your head in the monitor opening, your peripheral vision is blocked, allowing you to focus solely on the surgical view.”

“Yes, Director.”

“In that state, you use the master control device here.”

Jun-hoo placed his hand on the master control device.

The master control device was shaped like a joystick; when you inserted your finger, sensors captured its movement and translated it into delicate movements of the robot arm.

Weeeing.

Weeeing.

Jun-hoo moved the master device.

The surgical robot, which had been silent, began operating with a mechanical whir.

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

Jung Min-jae glanced at the control panel, then at the operating table, and burst into admiration.

“One of the advantages of robot surgery is that the range of motion of its joints is wider than that of humans.”

Jun-hoo drew a circle with his finger.

The wrist of the surgical robot rotated a full 360 degrees.

“Both of you, try rotating your wrists.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Yes, Director.”

The two, following Jun-hoo’s instructions, soon groaned. Their wrists, of course, couldn’t rotate as flexibly as the robot’s.

They managed roughly 270 degrees.

The remaining 90 degrees proved impossible.

“It doesn’t rotate 360 degrees.”

“Yes, that’s right. Robots can do what humans can’t. Because the range of motion of the joints is wider, you can access deeper areas that are inaccessible with endoscopic surgery, allowing for more precise treatment.”

“If the advantages are so great, shouldn’t we always opt for robot surgery?”

Cheon Seok-yeong asked, sounding skeptical.

His tone was argumentative, but it was a valid question.

“Robot surgery has the disadvantage of a limited surgical view due to the small incision.”

“……”

“There aren’t many surgical tools developed for it yet. But the most significant disadvantage is…”

“The disadvantage is?”

“The surgeon cannot feel the sense of touch.”

Jun-hoo smiled wryly.

The lack of tactile feedback is a common frustration among surgeons using robots.

Imagine performing a resection with your bare hands.

The surgeon instinctively understands the depth and pressure of the scalpel through the tactile sensation.

But robot surgery eliminates that.

You have to rely solely on your vision to compensate for the lack of touch.

The hand holding the control stick cannot feel what the robot arm is feeling.

Jun-hoo had also struggled with this.

The sharp sense of touch he had developed through martial arts was rendered almost useless in robot surgery.

“We have no choice but to accept it. Nothing in this world is without its drawbacks.”

“……”

“I will continue the explanation.”

While manipulating the control stick, Jun-hoo stepped on the pedals at the base of the console.

There were four pedals in total.

Three pedals to adjust the surgical view up, down, left, and right.

And one pedal to activate the electric cautery function of the robot arm.

Because of his skill in robot surgery…

Jun-hoo handled the surgical robot with effortless grace.

The robot arm’s movements, mirroring Jun-hoo’s, were almost like a performance.

‘It’s kind of fun after a long time.’

Jun-hoo felt a spark of excitement for the first time in a while.

* * *

Nearly 30 minutes of demonstration passed.

While demonstrating, Jun-hoo reiterated the advantages and disadvantages of robot surgery to the two.

“Let’s get to the point and move past the introduction.”

Jun-hoo stood up from the control panel and looked at Cheon Seok-yeong and Jung Min-jae.

Both wore sullen expressions.

*Can I really handle the surgical robot?*

The doubt was evident in their eyes.

But Jun-hoo would be in trouble if it proved too difficult.

The real challenge was about to begin.

“I will give you two months to master robot control.”

“Two… two months?”

Jung Min-jae stammered, surprised. He gaped like an idiot.

“Director, I haven’t even practiced yet, but I think it will take at least six months.”

“No. There is no compromise. You must master it within two months. That way, we can begin surgeries as soon as the epilepsy clinic is completed.”

Jun-hoo’s voice was firm.

But the following words were even more shocking.

“For your information, Professor Cheon and Professor Jung are now competitors. The person who masters the robot first and accurately will stay in Busan.”

“……”

“The person who doesn’t will be transferred to another area.”

“That… that can’t be. This is too harsh, Director.”

“Don’t joke around. Such nonsense…”

Cheon Seok-yeong, who had been silent, frowned and spoke.

The two reacted as if Jun-hoo was being heartless, but Jun-hoo didn’t even flinch.

“Do I look like I’m joking right now?”

“……”

“Now that we are operating an epilepsy clinic that can perform robot surgery, we don’t need anyone who can’t handle robots.”

“Okay, let’s say we transfer one person as the director said.”

Cheon Seok-yeong said with his arms crossed, his head tilted.

“Is there any guarantee that a newly hired neurosurgeon from another hospital will be good at robots?”

“……”

“If the new person can’t handle robots either, then we have to send that person somewhere else.”

“Are you going to keep passing the buck?”

“Yes, I can fill that gap.”

“Your own surgery schedule is so packed that you don’t have time to breathe.”

“I can handle it.”

Jun-hoo’s answer was confident.

He was nonchalant, as if there was nothing to worry about.

