A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 105

The Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts 105

Chapter 18: The Tipping Point (5)

Jae-seok had met geniuses twice in his life.

Once in elementary school.

And once more in medical school.

The common trait among geniuses was their overwhelming achievements.

Ordinary people couldn’t keep up with the accomplishments of geniuses.

Jae-seok still remembered vividly.

The sight of a classmate in elementary school effortlessly solving college math problems that seemed like code.

At that time, he didn’t even know they were college math problems.

In Jae-seok’s eyes, Jun-hoo also belonged to the category of genius.

Jun-hoo was performing procedures he hadn’t even learned.

He was doing procedures he hadn’t been taught all on his own.

From the start, it didn’t make sense for an intern to stand as the first assistant.

Perhaps that’s why.

Jae-seok, with his injured finger and in an urgent situation where he couldn’t call another surgeon, decided to place his hope on one genius.

He decided to entrust Jun-hoo with performing the splenectomy [surgical removal of the spleen].

It would be a lie to say there was no fear or anxiety.

If Jun-hoo caused a problem during the surgery, he would have to take all the responsibility.

He would have no face to show Young-hwan.

But still.

He couldn’t abandon a critically ill patient out of fear.

A true doctor should be someone who preserves the well-being of the patient, not their own.

“Doctor. Are you sure this is okay? It feels like you’re taking too much of a risk.”

The anesthesiologist expressed concern.

Although they didn’t join the conversation, the scrub nurses seemed to share the same opinion.

They were feeling uneasy about entrusting such a major surgery to an intern like Jun-hoo.

“How about you operate yourself when the bleeding stops and the pain subsides?”

The anesthesiologist suggested a third option.

“I tried moving my finger, but it doesn’t seem like it will get better with a short rest.”

Jae-seok frowned as he moved his finger.

“In this state, it’s easy to damage innocent blood vessels or nerves. It would be a complete disaster.”

“Still, I’ve never seen a case like this before. Perhaps it’s better to wait for another surgeon…….”

“Unfortunately, time is not on our side. We can’t guarantee when someone will come to help, can we?”

“…….”

“I know you don’t trust my judgment, but please trust me on this one.”

Jae-seok believed in his decision.

If that was the case, the answer was to move forward without doubt.

“Jun-hoo. Are you nervous?”

Jae-seok’s gaze turned to Jun-hoo.

Jun-hoo had been staring at the spleen without saying a word since earlier.

“No. I was thinking about how to operate.”

Jun-hoo’s response was calm.

He showed no signs of wavering despite the heavy responsibility he was taking on and the concerns pouring in from those around him.

It was the 모습 [Korean word meaning ‘appearance’ or ‘figure’] Jae-seok had been hoping for.

“Let’s switch places first.”

“Yes.”

Jae-seok stepped down from the position of the surgeon and moved to the first assistant position, and Jun-hoo took over.

It was a historic moment when the surgeon changed from a resident to an intern.

“There’s no need to be too scared. If you think of a splenectomy as a slightly upgraded appendectomy [surgical removal of the appendix], you’ll feel more comfortable.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Jae-seok briefly explained the overview of the splenectomy to Jun-hoo.

* * *

The surgery preparation was complete.

He had engraved the surgical tips he heard from Jae-seok into his bones [memorized them perfectly].

His hands were sufficiently warmed up.

And he had reviewed the anatomical knowledge of the spleen.

Perhaps it was thanks to living as a swordsman in the Murim [martial arts world] for over 20 years.

Jun-hoo didn’t feel any aversion or fear towards the surgery.

He wasn’t anxious just because the situation was urgent.

Jun-hoo had experienced too many moments where life and death intersected for his emotions to waver.

“I will now begin the splenectomy. 10-blade.”

Jun-hoo held the scalpel handed to him by the scrub nurse.

His gaze rested on the splenic artery connected to the spleen.

Vascular clamps were in place above the blood vessels to prevent bleeding.

Whoosh.

Swoosh.

Jun-hoo cut the artery with a single gesture.

Embodying the principle of the second form of the Seo Clan’s Cheongun Sword Technique, Hwapung Gamwoo [likely a fictional sword technique name, could be translated as “Rainbow After the Storm”].

The staff didn’t notice, but the curve drawn by Jun-hoo’s scalpel was as graceful as a rainbow.

‘I wondered, but it’s true.’

‘I can apply the swordsmanship I learned in the Murim as it is with a scalpel.’

A smile bloomed on Jun-hoo’s lips.

