A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 18

Martial Surgeon – Episode 18

Chapter 4: Emergency Treatment (3)

4 a.m.

Jun-hoo closed his textbook and glanced at the calendar, a wave of emotion washing over him.

It felt like only yesterday he was navigating the Murim [martial arts world], yet over two years had already slipped by.
The college entrance exam was a mere two days away.

‘Time really flies.’

He couldn’t tear his gaze from the calendar. The past years seemed to flip by like pages in a rapidly read book.

After dealing with the Hyeong-tae gang, Jun-hoo’s life had settled into a stable and peaceful rhythm, allowing him to fully focus on his ambition of becoming a surgeon.

His goals were clear:

First, achieve a perfect score on the college entrance exam.

Second, diligently study the medical textbooks provided by Surgeon Jae-hyun.

Third, improve his English speaking and listening skills in preparation for studying abroad.

Jun-hoo managed to achieve these three goals, a feat that would be challenging for most.

His way of showing filial piety involved cultivating his Qi [life energy] after taking brain tonics and concentration-enhancing medicine.

Another method was the Chugung Gwahyeol technique, which stimulated the language center of his brain.

Having gained extraordinary abilities in the Murim world, Jun-hoo was able to achieve extraordinary accomplishments in his current life.

Creak.

Jun-hoo opened a drawer and pulled out his report card.

It was the mock college entrance exam report card from June.

He had achieved a perfect score on the exam, which was taken by both current students and repeaters.

It was exactly as he’d expected, so he wasn’t surprised.

Soon, his gaze shifted to the bookshelf.

He had already read the medical books on the shelf more than three times.

Perhaps because of this, his medical knowledge far surpassed that of a third-year medical student.

Of course, he had also made significant progress in English speaking and listening.

Jun-hoo was now fluent in English.

He hadn’t needed separate lessons from Young-ho since the previous year.

On their last day of class, Master Young-ho had jokingly said, “Seo Jun-hoo, you are ready to leave the mountain now.”

Lost in his memories, Jun-hoo carefully left the house.

He walked through the chilly winter wind until he found a nearby spring.

Taking off his padded jacket, he began to practice martial arts.

Whooosh.

Whooosh.

His punches and kicks tore through the air with fierce intensity.

Jun-hoo’s movements were both firm and flexible, fast and powerful.

While it wasn’t quite the same as when he was active in the Murim world, Jun-hoo had become remarkably strong.

He had reached a level close to that of a first-class martial artist.

Jun-hoo was, in fact, the strongest man on Earth, a secret he kept to himself.

In simpler terms, he had become a hidden powerhouse.

He suddenly chuckled at his situation.

After a sufficient workout, Jun-hoo returned home.

He studied some more and then had breakfast with his parents.

Over the past two years, there had been several positive changes in the family.

The best news was that they had completely paid off his father’s business debts and were even managing to save money.

Perhaps motivated by the dream of saving money, his parents hadn’t reduced their workload and insisted on maintaining their previous pace, despite Jun-hoo’s attempts to persuade them otherwise.

He had no choice but to continue monitoring and protecting their health as usual.

So, he checked their pulses daily and performed Chugung Gwahyeol to alleviate their fatigue.

Perhaps thanks to this, his parents had remained healthy for the past two years without even catching a cold.

There were also no signs of his mother’s cerebral aneurysm recurring.

“The college entrance exam is the day after tomorrow. Are you nervous?” his father asked during the meal.

“I know soy sauce [a common Korean expression meaning ‘it’s easy’], but I don’t know nervousness,” Jun-hoo joked.

Having studied so diligently and gained a strong heart from his experiences in the Murim world, Jun-hoo had good reason to be confident.

“That rascal.”

“Jun-hoo, you’ll be fine as long as you take care of your body. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

“Yes, Mother.”

The breakfast ended on a pleasant note.

Jun-hoo packed his school uniform, padded jacket, and schoolbag and headed to school.

As he walked through the 3rd-grade hallway, he glanced into the 3rd-grade class 3 classroom.