“……”

“……”

After a heated exchange.

A heavy silence descended on the operating room. No one spoke.

All three were busy calculating in their heads.

*No way.*

*It won’t go as you wish.*

Jun-hoo’s gaze lingered on Cheon Seok-yeong in particular.

[Professor Cheon is planning to sabotage the epilepsy clinic. Preparation is needed.]

40 minutes ago.

It was a message received from the informant, Choi Jin-gu.

Two professors were needed to run the epilepsy clinic.

And someone proficient in surgical robots.

If Cheon Seok-yeong sabotaged the effort…

If he deliberately avoided learning how to operate the robot…

The epilepsy clinic would inevitably struggle.

Due to manpower shortages.

Of course, Jun-hoo could assist occasionally, but there were limits.

As Cheon Seok-yeong had pointed out earlier…

Jun-hoo’s regular schedule was already overwhelming.

So Jun-hoo deliberately put on a strong front, stating that he would transfer one of them based on their proficiency in robot surgery.

This way, Cheon Seok-yeong wouldn’t dare to sabotage the effort.

Because if he neglected his training, he would have to leave his home in Busan and be transferred elsewhere.

“I will end today’s orientation here. From now on, I will help both of you with your practice every evening.”

“……”

“It’s not that I’m being harsh, but the situation can’t be helped.”

“……”

“For your information, there will be special rewards for those who trust and follow me, more than compensating for what you have endured. Please remember that.”

“……”

“Is there anyone who wants to stay and practice more?”

“I will stay.”

Jung Min-jae raised his hand tentatively.

Jun-hoo smiled contentedly.

“That’s a good proactive attitude. Professor Cheon, you can go back now.”

“Director, you are making a big mistake right now.”

Cheon Seok-yeong said, as if warning him.

His eyes were fierce as he looked at Jun-hoo.

“This kind of approach is not wise. You will face great backlash in the future.”

“Why are you suddenly trying to take responsibility for my life? Just do what you usually do.”

“Humph! We’ll see.”

Cheon Seok-yeong turned and left, radiating coldness.

After he left, Jung Min-jae sat down at the console. Perhaps due to the pressure, Jung Min-jae’s shoulders were slumped.

Jun-hoo also felt sorry for Jung Min-jae.

He was going to suffer because of Cheon Seok-yeong.

He wanted to tell him the truth, but he held back.

Originally, to deceive someone…

You have to deceive your own people too.

“Haa… Director, isn’t it too much to ask to learn robot operation within two months?”

Jung Min-jae’s voice was full of complaints.

“Besides, you’re even making us compete. It’s not like you, Director. Honestly, I’m disappointed in you, Director.”

“There are things you can’t avoid when you live. Relax.”

Jun-hoo approached Jung Min-jae from behind. He drew internal energy from his dantian [energy center] and focused it on his fingertips.

“Relax and stay still. I’ll give you a scalp massage.”

“This is the operating room?”

“We’re not actually doing surgery, are we?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Jun-hoo began to massage Jung Min-jae’s head in earnest.

But that massage was no ordinary massage.

It stimulated the 24 blood points located on the head to increase blood flow to the brain.

The ‘Brain Acupressure’ stimulated the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory.

Among the frontal lobe, the premotor cortex, primary motor cortex, and supplementary motor area were stimulated.

Kkuuuk.

Kkuuuk.

Jun-hoo’s fingers, infused with internal energy, stimulated Jung Min-jae’s various cranial nerves.

Brain acupressure.

This was a technique that Jun-hoo actively used, especially during his residency.

*Let’s use acupressure for education instead of treatment.*

It started with this idea.

But the effect was amazing.

Thanks to brain acupressure, Jun-hoo completed all neurosurgery textbooks in his first year.

He even mastered the secret notes containing his teacher Park Jae-hyun’s know-how.

As the functions of each area of the brain were amplified, the learning speed became terrifying.

“The massage effect is really good. I suddenly feel like my head is clear.”

Jung Min-jae said in a surprised voice.

“I can clearly remember everything the director explained earlier. It’s amazing.”

“That’s why I said it’s good to receive it.”

“I’ll try it as I remember it for now.”

Jung Min-jae began to move the control stick.

At first, he hesitated a bit, but on the second or third attempt, he imitated Jun-hoo quite plausibly.

The movement of the robot arm gradually became natural.

Of course, thanks to brain acupressure!

Right now, Jung Min-jae’s brain was like a soft sponge.

He was ready to absorb everything.

In other words, Jun-hoo’s demand to learn robot surgery within two months was by no means unreasonable.

That is, assuming he received brain acupressure.

“Director, please teach me more about the operation. I think I can learn anything now.”

“Okay, I’ll teach you everything I have.”

Jun-hoo grinned.

Jung Min-jae had already taken the bait.

All that was left was to deal with the main problem, Cheon Seok-yeong.