A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 2

Martial Arts Surgeon – Episode 2

Chapter 1: Butterfly’s Dream (2)

Jun-hoo, his resolve firm to become a surgeon, returned home.

He sat in front of the computer and searched for information about surgeons.

‘Surgeon’ was a broad term, encompassing many specialized fields.

Cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, pediatric surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, and so on.

Even within surgery, there were more specific branches.

For example, in cardiothoracic surgery:

There were doctors who specialized in the heart and others who specialized in the lungs.

Jun-hoo stroked his chin thoughtfully.

He had decided he wanted to be a surgeon, but he was still unsure what kind of surgeon he wanted to be.

‘Should I learn Korean medicine instead?’

Jun-hoo shifted his thinking.

Having mastered martial arts, Jun-hoo had a basic understanding of Korean medicine.

The location of blood points [acupressure points].

The location of bones and muscles.

He could discern a person’s body type and constitution to some extent.

However, even though Korean medicine was effective, its limitations seemed clear.

In emergency situations requiring surgery, there was nothing he could do.

Wasn’t it true that even Doctor Baek, the famous physician of the Seo Clan, couldn’t save many martial artists?

But what if they could have received surgery in modern times?

At least 40% of them would have survived.

Jun-hoo returned to his original goal of becoming a surgeon.

He could decide on a specific field while training.

‘Geez, I’m counting my chickens before they hatch,’ Jun-hoo chuckled to himself.

To become a doctor, he had to go to medical school.

So, for now, he needed to figure out how to get into medical school.

Currently, Jun-hoo’s grades were in the lower ranks.

He used to do well in middle school, but after entering high school, he was harassed by Hyung-tae’s gang and couldn’t study properly.

With 2 years and 4 months left of high school, how could he get into the best medical school in the country with a full scholarship?

He would have to be in the top 1-5 in the entire school at least.

This was definitely not going to be easy.

But it wasn’t impossible either.

Jun-hoo had a secret weapon that ordinary students didn’t have.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

While lost in thought, he heard a knock.

“Jun-hoo, can I come in?”

It seemed his mother had returned from working at the restaurant.

“Yes, Mother.”

“What were you doing, son?”

“I was looking at the computer. Did you have a good day at the restaurant?”

“Of course. I bought your favorite tteokbokki [spicy rice cakes]. Do you want some?”

“Yes.”

Jun-hoo went to the living room and sat at the table.

His mother was transferring the tteokbokki and fried food from the plastic bag to a plate.

Watching his mother’s back, Jun-hoo felt a pang of sadness.

After his father’s business collapsed, his mother worked seven hours a day at the restaurant.

Her hands were always wet from washing dishes.

Moving heavy dishes in the kitchen had also made her wrists and back hurt.

Having suffered in the martial world, Jun-hoo could clearly see his mother’s hardships.

“Eat a lot.”

His mother placed the plate on the table and sat across from Jun-hoo.

Suddenly, his eyes fell on his mother’s swollen and scarred hands.

Jun-hoo barely managed to hold back the stinging in his nose and the heat in his eyes.

“Why? You don’t feel like it today?”

“That’s not it.”

Jun-hoo forced a smile and took a bite of the tteokbokki.

The spicy-sweet flavor was perfect for his taste.

Tteokbokki was a delicacy he couldn’t taste in the martial world.

“But Jun-hoo.”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any worries? I didn’t want to say anything, but you’ve looked gloomy.”

“…….”

“If it’s okay, can you tell me?”

His mother asked with a worried expression.

She didn’t know he was being bullied, but she seemed to have noticed something was wrong.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

As of today, Hyung-tae’s gang was no longer Jun-hoo’s problem.

“Well… actually…”

Jun-hoo trailed off, making up a plausible lie.

“I confessed to a girl I liked, but she rejected me. So, I’m a little depressed.”

At Jun-hoo’s convincing lie, his mother’s expression lightened.