Hyeong-tae was studying in the corner.

After being thoroughly defeated by Jun-hoo in the first year, Hyeong-tae had become like air.

His presence was extremely faint.

The figure who used to dominate their grade was nowhere to be found.

Since it was all his own doing, Jun-hoo didn’t feel sorry for Hyeong-tae in the slightest.

He didn’t feel any pity at all.

Arriving at the classroom of Class 1, Jun-hoo unpacked his schoolbag and chatted with his classmates.

The high school days were slowly coming to an end.

The medical school, which would be his new stage, was waiting for Jun-hoo.

* * *

School was over.

Rejecting his friends’ offer to study together, Jun-hoo visited a nearby performing arts high school.

Just in time, the students of the arts high school were pouring out of the main gate.

Even among students who were considering becoming singers, actors, or working in broadcasting, Jun-hoo’s appearance was not at all inferior.

Jun-hoo was quite handsome himself.

Perhaps because the arts high school was nearby, he had received several offers to become an idol.

Of course, Jun-hoo refused them all.

He was confident that he could handle dancing and singing perfectly, but that path was not the one Jun-hoo had to walk.

“Hey, isn’t he super handsome? He looks like a male idol who has already debuted?”

“No way. Would he walk around so openly like that then?”

“His name might not be known yet.”

Jun-hoo chuckled at the conversation of the passing female students.

It might sound arrogant, but it was a story he often heard; a story that had become ingrained in his ears.

While loitering near the main gate, Jun-hoo noticed a familiar face approaching him.

It was Ji-ae, a comrade who had participated in the CPR competition together.

“How have you been?”

“There was no reason for me not to be doing well.”

Ji-ae smiled brightly as she answered Jun-hoo’s question.

“The college entrance exam is the day after tomorrow. Aren’t you nervous?”

Ji-ae was worried about the same thing as his parents.

“I just need to perform as I’ve practiced. Is there any need to be nervous?”

“Ooh~ Seo Jun-hoo is kind of cool?”

“But why did you want to see me?”

“I don’t really have anything to give you. I just wanted to buy you something delicious before the exam.”

“I’m honored, older sister.”

Jun-hoo accepted Ji-ae’s joke.

The two moved to a nearby pork cutlet restaurant. Ji-ae insisted on buying him pork cutlet, so Jun-hoo agreed.

It wasn’t polite to reject sincerity and consideration.

“Ji-ae, you said you weren’t taking the college entrance exam, right?”

“Yeah. I don’t really have any thoughts of going to college. Roles are coming in pretty well.”

“Well, if you have a clear goal, there’s no need to be hung up on college.”

Jun-hoo nodded and continued.

“How did that project go last time?”

“Hehe. It’s confirmed. Filming will start early next month.”

“Wow, that’s great. You’re really going to be a big star?”

Jun-hoo congratulated Ji-ae after hearing the good news, because Ji-ae had been cast as the child lead in a public broadcasting drama.

This role was the most significant role Ji-ae had taken on so far.

“I hope this will make you famous and get you cast everywhere.”

“It will. You have talent and you’re diligent.”

“Even if you praise me, I can’t give you more pork cutlet?”

Ji-ae defended her plate with a fork and knife.

Because Jun-hoo had already finished his pork cutlet early.

“Was I found out…? Just kidding. Ji-ae, I have no doubt that you will do well.”

Jun-hoo spoke with sincerity.

He had met many peers while attending high school, but Ji-ae was the best among them.

She had passion and perseverance for what she did.

She also had a surprisingly mature side.

“Thanks. You’ll be a good doctor too. I guarantee it.”

“Can you guarantee it without anything in return?”

Jun-hoo broke through Ji-ae’s defense and snatched a piece of pork cutlet.

Ji-ae, with her lips pouting, was cute.

Once Ji-ae focuses on her acting career and Jun-hoo enters medical school, these good times will not come again.

Perhaps that’s why, Jun-hoo was happy at this moment, but he already missed it.

