A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 148

The Martial Surgeon – Episode 148

Chapter 27: Mentor (3)

“It’s like you’re reading my mind. How did you know my plan?”

Jun-hoo asked, impressed.

It was the first time in modern times, outside of the Murim world [a world of martial arts and cultivation], that he felt like someone had seen through him.

Jaehyun was the first.

“I just look at things from your perspective.”

“My perspective, you mean…”

“Why would you, of all people, come to see me, a professor at another university? Especially on your precious day off as a resident.”

“…….”

“Because you’re grateful for the surgery you received in the past? Because you wanted to see my face after a long time?”

“…….”

“I judged that wasn’t the case. You’ve been consistently expressing your gratitude and checking in on me.”

“…….”

“Then there’s only one thing left.”

Jaehyun’s logic was perfect.

There was no fault to be found.

Perhaps because of his sharp insight, Jun-hoo wanted Jaehyun even more as his mentor.

How far could he grow?

Half of it would depend on Jun-hoo’s efforts.

The other half would depend on who he chose as his mentor.

“Then why did you seek me out? There must be plenty of talented professors at Shinwon University, right?”

Jaehyun asked, tilting his head.

“Still, there’s no one quite like you, Professor. You’re the only neurosurgeon in the country who handles all three subspecialties of neurosurgery.”

Brain section.

Spine section.

Stereotactic neurosurgery section.

Neurosurgery is divided into three subspecialties.

When you become a resident, you specialize in only one of these three subjects.

But Jaehyun was a mutant.

Among neurosurgeons in Korea, Jaehyun was the only one who skillfully handled all three parts.

“You’re quite ambitious, aren’t you?”

“I’ve learned that people grow as much as they desire.”

“Show me the extent of your ambition.”

“I want to surpass Professor Park. I want to add microsurgery (a subject that involves limb reattachment surgery, etc.) and trauma surgery skills to Professor Park’s current achievements.”

“You’re saying you want to get triple board certification in neurosurgery and related subjects?”

“Yes.”

Jun-hoo answered without hesitation.

And he glanced down at the bracelet on his wrist.

He wanted to prevent the tragic events of the Second Seongho and the Third Seongho from recurring.

“I’ve never seen such an ambitious person like you. But I… cannot be your mentor.”

Jun-hoo frowned at Jaehyun’s unexpected news.

He didn’t expect him to refuse so firmly.

“Why is that?”

“I want to help you, but as I am now, I’m overwhelmed with my own work.”

“…….”

“I have a line of surgical patients and patients waiting for surgery. My outpatient appointments are even booked three months in advance.”

“You must be very busy.”

“Yes. That’s exactly why. I’m overwhelmed just managing the department while seeing my patients.”

“…….”

“I didn’t want to say this, but I don’t have the capacity to take care of you too.”

Jaehyun avoided Jun-hoo’s gaze with an apologetic expression.

Jaehyun also seemed uncomfortable with the rejection.

But Jun-hoo couldn’t back down here.

He felt it instinctively.

He wouldn’t be able to meet someone like Jaehyun again.

If he missed this opportunity today, there would be no next time.

“Professor, then I would like to make a suggestion.”

“A suggestion?”

“Yes. I would like you to give me a chance to show off my skills.”

“I’m not an examiner…….”

“Once you see my skills, you’ll definitely want to take me as your disciple.”

Jun-hoo said confidently.

If Jaehyun didn’t have time.

He just needed to prove that he was attractive enough to make him want to create time.

That was Jun-hoo’s goal.

“…….”

Jaehyun crossed his arms and remained silent for a long time.

He just stared at Jun-hoo with a profound gaze.

What was the best neurosurgeon in Korea thinking right now?

“You know, I have to acknowledge your confidence. But do you know what?”

Jaehyun chuckled and continued.

“I don’t want to put down my colleagues or juniors, but I’ve never seen anyone who completely pleases me.”

“Why haven’t you seen anyone? I’m right in front of you.”

“Oh, you’re going to keep coming at me like that?”

Jaehyun stroked his chin as if he was intrigued.