“Really? Someone rejected our handsome Jun-hoo? She must be blind.”

“I think so too.”

“Our Jun-hoo is kind and handsome, so you’ll meet a good girl later. Don’t worry too much.”

“Yes. I’ll date someone as beautiful as Mom.”

His mother smiled at Jun-hoo’s answer.

Jun-hoo also felt good seeing his mother’s smiling face.

I promise.

I’ll only bring you happiness from now on.

Jun-hoo made a vow in his heart and changed the subject.

“By the way, would you like to lie down in the master bedroom?”

“Huh? Why?”

“I’ll give you a massage.”

“It’s okay. It’s normal to have aches and pains when you’re my age.”

“If it’s normal to be in pain, I wish you were abnormal, Mother.”

Jun-hoo forcibly pushed his mother to lie down in the master bedroom.

Next to his mother, who was lying on her stomach, Jun-hoo lightly loosened his neck.

Crack.

Crack.

From now on, he planned to show his mother a martial arts-style super massage.

Jun-hoo was well-versed in muscles and blood points.

Jun-hoo was more confident in loosening a person’s body than a masseuse, physical therapist, or bonesetter.

“I’ll start now.”

Jun-hoo channeled the inner energy he drew from his dantian [energy center] into his thumb.

Then, he pressed on the areas on both sides of his mother’s spine.

It was a technique called ‘Chugung Gwahyeol’ in the martial world.

In simple terms, it was a qi [life energy] massage.

Jun-hoo released qi and gently loosened his mother’s stiff muscles.

He pressed his thumb firmly on the muscles.

He also rubbed them in circles.

After acupressure on the spine, he proceeded to both shoulder blades in the same way.

“How do you feel?”

“Oh my. It feels like my back and shoulders are melting. It’s a hundred times better than physical therapy.”

“I told you to trust me.”

“Where did you learn this?”

“It’s on NewTube [Korean version of YouTube].”

Jun-hoo made up an excuse and helped his mother up.

“Spread your palms and show them to me.”

“Like this?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not playing around.”

Jun-hoo tapped his fist on his mother’s outstretched palms.

It was a technique called Gyeoktasul in the martial world.

In simple terms, it was a technique to loosen muscles and improve blood flow through physical impact.

In the case of the Beggars’ Sect, a group of beggars, they used Gyeoktasul with a striking staff to give their successors Beolmo Sesu [a method of strengthening the body and meridians].

“This feels different from the back massage? It feels a bit cooler.”

“It’s because the blood is flowing.”

“Does this also come out on NewTube?”

“Yes. Relax and stay still.”

Jun-hoo went behind his mother.

Touching around her neck, he found that the muscles were stiffly knotted.

Turning her head, he also found that the flexibility of her neck joints was reduced.

How much had his mother suffered to let her body get like this?

“Keep relaxing.”

Jun-hoo wrapped his arms around his mother’s head and turned it 90 degrees to the left.

Crack.

He also turned it 90 degrees to the right.

Crack.

“Oh my! What is this?”

“It’s a stretch to make your neck more flexible. Try moving your neck.”

As Jun-hoo said, his mother moved her neck and was surprised.

“My neck is really much more flexible?”

“That’s how good I am.”

Jun-hoo joked.

Seeing his mother marvel at her lighter body, a sense of pride washed over him.

The 30 years in the martial world were definitely not in vain.

After finishing the martial arts massage, Jun-hoo sat facing his mother.

“I have something to tell you, Mother.”

“Yes. Tell me.”

“I want to go to medical school. I’ll get a full scholarship and go to the best medical school in the country.”

“…….”

“I’ll become a doctor and take care of you and Dad. So, don’t get sick until then.”

Jun-hoo confidently revealed his ambition to his mother.

Even if the sincerity is deep, it will not reach if it is not conveyed in words.

Jun-hoo realized that fact in the martial world.

“Jun-hoo.”

His mother suddenly began to sob. She seemed to be moved by her son’s admirable appearance.