Confidence surged that there would be no mistakes or failures.

“Wow, you cut it in one go. The cut surface is clean too.”

Zzzzzz.

Jae-seok exclaimed while cauterizing the severed blood vessels with a Bovie (electrocautery device).

Jae-seok was assisting Jun-hoo with his injured right hand. He could handle simple procedures to some extent with his right hand.

“Just keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t touch the nerves and blood vessels connected to the stomach or liver.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Jun-hoo’s movements were relentless.

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

Swoosh.

There was no second time.

Jun-hoo cut the splenic blood vessels with a single swing of the scalpel.

The scalpel never missed the blood vessels.

There was no touching innocent nerves and blood vessels.

Wasn’t Jun-hoo the one who had earned the nickname ‘Immaculate Sword’ in the Murim?

Holding the scalpel, Jun-hoo displayed performances worthy of his nickname in the Murim.

“…….”

“…….”

The operating room, which had become quiet before they knew it.

All the staff had fallen deeply into Jun-hoo’s surgery.

Now, no one questioned the fact that Jun-hoo was operating.

No one expressed concern.

Jun-hoo seemed like someone who should be in that position.

Thus, just 10 minutes after starting the splenectomy, all the arterial blood vessels connected to the spleen were removed.

The last target to be removed.

It was only the splenic ligament connecting the abdominal cavity and the spleen.

The splenic ligament was yellowish, thick, and appeared sticky.

“It would be better to remove the ligament with a Bovie than a scalpel, right?”

Jae-seok gave Jun-hoo advice for the first time in a while.

“If you use a scalpel, you have to saw it off. It takes a long time, it takes more effort, and it can damage the mesentery [membrane that attaches organs to the body wall].”

“I think the scalpel will be faster. If you can use it properly.”

“Tsk…… Try it once, and if it doesn’t work, use the Bovie right away. Don’t be stubborn.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Despite Jae-seok’s advice, Jun-hoo didn’t let go of the scalpel.

Jun-hoo was a master of the sword.

He was confident in anything involving the use of a sword.

Hyo Pung Jan Wol (Dawn Wind, 残月) [Likely a fictional sword technique name, could be translated as “Remnant Moon in the Dawn Wind”].

Jun-hoo swung the scalpel horizontally.

The scalpel’s path was short because of the risk of damaging the surrounding organs.

It was not enough to put enough force on the scalpel.

Jun-hoo compensated for that part with his internal energy [Qi or life force, a concept in traditional Chinese medicine].

Flash!

The trajectory drawn by Jun-hoo’s scalpel was short and intense.

The thick splenic ligament was cut off at once.

The cut surface of the ligament was clean without the need for further work.

Thud!

As the ligament was cut, the spleen drooped powerlessly.

Jun-hoo placed the spleen, which had fallen from the abdomen, in a curved basin.

And one word from Jae-seok, who was watching Jun-hoo.

“Ugh. I lost. I lost.”

* * *

5th floor lounge.

Jun-hoo was taking a break with Jae-seok, drinking canned coffee.

The splenectomy was successfully completed.

The patient was recovering safely in the intensive care unit.

The fact that he put the final knot on the surgery with his own hands.

The fact that he applied martial arts to the scalpel.

The fact that he kept his promise with the guardian.

All of that made Jun-hoo feel proud.

Jun-hoo had clearly dreamed of becoming a surgeon to taste this kind of fulfillment.

Also, paradoxically, it was only in modern times.

Jun-hoo was realizing the true meaning of the Healing Sword.

“Thank you for believing in me, senior. If it weren’t for you, I would still be waiting for another surgeon in the operating room.”

Jun-hoo gave credit to Jae-seok.

He was the one who performed the surgery, but it was Jae-seok who opened the way.

If Jae-seok hadn’t encouraged him.

Even Jun-hoo wouldn’t have thought of doing the splenectomy himself.

“I believed because you were trustworthy. I’ve always had a good eye for people.”

Jae-seok chuckled and continued.

“Anyway, your skills were beyond my expectations. You’re like a monster. How do you do a resection using only a scalpel?”

“…….”

“Even the professors don’t do it like you.”

Jae-seok shook his head as if he was fed up.

“I strangely like scalpels. Because I can cut something out and check it with my sense of touch.”

“If you can use it well, a scalpel is good.”

The post-surgery celebration lasted about 10 minutes.

Since the surgery was successful, the atmosphere of the conversation was friendly.

“Good job, see you later.”

“Yes. Good job, Chief.”