“You don’t seem like you’ll give up easily. It seems harsh to just send you away, so I’ll take you up on your offer.”

“Does that mean…”

“I’ll proceed with my own test. If you pass, I’ll make a day 26 hours long to teach you.”

“…….”

“But if you fail, you’ll give up without complaint, okay?”

“Yes. Sounds good.”

Jun-hoo nodded vigorously.

Whether the test was neurosurgical medical knowledge.

Or something related to treatment or surgery.

Jun-hoo was confident in everything.

Words like giving up, failure, and frustration were too far from Jun-hoo.

* * *

Personal research lab.

Jaehyun was looking at the sofa where Jun-hoo had been sitting.

Jun-hoo had briefly left his seat.

Jaehyun had given Jun-hoo a break.

‘Wow, I’ve never seen such an audacious friend before.’

Jaehyun chuckled to himself.

How many other residents besides Jun-hoo would come to the head of a department at another university hospital and ask him to be their mentor?

There probably hadn’t been any in the past.

And there probably wouldn’t be any in the future either.

Jun-hoo’s sincerity in coming directly was commendable, but Jaehyun had no intention of teaching Jun-hoo.

In fact, the lack of time was just an excuse.

Jaehyun had simply refused to teach him because he was worried about Jun-hoo.

Jun-hoo’s goals were excessively high.

Not only was he trying to conquer all the subspecialties of neurosurgery, but he was also trying to get involved in microsurgery and trauma surgery…

That was impossible.

It was like hitting a rock with an egg [an idiom meaning attempting the impossible or a futile effort].

Jaehyun didn’t want Jun-hoo to get hurt, both physically and mentally, by pursuing such an absurd goal.

Goals should not exceed the realm of what is possible.

‘Jun-hoo.

You need to know what a limit is.

You need to know that there are things in the world that you can’t do.

Knowing when to give up is also wisdom.’

Jaehyun got up from the sofa and returned to his desk in the office.

He printed out the neurosurgery specialist exam questions from last year.

He narrowed it down to about 30 of the most difficult questions.

Wee-ing.

Wee-ing.

After checking the printed materials, Jaehyun smiled with satisfaction.

Jun-hoo was a first-year resident.

There was no way he could answer the questions from the specialist exam taken by fourth-year residents.

In other words, Jaehyun had devised a plan to make sure Jun-hoo failed.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Just in time, there was a knock.

When Jaehyun told him to come in, Jun-hoo entered the lab and sat on the sofa.

Jun-hoo, unaware of the future that awaited him, looked relaxed.

He would be disappointed soon, but it couldn’t be helped.

Disappointment would actually be a good experience for Jun-hoo.

“Did you rest enough?”

“Yes. I went and had a canned coffee.”

“I’m done preparing too. Passing these questions with a score of 70 or higher is the test.”

Jaehyun placed the test paper on the table in front of the sofa.

Jun-hoo calmly grabbed a pen and began to solve the problems.

10 minutes passed.

“I’ve finished them all, Professor.”

“Okay. Let’s see your skills.”

Jaehyun received the test paper that Jun-hoo handed him and began grading it.

Of course, he had no expectations.

First, the test questions themselves were malicious [extremely difficult].

Second, Jun-hoo had solved the problems too quickly.

It was clear that he had just guessed because he didn’t know the answers.

But as he began grading it.

Jaehyun couldn’t help but be shocked.

The test paper was filled with circles [indicating correct answers], not crosses [indicating incorrect answers]. Unbelievably, Jun-hoo had received a perfect score on the test.

‘That can’t be.

How is this possible?

How could a first-year resident have specialist-level knowledge…’

With surprised owl eyes [wide and disbelieving], Jaehyun looked at Jun-hoo.

As if understanding the meaning of that look, Jun-hoo said.

“I’ve been studying hard. I’ve read the neurosurgery general textbook more than 10 times.”

“If you’re a first-year, you’d be busy just entering charts and orders and learning treatments, right?”

Jaehyun shook his head as if he was fed up.

The most difficult period during the training period was the first year of residency.

This is because they become the attending physician.

They take care of patients, guardians, and interns.

They are busy building knowledge of their major.

