A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 248

Chapter 47: Already a Year (3)

A cafe near Yeongdeungpo Station.

Jun-hoo was talking with a man sitting across from him.

The man’s name was Seo Jeong-ho.

He was the sales team leader at Super Box, one of the top MCN [Multi-Channel Network, a company that works with video platforms] companies in the country.

The conversation, which had lasted nearly 30 minutes, was slowly coming to an end.

“If you’re okay with it, should we proceed with the contract?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Jeong-ho handed over the contract, and Jun-hoo quickly and meticulously scanned it.

Even though it was a reputable company, he couldn’t just skim through the contract.

He had to check where any unfair clauses might be hidden.

In fact, quite a few NewTubers [Korean term for YouTubers], streamers, and BJs [Broadcast Jockeys, a Korean term for live streamers] had been harmed by unfair contracts.

‘Well, there are no strange conditions.’

Jun-hoo finished reading the contract and nodded quietly.

Contract period.

Scope of the contract.

Profit distribution, etc.

There were no malicious clauses among the important provisions he examined.

He felt relieved, thinking, ‘At least they’re a company that sticks to the basics.’

After the contract.

His income would temporarily decrease, but in the long run, it would increase.

The channel operation would stabilize.

And the effects of adding thumbnails and editing to the videos would be enormous.

Scribble. Scribble.

Jun-hoo signed the last page of the contract.

“Thank you for your hard work. But, Mr. Seo, I have a question…….”

“Yes, please ask.”

“Do you not use a signature? I think it would be good to create one on this occasion.”

“Oh, I’m not a celebrity.”

Jun-hoo smiled awkwardly at Jeong-ho’s comment.

Jun-hoo had been using his Korean name in the signature field, both in the past and now.

He thought it was the neatest way.

“A million NewTuber is practically a celebrity, isn’t it? And when fans ask for autographs…”

“…….”

“Wouldn’t it be a memorable experience for the recipients if you had a cool or funny signature instead of just your name?”

“If you put it that way, I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t worry too much about it. I’m just saying. Hahaha.”

The contract ended as they each took their copies of the contract in document envelopes.

Jun-hoo felt relieved, as if he had a tooth pulled.

He wouldn’t have to worry as much about NewTube in the future.

But right then.

Just as he was about to get up.

“Excuse me, are you by any chance Mr. Seo Jun-hoo……?”

Two women who looked to be in their early twenties approached the table.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Wow! I knew it. You’re so handsome that you shine even from a distance.”

The woman with glasses looked like she couldn’t contain her excitement.

She tapped her feet in place.

“We’re both fans of yours.”

“We enjoy watching your NewTube channel. We saw the video of you bending coins, and we also watched and donated to your live streaming broadcast the other day.”

“Thank you. Please continue to support me in the future.”

“Excuse me, can we get your autograph and take a picture?”

“Of course, as much as you want.”

“Here…….”

The woman with the headband took out a pen and notebook from her bag and handed them over.

Jun-hoo felt embarrassed by his first autograph request.

‘Am I really that great?’ he wondered.

He was getting this kind of reaction.

On the other hand, he also wanted to leave his fans with precious memories.

-A million NewTuber is practically a celebrity, isn’t it? And when fans ask for autographs.

-Wouldn’t it be a memorable experience for the recipients if you had a cool or funny signature instead of just your name?

The conversation he had just had with Jeong-ho came to mind, and Jun-hoo hesitated slightly.

He thought that just writing his name would seem insincere.

But he had a way.

Jun-hoo, having made up his mind, finally took the pen in his hand.

Scribble.

As if a calligrapher were playing with a brush on Korean paper.

Jun-hoo’s hand gracefully swept across the notebook.

The movement of his wrist was both precise and flexible. It flowed seamlessly without a single break.

“…….”

“…….”

After the signing.

The two female fans and Jeong-ho couldn’t close their mouths, which were wide open like alligators.

They were in awe.

Jun-hoo’s signature was too cool.

They couldn’t easily take their eyes off the signature.

“Wow. Amazing! It’s really fantastic. Did you learn calligraphy in the past?”

“It’s very traditional and elegant. You could sell the font.”

