A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 118

The Martial Surgeon – Episode 118

Chapter 21: The Bracelet (3)

“Well, look who’s here bright and early, young man and lady. Got nothing to do this afternoon?”

The owner greeted Jun-hoo and Ah-young warmly as they entered the bar.

“Ah, yes.”

Ah-young replied.

“Come over here, it’s warmer this way, since it’s cold.”

The corner seat that the owner led them to was indeed warm.

It probably wasn’t a seat warmed up in advance for customers.

It was likely the seat the owner had been sitting in just now.

Still, they could feel the owner’s kindness.

“One bottle of soju, please. And for the side dish… what’s the least delicious thing you have?”

“Huh? Least delicious?”

“Yes.”

“We have some frozen fried food… but if you’re going to drink, you should have something tasty. Why? Why would you want something not delicious?”

The owner tilted her head, looking puzzled.

“I guess you could say I feel guilty. I had a bad day today.”

“You’ve got a unique personality. Do as you please.”

The owner put down the soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] bottle and glasses and headed to the kitchen.

Ah-young poured Jun-hoo a glass of soju.

Jun-hoo also poured a drink for Ah-young.

They both emptied their glasses at the same time.

Ah-young barely managed to suppress a groan.

The soju tasted especially bitter today.

It felt like pouring bitter medicine down her throat.

Soju was a drink that changed its taste depending on your mood.

If the soju tasted this bitter.

Then her mood must have sunk to rock bottom.

…Ah-young thought.

The glasses were refilled.

Jun-hoo emptied his glass again in an instant.

“…”

“…”

There was hardly any conversation between them.

Only the glasses were busily going back and forth.

Ah-young had come to the bar to comfort Jun-hoo, but she didn’t offer any particular words of solace.

She left the comforting to the alcohol.

He looks like he’s having a really hard time.

I’ve never seen him like this before.

Ever since high school, Ah-young had thought of Jun-hoo as being as strong as steel.

A kid who was calm and collected in any crisis.

A kid who would never fall or collapse.

In fact, Jun-hoo had continued to show that side of himself.

Until yesterday, when he heard the news of Sung-ho’s brain death.

After arriving at the hospital together.

Jun-hoo staggered like a weak reed.

He showed extreme emotional ups and downs.

He got into an argument with a blameless nurse.

And then he suddenly put his hand on Sung-ho’s head and fainted.

Sung-ho’s brain death had been that shocking to Jun-hoo.

Of course, Ah-young was sad too.

When she saw Sung-ho in the intensive care unit, breathing only with the help of machines.

Her heart felt like it was being torn apart.

She felt so miserable and even resented the heavens.

But she couldn’t show it because of Jun-hoo.

She suppressed her sad feelings, thinking that she had to be Jun-hoo’s support this time.

“When we were in medical school, the four of us, including Jun-han, used to go out for drinks a lot.”

A bitter smile spread across Jun-hoo’s face.

“We won’t be able to do that anymore.”

Jun-hoo’s words became thorns and pierced Ah-young’s heart.

Now there was only one way to drink with Sung-ho.

To reminisce about the memories of drinking with Sung-ho.

They could no longer make memories with Sung-ho, who was in a state of brain death.

“I know. Heaven is so heartless. Why did this happen to Sung-ho oppa [term used by a female to address an older male she’s close to]…”

“Ah-young.”

“Yeah. Don’t worry about me, you drink too. You’re having a hard time too.”

Jun-hoo said in a gentle voice.

Jun-hoo’s eyes were calmer than before.

It seemed like he was returning to the Jun-hoo that Ah-young knew.

“I feel like you’re suppressing your emotions because you’re worried I’ll go on a rampage. You don’t have to. Now it’s your turn.”

Jun-hoo comforted Ah-young’s heart with his words.

“No. I’m really okay.”

“There’s no way you’re okay. When it comes to having a tender heart, Ah-young, you’re in the top three of all the people I know.”

“…”

“You’re the one who’s probably the saddest right now.”