To have seen the general theory 10 times in the meantime…

No, in the first place, you can’t solve the problem just by looking at the general theory 10 times.

Unless you saw it like memorizing it.

“Shouldn’t I do this much to conquer microsurgery and trauma surgery?”

Jun-hoo continued, making eye contact with Jaehyun.

“Shouldn’t I do this much for you to accept me?”

“Ahem. You’re not wrong.”

Jaehyun cleared his throat and put the test paper he was grading on the desk.

Jaehyun, who didn’t panic even when operating on patients on the verge of life and death, was shaken by Jun-hoo.

This was a very special thing.

This was because Jun-hoo’s achievements far exceeded common sense.

To think that he would get a perfect score on a problem that he had intended to fail.

“Now that I’ve done well on the test, can I become your disciple, Professor?”

“I haven’t told you the score yet.”

“I know it’s a perfect score.”

“…Okay, you got a perfect score. But the test isn’t over yet. Follow me.”

Jaehyun got up from the sofa and left the lab.

Jun-hoo followed him without saying a word.

Judging by the fact that he didn’t complain.

It seemed like he was confident that he could pass any test Jaehyun gave him.

‘It won’t be easy this time.

You better be prepared.’

Jaehyun’s pace quickened.

Could Jun-hoo pass the test this time too?

If he passed.

Then Jaehyun was willing to accept Jun-hoo as his disciple.

* * *

‘The professor was quite something too.

Did he want to get rid of me completely?’

Jun-hoo chuckled as he watched Jaehyun’s back walking ahead.

Jun-hoo, who had memorized the neurosurgery general theory, knew.

That the difficulty of the test questions was extremely difficult.

But that didn’t mean Jun-hoo would kneel [give up].

Jun-hoo had the pressure point technique [a technique to stimulate specific points on the body].

The frontal lobe, which is in charge of the center of thought.

Also, Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, which are in charge of language.

By stimulating these areas with pressure points.

Jun-hoo mastered neurosurgical knowledge with unbelievable speed and unbelievable understanding.

Not only that.

When his knowledge was vague, he stimulated the hippocampus with pressure points.

The hippocampus was the area of the brain that was responsible for long-term memory.

In other words, inputting and outputting medical knowledge was so easy for Jun-hoo.

With that medical knowledge backing him up.

And having mastered various hand movements through his experience in the Murim world.

How could he not covet microsurgery and trauma surgery?

No matter what other people thought.

For Jun-hoo, the neurosurgery triple board was not an impossible dream, but a dream that he had no choice but to achieve.

‘I don’t know what your intentions are.

I will definitely become your disciple, Professor.

I will climb on your shoulders and see a higher and wider world.’

Jun-hoo strengthened his resolve.

Thump. Thump.

Across the long hallway.

The place Jaehyun arrived at was like a small operating room.

There was a small operating table in the center of the room.

Around it were equipment capable of performing bovies (electrocautery) [a device used to stop bleeding by cauterizing tissue], suctions, irrigations, etc.

The storage compartment contained scalpels, hemostats, forceps, etc.

Various surgical tools were neatly displayed.

“How is it? Amazing, right?”

“Yes. It’s even more amazing because our hospital doesn’t have a space like this.”

“It probably doesn’t exist in other Big 5 hospitals [the top 5 hospitals in South Korea], not just Shinwon University. It’s a space that I specifically requested from the hospital.”

Jun-hoo nodded at Jaehyun’s explanation.

Considering Jaehyun’s reputation and status.

It was an environment that the hospital could fully support.

“But what do we have to do here?”

Jun-hoo asked, scanning the small operating room.

“We have to proceed with the second test. If you’re a surgeon, your hand movements must be outstanding.”

“…….”

“After all, surgery is done with your hands, not your head.”

After speaking, Jaehyun took a sudden action. He suddenly took out an egg from the drawer.

He carefully broke the shell of the top of the egg and handed it to Jun-hoo.

“I’ll give you the white membrane of the boiled egg separately, so use that membrane to suture the broken egg.”

“…….”

“But if the yolk flows out when you turn the egg upside down after suturing it, you fail.”