“I’m glad you like it. I’ll do another one for you.”

Jun-hoo smiled and signed the next page of the notebook.

The reason why Jun-hoo’s signature was so cool.

The reason was very simple.

He had fully utilized the fact that Jun-hoo was from the Murim [Martial arts world in Korean fantasy novels].

A moment ago, Jun-hoo had scribbled his Chinese name in a fancy cursive script.

The fact that people don’t use Chinese characters much these days.

The fact that he could write Chinese characters naturally and beautifully because he used them a lot in the Murim.

When these two things synergized.

It would be stranger if the signature wasn’t cool.

Click!

Click!

The short fan meeting ended with photos taken with the female fans.

It was a short but meaningful time.

With the sound of the bell, Jun-hoo came out of the cafe with Jeong-ho.

The sky was clear without a single cloud.

It was as if a blue lake was spread out above his head.

The wind blowing from the front was chilly.

The season was now closer to winter than autumn.

It felt like just yesterday that he had passed the residency.

Time flew by like lightning…….

Before he knew it, it was time to graduate from his first year.

At times like this, the Buddhist teachings that time is fleeting and impermanent resonated with him.

“I couldn’t say it earlier, but Mr. Seo, you’re really amazing. You even created a signature on the spot.”

“Isn’t it all thanks to the team leader’s advice?”

“Oh, my. I didn’t do anything. I’ll assign a person in charge for you within two days and contact you.”

“…….”

“I’ll assign our company’s ace, so don’t worry.”

“Yes, please do. And give it to me.”

“What do you mean all of a sudden…….”

“You’ve been fiddling with something in your coat pocket since earlier, isn’t it a coin?”

Jun-hoo asked with a smile.

After uploading the coin bending video.

Some of the people who watched the video asked Jun-hoo to demonstrate bending coins.

-If you’re real, bend a coin in front of my eyes. Then I’ll believe you.

They came out with this attitude.

Jeong-ho would be the same.

Since they met, he would have been curious to see Jun-hoo’s strength.

“Honestly, I’m curious if the coin video is real. But I think you’ve suffered too much from this. I feel like I’m adding fuel to the fire…….”

“Who can I blame? I made the video with that in mind from the beginning.”

“Then I’ll shamelessly ask you.”

Jeong-ho bowed.

He carefully handed Jun-hoo a coin.

Jun-hoo burst out laughing as he accepted the coin.

“Team leader. Aren’t you crossing the line?”

“I just thought it might be possible…….”

“It might be possible.”

The coin that Jeong-ho handed over…….

The coin in Jun-hoo’s hand…….

Was a 500 won coin [Approximately $0.40 USD].

It was as if Jeong-ho was determined to test Jun-hoo.

“Okay. Focus and watch carefully. It’ll be over in the blink of an eye.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jun-hoo grabbed the coin with his thumb and middle finger.

He channeled the internal energy pulled up from his dantian [Energy center in traditional Chinese medicine] into his fingers.

Dragon Claw Hand (龍爪手) [A martial arts technique].

As if a dragon were grabbing its prey with its claws.

Jun-hoo grabbed the 500 won coin with the power of his fingers amplified by internal energy.

And an impossible miracle unfolded.

Like a well-baked waffle being folded in half, the coin was folded in half in just one second.

“This…… it’s possible? It wasn’t a 100 won coin, but a 500 won coin.”

“I unintentionally became an attention seeker with the coin bending video. But that doesn’t mean I’m a fraud.”

“Wow! I’ll tell the company employees what I saw.”

“Go ahead.”

Jun-hoo handed the bent coin to Jeong-ho. And instead of saying goodbye, he offered a handshake.

But for some reason…….

Jeong-ho hesitated and didn’t accept Jun-hoo’s handshake.

“Why aren’t you shaking hands…….”

Jun-hoo, who was puzzled, soon realized the reason and withdrew his hand.

He chuckled.

‘He’s afraid his hand will be crumpled like a coin.’

* * *

[The next stop is Oryu-dong Station. Oryu-dong Station. The next stop is…….]

Beep beep beep!

Jun-hoo tagged his card and got off at the bus stop.

He scanned the surroundings and started walking slowly.