“…”

“Now you can lean on me.”

The walls of her heart, which she had been guarding like an iron fortress, began to crumble.

Once the walls crumbled, she couldn’t stop it, and Ah-young sobbed, her shoulders shaking.

Tears fell into the soju glass.

* * *

That night.

Jun-hoo left the drunk Ah-young in a motel and went back to the hospital.

The rough and scattered snowflakes had disappeared.

Peace had returned, just like Jun-hoo’s heart.

Jun-hoo stood blankly at the entrance of the motel and looked up at the sky.

-Life and death are two sides of the same coin. If you separate one side, neither can exist.

-You need to be more detached. You must let go of human emotions and be able to observe them silently.

-If you want to go beyond the realm of Hwagyeong [a state of enlightenment in martial arts] and reach the realm of Hyeonkyeong [a higher state of enlightenment in martial arts], please remember my humble advice.

Jun-hoo suddenly recalled the words that the head of the Wudang Sect [a famous Taoist martial arts sect], who was called the greatest swordsman in the martial world, had said to him in the past.

Of course, they were good words, but.

Jun-hoo still couldn’t understand them.

If a human transcends human emotions, would that still be a human?

Then or now.

Jun-hoo wanted to be a human who lived with joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.

I will not give up the emotions given to humans.

If emotions exist, there must be a reason for their existence.

Unlike the head of the sect, I will become stronger in a human way.

Thump. Thump.

Jun-hoo left the motel area and went back to the hospital.

The sense of loss from losing Sung-ho was still painful, but he endured it.

Sung-ho wouldn’t want Jun-hoo to writhe in pain.

In the guardian waiting room.

Sung-ho’s parents were not there.

It seemed they had briefly left for dinner.

“Excuse me, doctor. I’m sorry, but could I please have one more visit with the patient Choi Sung-ho?”

“No. You caused a commotion earlier.”

The ICU nurse shook her head firmly at Jun-hoo’s request.

“I am still very sorry about that. But this time, it will only take 1 minute. Wouldn’t even 1 minute be possible?”

“…”

“I won’t do anything embarrassing this time. I promise.”

“Then, really, only 1 minute?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Jun-hoo persuaded the nurse and entered the intensive care unit.

The intensive care unit was filled with the energy of death.

Most of the patients were unconscious.

They were barely maintaining their lives with machines, IV fluids, and injections.

The pungent smell of disinfectant.

The smell of festering flesh stung his nose.

Beeeep.

Beeeep.

The mechanical sound of the patient monitoring device was still cold and indifferent.

Jun-hoo moved to the bed where Sung-ho was lying and took one last look at Sung-ho’s face.

Then he gently held Sung-ho’s limp hand.

“Hyung [term used by a male to address an older male he’s close to]. I still don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know why hyung had to go through this.”

“…”

“But the person who’s the most upset is probably hyung, right?”

Jun-hoo bit his lip to prevent tears from bursting out.

“Hyung may not be able to open your eyes again, but hyung’s will will live on. I will carry on hyung’s will.”

“…”

“Please watch over me from heaven. I will become a surgeon that hyung can be proud of.”

After finishing his monologue, Jun-hoo bowed to the nurse who was standing by his side.

He quickly left the intensive care unit.

Three weeks later.

According to his wishes, Sung-ho’s body was shared with other lives.

The cremated remains were placed in a charnel house [a building or vault where bones are stored].

And another month passed.

* * *

Before going to work.

Jun-hoo was practicing Qi [vital energy] circulation in his room.

Jun-hoo’s posture and mind were upright and unwavering.

Deep inhale and deep exhale.

The natural energy obtained through breathing traveled through the blood vessels throughout his body and settled in his dantian [energy center in the lower abdomen].

That’s enough.

A satisfied smile appeared on Jun-hoo’s lips as he opened his eyes.

In the meantime, he couldn’t practice Qi circulation for long because his intern work was so busy.

So, he had been practicing Qi circulation only to the extent of recovering his physical and mental strength whenever he had spare time.