“Oh, right. And keep the fact that you operated today a secret. I’ll keep the other staff in line.”

“Understood.”

Jae-seok left the lounge first.

Jun-hoo took nutritional supplements and then performed Qi circulation [energy circulation] for about 10 minutes.

That short amount of time was enough to replenish the stamina and mental strength exhausted from the long surgery.

As always, the combination of nutritional supplements and Qi circulation was a cheat.

The vitality-lost body.

The sharpness-lost concentration.

These two were recovered at once.

Unlike other interns, Jun-hoo lived without knowing fatigue.

Jun-hoo, who left the lounge, visited the cardiology ward instead of the gastroenterology ward.

“Senior. How are you feeling?”

Jun-hoo, who entered a hospital room, looked down at the patient and asked.

The patient’s name was Kim Dae-jin.

He was a first-year resident in gastroenterology and a senior who had collapsed yesterday due to an acute myocardial infarction [heart attack].

“I’m okay now. The attending physician says I’m improving too.”

Dae-jin looked up at Jun-hoo and continued to speak.

“You must be busy, why did you come to see me?”

“Yes. I thought you might be bored, senior.”

“I heard everything from Senior Sang-hyuk earlier. That you’re taking over my work instead. Thank you and I’m sorry.”

“Focus on your recovery instead of me, senior. Now that it’s happened, you should forget everything and take a good rest.”

In Jun-hoo’s eyes looking down at Dae-jin, there was pity.

If he had a cardiac arrest due to overwork.

How much hardship had Dae-jin gone through until now?

On the other hand, he also resented Mi-ho, the culprit of this situation.

“Senior. Have you thought about what I told you yesterday?”

“Ah. That?”

Dae-jin scratched his cheek and hesitated for a long time.

“It’s hard, but I’ll try. It’s time for me to come to my senses now.”

“You made a good decision. It’s only hard at first, but you’ll get used to it after doing it a few times.”

Jun-hoo had a conversation with Dae-jin for about 10 minutes.

In fact, it was closer to listening than talking.

While being alone in the hospital room, Dae-jin seemed to have reflected on and introspected on his actions.

By the time he returns to the medical office, he will be a different person than before.

After finishing the conversation with Dae-jin, Jun-hoo left the hospital room.

Three days passed since then.

* * *

The three days without Dae-jin were hell for Mi-ho.

The seniors compared the work abilities of the interns Jun-hoo and Mi-ho, and gave Mi-ho a hard time.

-Hey, how can you be worse at your job than an intern? Take off your name tag. Take it off.

-What did you learn for 3 months? Whether it’s procedures or charting. You have to be good at least one of them.

The seniors’ scolding and nagging were like thorns piercing Mi-ho’s heart.

To think that she, who had been treated as an ace, had fallen to the bottom in an instant…….

This couldn’t be happening.

It shouldn’t be happening.

So Mi-ho didn’t give in and protested.

She didn’t admit that her work ability was lacking and only made excuses.

‘I’m not feeling well these days.’

‘If I get better, I can do as well as before.’

Of course, it was a lie.

Mi-ho was just eagerly waiting for Dae-jin to return.

If only Dae-jin would return.

If only she could pass her work on to Dae-jin.

She would be able to regain her lost reputation and fame.

And finally, the fateful day came.

After finishing his short stay in the cardiology department.

Dae-jin returned after four days.

Mi-ho sincerely congratulated Dae-jin’s return in the on-call room.

She also comforted Dae-jin, saying that he had suffered a lot physically and mentally.

Dae-jin didn’t know what to do with Mi-ho’s warm welcome.

Even after collapsing from overwork, he was still as foolish as ever.

‘That’s why I can’t abandon you, Dae-jin.’

Mi-ho sneered inwardly.

“Dae-jin.”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I just got a call from the emergency room, but could you go? I have to go to the intensive care unit for rounds now.”

“…….”

“Sorry. To ask you for such a favor as soon as you come back.”

Mi-ho said with the most pitiful expression possible.

But what?

Dae-jin’s reaction was different from before.

“No.”

“……No?”

Mi-ho doubted her ears.

Is the Yes-man who only knew Yes now refusing?

No way!

Mi-ho added a word because her pride was hurt to back down like this.

“I suffered so much while you were gone. You can’t even go to the emergency room once? I’m a little disappointed.”

Mi-ho subtly induced Dae-jin’s guilt.

But Dae-jin didn’t budge.

“Hey, Joo Mi-ho. You go. To the emergency room.”