A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 201

Chapter 38. First Date (1)

The neurosurgery resident break room was a cramped space, barely four square meters.

Old bunk beds lined the entrance, the left wall, and the right wall.

A solitary desk sat by the window, perpetually shaded, and next to it stood an old, worn cabinet.

Kuh-uh-uhng! Kuh-uh-uhng!

While enduring Hee-joon’s bizarre snoring, which sounded like a distressed deer, Jun-hoo practiced Qi [vital energy] circulation.

He couldn’t assume a full lotus position, as that would risk attracting unwanted attention from his colleagues.

Instead, Jun-hoo lay on the lower bunk, focusing on his Qi circulation.

Strictly speaking, Qi circulation wasn’t dependent on posture.

Sss-eup. Hoo-woo.

The breath coming in, the breath going out.

Within this simple, ordinary breathing lay the core principles of the Cheongmyeong Mind Method, the Seo family’s prized martial art.

-Govern the name with clear and righteous energy.

Jun-hoo inhaled, drawing in pure energy, and exhaled, releasing turbid feelings.

Like water flowing from high ground to low.

True energy circulated through the major meridians and settled in his dantian [energy center, located below the navel].

The dantian felt heavy, full.

He had reached the Harmony Realm in the Murim [martial arts world] world.

Perhaps it was thanks to his consistent Qi circulation practice since high school, coupled with taking Cheonsanhwan pills for the past few months.

Jun-hoo’s internal energy was already approaching 0.6 Gapja [a unit of measuring internal energy].

The accumulation of internal energy was formidable.

After an hour of Qi circulation, Jun-hoo opened his eyes.

He quietly gazed up at the bottom of the bunk above.

Regarding his martial arts progress.

Jun-hoo’s long-term goal was to reach the Hyeonyeong Realm [a high level of martial arts mastery]. It meant achieving bone transformation, an indestructible body, and immunity to all poisons.

The fact that martial arts enhanced his medical skills was already evident from his own experience.

In other words, if he reached the Hyeonyeong Realm…

More miraculous treatments, currently beyond his capabilities, would become possible.

Perhaps even treating brain death or vegetative states might become within reach.

The problem was that reaching the Hyeonyeong Realm was by no means easy.

When Jun-hoo lived in the Murim world.

Only two masters had attained the Hyeonyeong Realm.

The Murim Alliance Leader, Sword Immortal Cheon Tae-ryong.

The reclusive hermit, Divine Eagle Kang Baek-tong.

Within the Demonic Sect, there was Huk Soryong, the Destroyer of Demons, who had achieved the realm of Detachment from Demons.

Could he, among only three people in the entire Murim world, reach that level?

Frankly, Jun-hoo lacked confidence.

If he were still in the Murim world, he could seek guidance from a master who had already reached the Hyeonyeong Realm.

But that was impossible in the modern world.

He had to surpass the Harmony Realm solely through his own efforts.

Still, he had to try.

When he thought about the patients he was responsible for.

Jun-hoo clenched his fist with determination.

Now, Jun-hoo shifted his focus to short-term goals.

The first goal was Bone and Marrow Cleansing.

Bone and Marrow Cleansing was the process of optimizing the body for martial arts.

Currently, Jun-hoo’s body contained many impurities, and his bones, muscles, and nerves were somewhat misaligned.

Because he was a modern person.

Also, because he didn’t have memories of the Murim world from his youth.

His body hadn’t developed optimally.

If he succeeded in Bone and Marrow Cleansing, Jun-hoo’s treatments, surgeries, and surgical assists would undoubtedly become more precise.

Jun-hoo was already incorporating martial arts principles into various treatments.

As early as this fall.

At the latest, by this winter.

Jun-hoo nodded, assessing the internal energy accumulated in his dantian.

Bone and Marrow Cleansing was typically performed by a master, like a clan leader or sect leader, on a promising young successor.

That’s how difficult it was.

And it required a vast amount of internal energy.

However, Jun-hoo was capable of performing Bone and Marrow Cleansing on himself.

He had already reached the level where he could perform it on others.