That’s not to say there were no results.

That wasn’t the case either.

Through steady training.

Jun-hoo was finally able to drive out all the impurities that had been blocking his blood vessels today.

Thanks to that, his body felt much lighter.

The circulation of internal energy also became much faster and more natural.

Jun-hoo released his lotus position and left the room.

He took a shower and had breakfast with his parents.

“I’ll be busier from today as a resident. It’ll be hard to come home. But I’ll call you often.”

“Okay. Don’t worry about us and take care of your health, Jun-hoo.”

“If you have a hard time, don’t suffer alone and call us.”

“Yes. I love you.”

Jun-hoo left the house, receiving his parents’ farewell greetings.

The season was still winter.

The wind blowing from the opposite side was as sharp as a blade.

White breath was exhaled every time he breathed.

I’m finally a resident.

Jun-hoo muttered to himself.

Jun-hoo had been waiting for a long time to become a resident.

If an intern is in a position to passively process the orders given by a resident.

A resident was much more active than an intern.

Managing interns.

Becoming the attending physician for patients in the ward.

And treating patients in consultation with the professor in charge.

There were also many opportunities to assist with various procedures and surgeries.

Jun-hoo was rather happy that there was more work to do.

The more he handled the work he was assigned, the more he would grow and be trained.

“Aren’t you too early? It’s 15 minutes before the appointment?”

When he arrived at the subway station, he saw Ah-young, who was waiting for him.

On his first day as a resident.

He had promised to go to the hospital with Ah-young, who lived in the same neighborhood.

“Well, Jun-hoo, you came early too. Isn’t that the same thing?”

Ah-young avoided his gaze, perhaps because she was taken aback by Jun-hoo’s comment.

The two passed through the ticket gate and boarded the subway.

It was the time of the first train, but surprisingly, there were many people on the subway.

People who were not fully awake were busy nodding off in their seats.

“The gates of hardship are wide open from today.”

Ah-young sighed deeply and continued.

“Do you know that I’m the only applicant for thoracic surgery? It’s the first time in two years.”

“Wow, you’ve become the youngest of the youngest?”

“Yeah. I think I’ll be very busy. I can’t even dream of having a day off.”

“But it might be better than you think. You’re the first new recruit in two years, so how much will the seniors cherish you?”

“Hmm… somehow that doesn’t comfort me at all?”

Ah-young stared at Jun-hoo with a sulky expression.

“Hahaha. Right? Actually, the real comfort is somewhere else. Look back for a second.”

Jun-hoo smiled awkwardly and massaged Ah-young’s shoulders.

He loosened her tense muscles.

He stimulated her acupoints to help blood circulation. It was a shoulder massage with Chugung Gwahyeol [a technique to stimulate blood flow] added.

“Come to our department if it’s hard. I’ll give you a free massage.”

“That’s definitely comforting. Ah, that’s good. Your hands are magic, Jun-hoo.”

Ah-young’s expression brightened as if she felt better.

“Jun-hoo, how many resident applicants are there in your department?”

“Two.”

“That’s more than I thought. Do you know your colleague?”

“I heard he’s from another university. I’m seeing his face for the first time today too.”

“I see. Anyway, I’m jealous. It would be reassuring if I had a colleague too.”

While chatting with Ah-young, the subway arrived at its destination.

After leaving the station and walking for about 5 minutes.

The Shinwon University Hospital building, one of the Big 4 hospitals [the top 4 hospitals in South Korea], revealed its magnificent appearance.

“Fighting today too.”

“You too, Ah-young.”

Jun-hoo and Ah-young exchanged encouragement and then parted ways.

Ah-young headed to the 3rd floor of the main building.

Jun-hoo headed to the 7th floor of the main building.

He got off the elevator and crossed the hallway.

The pale eastern sky was pouring in through the window.

The silver germanium bracelet that Jun-hoo was wearing on his left wrist shone dazzlingly as it reflected the eastern sky.

The place Jun-hoo was heading to.

Was the neurosurgery ward.