There were three things left on his schedule.

One was the schedule he had to take care of now.

It was to go to his relative’s house and give his cousin tips on becoming a successful NewTuber.

-Tae-yong started internet broadcasting and NewTube a month ago. Since you’re his senior, why don’t you go and give him some advice on your day off?

During a phone call a while ago.

His mother had asked Jun-hoo for a favor. Jun-hoo readily accepted the request.

The second schedule was washing marrow and tendons.

As soon as he got home.

Jun-hoo was planning to perform the washing marrow and tendons that he had been waiting for every day.

Washing marrow and tendons is.

A process to create the best body for learning martial arts.

He had recently secured the internal energy needed for washing marrow and tendons.

It was most effective to receive washing marrow and tendons when you were young.

But the effect didn’t diminish just because you were old.

It just increased the difficulty of washing marrow and tendons.

If Jun-hoo successfully completed the washing marrow and tendons.

Jun-hoo would be reborn.

Optimization of musculoskeletal system, blood vessels, nerves, etc. would be achieved.

The power of the martial arts he had already learned would also be doubled.

But washing marrow and tendons wasn’t just as sweet as honey.

Washing marrow and tendons was also a double-edged sword.

If he unfolded it wrong…….

He could reach Inner Force Deviation [A dangerous condition in martial arts cultivation].

What if he suffered Inner Force Deviation in modern times, not in Murim?

Just thinking about it was terrifying.

His legs went numb.

Goosebumps appeared on his arms.

The hairs on his head stood on end.

Because there would be no one to help him if he suffered Inner Force Deviation in modern times.

No, before that, no one would be able to understand Inner Force Deviation.

Even if the surgeons reached the realm of Harmony, they wouldn’t know why Jun-hoo was vomiting blood.

‘I shouldn’t be careless just because I’ve reached the realm of Harmony.’

‘One mistake could be like falling off a cliff.’

The third schedule was dinner with his parents.

This was closely related to the success of the second schedule.

‘I doubt that would happen…….’

If a problem occurred during the washing marrow and tendons.

Dinner was not the problem.

As he was walking and thinking about this and that, Jun-hoo’s steps suddenly stopped.

An old villa stood before his eyes.

Jun-hoo skipped up the stairs and arrived on the 4th floor.

After ringing the bell, a young man with messy hair and sleepy eyes opened the front door after a while.

It was his cousin, Na Tae-yong, who had just debuted as a streamer and NewTuber.

“Oh. Hyung [Korean term for older brother or male cousin]. You came?”

“Yeah. Long time no see? Are you still sleepy?”

“Yeah. I was broadcasting until dawn yesterday. Come on in. Have you had lunch?”

“I ate before coming. What about you?”

“I’m going to wash up and eat a cup of ramen. Should I make one for you too, hyung?”

“No, I’m sick of ramen.”

Jun-hoo shook his head violently from side to side.

While working as a resident, he ate ramen almost once a day.

Just thinking about ramen made his stomach churn.

Maybe that’s why.

Jun-hoo didn’t even touch noodle dishes on his days off.

Jun-hoo entered the living room and sat on the sofa.

Ziiing.

When he turned on the screen with the remote control, a health information program was being broadcast.

[The secret to my successful diet is Cissus powder.]

‘Sigh…… Can’t I not see that damn Cissus ad?’

While Jun-hoo was lamenting.

A random general public participant suddenly poured a lot of Cissus powder into a salad.

He pretended to eat something that didn’t taste good.

It would have been nice if it had ended there…….

The doctors who appeared on the show together praised Cissus as the food of the gods.

It reduces appetite.

It reduces body fat and cholesterol.

It improves digestion, etc., etc.

They were clearly comments and actions that had been sponsored.

‘You should be ashamed.

People like you are the reason why the term “show doctor” exists.’

While Jun-hoo was criticizing the show doctors.

A person was caught on the screen.

At that moment, Jun-hoo couldn’t help but be shocked.

It was like a bolt from the blue.

Among the show doctors promoting Cissus, there was a very familiar face.

It was his master, Park Jae-hyun.

‘No, why is my master on this kind of trash show?

Was he threatened?’