Jun-hoo hugged his mother for a long time.

He wanted to cry, but he couldn’t yet.

He wanted to shed tears properly after entering medical school.

* * *

“I’m home.”

Hyung-seok, having finished his hard day of delivery work, entered the front door.

Hearing the sound of his footsteps, his wife and son were already waiting at the front door.

“Welcome home.”

“Are you home? You must be hungry, so eat dinner quickly.”

“I will.”

Hyung-seok changed his clothes, washed briefly, and sat at the table.

Looking at his wife preparing dinner, he felt guilty.

If his business hadn’t failed, she wouldn’t have to suffer at the restaurant.

How much she must be suffering from working and taking care of the household.

Before eating, Hyung-seok drank a glass of soju [Korean distilled spirit] first.

The only good thing was that he would be able to pay off the long-standing business debt in 2-3 years.

At that time, he would let his wife rest.

“Did you talk to Jun-hoo?”

Hyung-seok asked while eating the meal his wife had prepared.

“It seems there wasn’t a big problem. He said he confessed to a girl he liked and was rejected.”

“Whew. That’s a relief.”

Hyung-seok stroked his surprised chest.

His family was declining, and his son was depressed because of his poor circumstances.

…Hyung-seok was blaming himself.

Because his son hadn’t smiled at all for some time.

Fortunately, Hyung-seok’s worries turned out to be unfounded.

His heart felt lighter.

“How was work today?”

“Well, it was manageable. I came home earlier than usual.”

“Is leaving at 5 a.m. and coming home at 9 p.m. early?”

“You and Jun-hoo are suffering because of me. I have to overcome this much.”

Hyung-seok smiled bitterly and drank the bitter soju.

Hyung-seok always thought that all the suffering was his karma.

“I think you’re overdoing it… Shouldn’t you reduce your work a bit?”

“I’m still healthy. It’s the age of 100, and I’m still in my prime.”

“These days, people in their prime also have gray hair.”

His wife joked and pulled out Hyung-seok’s white hair.

Hyung-seok was embarrassed for no reason and poured another glass of soju into his mouth.

“About Jun-hoo.”

“Yeah. Why? Didn’t you say there was nothing wrong?”

“Well, he feels a lot more mature in just one day. He suddenly gives me a great massage.”

“…….”

“He says he’s going to medical school. He’s like a completely different person?”

“Looks like he’s completely overcome the pain of unrequited love?”

“Maybe. Anyway, he’s so admirable and mature that it’s good to see.”

Hyung-seok had a hearty dinner while talking to his wife.

Just then, his son approached Hyung-seok.

He expressed his desire to give him a massage.

There was no reason to refuse, so Hyung-seok allowed it.

“Oh, my. Is it okay to be this cool?”

After receiving about twenty minutes of massage, Hyung-seok exclaimed with joy.

The fatigue he felt from loading, unloading, and delivering had melted away.

The most satisfying massage among his son’s massages was the foot massage.

His son’s acupressure on his feet completely relieved his lower body.

‘He definitely seems different?’

Hyung-seok admired, watching his son, who was sitting across from him.

He couldn’t put his finger on it.

But he felt that his son had become stronger.

“Father, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I want to help you with your delivery work from tomorrow.”

“What delivery? You told your mother you were going to medical school? Then you should study hard at home.”

“I can study while helping with the delivery work.”

His son’s answer was unwavering.

He was grateful for his heart, but Hyung-seok didn’t want to see his son suffer from delivery work.

So, he said in a semi-threatening tone.

“Jun-hoo, you don’t seem to know how hard delivery work is?”

“…….”

“My area has a lot of old-fashioned villas, so I have to carry things like bottled water and rice up the stairs. You could hurt your back if you’re not careful.”

He thought his son would back down at this point, but his son didn’t even blink.

He even had a confident smile on his face.

“I can do it well.”

Hyung-seok couldn’t understand his son’s confident remarks.