However, the reason he couldn’t perform Bone and Marrow Cleansing immediately was his insufficient internal energy.

Secondly, Jun-hoo considered the martial arts he would learn in the future.

The Ambidextrous Butterfly Technique, which allowed for the free use of both hands.

Jeongan (正眼) [Righteous Gaze], which guides the minds and hearts of others to the right path.

He had already completely mastered these two techniques and integrated them into his skillset.

There hadn’t been any martial arts training for a while. (Because he was busy memorizing Master Jaehyun’s medical secret manual.)

It was becoming necessary to decide on the next martial art to learn.

His swordsmanship had long since matured, so it would be beneficial to learn a martial art outside of swordsmanship…

Jun-hoo compiled a list of candidate martial arts and weighed their merits.

The decision would come soon.

* * *

Drrrrk.

As he entered the on-call room, the first thing that hit Jun-hoo was the smell of ramen.

Kyung-soo, who was on duty, was slurping down a cup of ramen.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning to you too.”

Jun-hoo greeted first.

Kyung-soo returned the greeting, making eye contact.

It had been three days since the hostage situation. Kyung-soo seemed to have processed the trauma of the incident.

He generally had a resilient mindset.

Jun-hoo had also used Jeongan frequently, minimizing the likelihood of the incident leaving lasting trauma.

“The water in the pot is still hot. Want a bowl?”

“No, I’m fasting today.”

“Ah… today’s that day? It’s a shame you can’t enjoy something delicious on your day off.”

“I’ll manage.”

Jun-hoo shrugged and sat opposite Kyung-soo.

“Anything unusual while on duty?”

“Fortunately, nothing. Just the usual concussion patients and minor head injuries.”

“What about the ward patients?”

“Same here. Do you think I’m a miracle worker like you? When I’m on duty, the ward and emergency room are quiet.”

“Aigoo. I envy you. I envy you.”

Kyung-soo chuckled at Jun-hoo’s playful tone. Kyung-soo had been laughing more frequently lately.

As they chatted, the time reached 6:30 AM.

Almost time to prepare for the conference.

Jun-hoo helped the neurosurgery interns prepare for the conference.

Cleaning the conference room.

Printing out materials summarizing the condition of ward patients.

Setting up the beam projector, etc.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t Jun-hoo’s responsibility, but he did it anyway.

7:00 AM.

The residents and professors gathered in the conference room.

Inpatient management.

Surgery schedule coordination.

Case presentations continued, but Jun-hoo struggled to focus.

It was his day off.

The reason he attended the conference, even on his day off, was because he had nowhere to go and nothing to do until ‘that thing’ happened.

As the conference ended, the staff lined up in the hallway like soldiers.

Tuk. Tuk.

The staff began to walk down the hallway in perfect formation.

Morning rounds had begun.

The residents were visibly nervous, anticipating criticism from the exacting chief.

True to his reputation as a master of pretense.

The chief was endlessly kind to patients and their families. His words were gentle, and his expression was soft.

However, the moment he left the hospital room, he would berate the residents.

Order more tests.

Add non-covered treatments.

Encourage the patient and administer nutritional supplements, etc.

Most of it was related to the neurosurgery department’s revenue.

The fact that the hospital tracked each department’s revenue, adjusted department size accordingly, and factored it into promotions was common knowledge.

Naturally, the chief’s criticism was also directed at Jun-hoo.

Immediately after leaving room 604.

The chief called out Jun-hoo’s name with a glare.

Knowing the reason, Jun-hoo sighed inwardly.

He stepped forward, cutting through the staff, and stood before the chief.

The moment had arrived.

“Dr. Seo.”

“Yes, Chief.”

“Is patient Min Tae-woong still far from being discharged? I gave you a clear warning last time…”

The chief was referring to Min Tae-woong.

Min Tae-woong was a vegetative state patient under Jun-hoo’s care.

-Dr. Seo. I’m giving you one month. Discharge that patient within a month. No matter what.

He was the patient the chief had been pushing to discharge for some time.

Since hearing the chief’s ultimatum.

Jun-hoo hadn’t mentioned discharge to the guardian even once.