“Here, take this. It’s to help you stick to the medical school you want like glue.”

On the way home, Jun-hoo received *yeot* [Korean taffy, often given as a good luck charm for sticking to goals] as a gift from Ji-ae.

The *yeot* in his mouth was sweet but quickly melted away.

* * *

The next day, morning.

Jun-hoo was on the subway heading to a nearby high school.

It was the preliminary meeting day [an orientation or preview day], so he was going to check out the place where he would take the university entrance exam in advance.

From last night, his friends had suggested going together, but Jun-hoo refused.

As the university entrance exam approached, Jun-hoo strangely became sentimental.

While checking the classroom and seat where he would take the exam, he saw a familiar face.

Lee Ah-young.

She was a female student in the same class as him.

They weren’t particularly close, but they would greet each other when they met and occasionally have conversations.

“Oh, we’re taking the exam in the same class?”

“Yeah, it looks like it.”

When Jun-hoo spoke to her, Ah-young answered shyly.

“Did you come alone too?”

“I just… wanted to clear my head while walking alone. Anyway, it feels reassuring to have you, Jun-hoo, in the same exam hall.”

“Same here.”

After a brief conversation with Ah-young, Jun-hoo returned home alone.

He knew they were going the same way, but he didn’t accompany Ah-young.

Because she had said she wanted to be alone earlier.

But it was when he was passing through a construction site of newly built villas where there were few people.

Three or four young men in their twenties, looking like thugs, blocked Jun-hoo’s path.

The atmosphere was unusual.

“You guys don’t seem to have any intention of just stepping aside.”

“Crazy bastard. Acting all calm. Come with us.”

The thugs moved to the construction site, and Jun-hoo followed behind them.

A place without CCTV [closed-circuit television, i.e., security cameras] was actually a place Jun-hoo welcomed with open arms.

“The *hyungs* [older brothers or respected male figures] are in a particularly bad mood today. We don’t need money, just take a few hits and go.”

“Try it if you can.”

Jun-hoo arrogantly beckoned with his finger.

The thugs frowned at Jun-hoo’s arrogant attitude.

*Does this guy not understand the situation even in this state? Does he want to end up getting hit ten times instead of just once?*

One of the thugs strode forward and swung his fist.

*Thwack!*

Jun-hoo grabbed the young man’s fist with his palm.

The movement was so natural that it felt as if the young man’s fist was being sucked into Jun-hoo’s palm.

*Crack.*

“Aaaargh! My hand!”

As Jun-hoo clenched his fist, the young man collapsed on the spot.

Jun-hoo kicked the young man’s chin without hesitation.

*Thwack!*

As the young man fell, the expressions of the thugs behind him turned cold.

“If you’re not coming, I’m going?”

*Thwack, thwack, thwack.*

Jun-hoo stepped forward and rushed at the thugs.

The distance closed in the blink of an eye.

All the thugs could do was blink their surprised eyes.

*Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!*

*Hogwon* [a straight punch], hitting the solar plexus with a straight punch.

*Gwishingak* [a turning kick], kicking the side with a turning kick.

*Hushintui* [a low kick], crushing the ankle with a low kick.

Jun-hoo knocked down one thug with exactly one strike.

Even if you brought 100 world champion martial artists, they wouldn’t be able to handle Jun-hoo alone.

Dealing with four neighborhood thugs was a joke.

“Ugh.”

The thugs were now just groaning, covered in dirt from the construction site.

They were busy staring at Jun-hoo as if he were a monster.

“You only know how to talk, but you have no substance. That’s how you guys are.”

Jun-hoo approached the arrow-nosed guy who seemed to be the leader.

The arrow-nosed guy was already crawling on the floor with an expression of lost will.

*Thugs he had never seen before attacked him on the day of the university entrance exam preliminary meeting? How should he interpret this situation?*

After a brief thought, the answer quickly came. All of this could not be a coincidence.

Jun-hoo grabbed the arrow-nosed guy by the collar and forcibly lifted him up.

“Hyung-tae told you to do this, didn’t he?”