He feared the guardian would be devastated and lose hope if he brought it up.

“I remember it clearly.”

“Then why is the patient still occupying a bed? Are my words meaningless?”

“It’s not that. I was waiting for the right moment to discuss it.”

“The right moment? Have you calculated how much the ward’s revenue would increase if we admitted another patient in that bed?”

“Chief, calm down. Dr. Seo must have his reasons.”

Professor Shin Dong-hoon intervened, taking Jun-hoo’s side.

Shin Dong-hoon was Professor Cho, who had performed the awakening surgery on pianist Myung-han, which Jun-hoo had assisted.

“Asking a guest who has finished eating to leave the restaurant. Does that require careful consideration?”

“Well, there’s no need for such a comparison…”

“Dr. Seo. How can you be a surgeon with such a soft heart? When severing ties, you must be as sharp as a scalpel.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Jun-hoo quietly lowered his head.

He had much to say, but arguing with the chief wouldn’t be wise.

Especially with all the staff watching.

It would appear as if he was challenging the chief’s authority.

After the storm of nagging subsided, the rounds resumed.

The staff moved down the hallway.

From about 15 meters away.

A patient emerged from the bathroom.

The patient walked unsteadily, supporting himself on the wall.

Jun-hoo recognized the patient by his back.

His name was Na Young-man.

A current university professor, 60 years old.

He had undergone coil embolization for a brain aneurysm two days prior.

He was also one of the patients under Jun-hoo’s care.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. A patient wandering to the bathroom during rounds. Intern, can’t you manage your patients properly?”

“I’m… I’m sorry.”

“These youngsters are always slacking off.”

As the chief criticized the intern.

Pabababat!

Jun-hoo moved with incredible speed towards the patient.

The energy of the nearby doctors stirred faintly.

Hwiriririk.

A faint afterimage lingered where Jun-hoo had been standing.

He had unleashed the 능지풍파 (Lightning Wind Wave) [a martial arts technique known for its speed], one of the fastest techniques in the Murim world.

While moving, Jun-hoo even employed the technique of 이형환위 (Shifting Form Changing Position) [a technique that allows one to move unpredictably].

Spinning around.

Jun-hoo, moving like a gust of wind, appeared before the patient as if by magic, drawing a semicircle.

And he caught the patient, who was collapsing forward.

Jun-hoo had recognized the danger earlier than anyone else and acted swiftly.

“…”

A moment of silence fell in the hospital hallway.

They were astonished that Jun-hoo had instantly closed the 15-meter distance and appeared in front of the patient.

Furthermore.

If Jun-hoo hadn’t intervened, the patient would have fallen and suffered a serious injury.

And the ward would have been solely responsible for the lapse in patient management.

Tadadadak.

The staff, belatedly realizing what had happened, rushed to the patient’s side.

“Oh, Professor Seo? What are you doing wandering around during rounds?”

The chief asked Young-man politely.

The person who had referred Young-man to Shinhwa University Neurosurgery was none other than the chief.

“I had a sudden urge to urinate, so I came out. But I felt dizzy after urinating.”

“Oh dear… It seems the brain pressure temporarily increased while straining.”

“I’m sorry. And thank you, doctor. I owe you my life.”

Young-man looked at Jun-hoo, who was supporting him, and said.

“I’m glad Dr. Seo is treating the professor so well.”

“He’s doing more than well. He visits my room two or three times a day to ask about my condition and listens patiently to the ramblings of an old man.”

“…”

“He’s a very kind person.”

“I knew it. That’s why I assigned Dr. Seo to you, Professor.”

The chief smiled proudly.

And he lightly patted Jun-hoo on the shoulder.

“Dr. Seo. You were impressive just now. Like a character from a martial arts novel, moving like lightning to support the professor.”

“…”

“Keep up the good work.”

The chief, who had been pressuring Jun-hoo about the vegetative state patient’s discharge moments ago, was gone.

The chief had become a fan of Jun-hoo.

Like flipping a palm.

Watching the chief’s sudden change in attitude, Jun-hoo clicked his tongue inwardly.