A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 264

Chapter 50: Crossing the Line (4)

The long journey, a full seven hours, finally ended.

Gyu-sik led the way, with Hye-sun and Jun-hoo following close behind.

Beeeeeep.

The operating room door slid open.

Depending on the patient’s condition, that operating room door could be the gateway to heaven or the gateway to hell.

Today, it was definitely the gate to heaven.

The light spilling from the room felt particularly dazzling to Jun-hoo.

‘You did well, Jun-hoo,’ he thought.

All that meticulous bone-carving had been worth it.

‘Just keep doing what you’re doing.’

‘You are not powerless at all.’

‘You have the strength to overcome any crisis and hardship.’

Jun-hoo encouraged himself inwardly, replaying the surgery in his mind.

Sealing that vein had been a high-risk maneuver.

What would have happened if the attempt had failed?

The staff would have criticized him for showing off, and that criticism would have reached the chief, possibly resulting in disciplinary action.

But still…

Even if the sealing had failed.

Jun-hoo would have accepted the consequences and taken responsibility.

He hadn’t stepped up because he was certain of success.

It wasn’t ‘confidence in success’ but ‘confidence in enduring the pain of failure’ that had driven him.

The simple, unwavering desire to help the patient.

That pure and noble intention was Jun-hoo’s greatest and most powerful weapon.

After leaving the operating room, Jun-hoo joined the staff in front of the medical waste disposal.

He quickly shed his surgical gown, cap, mask, and gloves.

Perhaps it was because he had successfully sealed the vein.

Jun-hoo felt like an insect shedding its skin as he discarded the surgical attire.

Before and after shedding that skin, Jun-hoo was a completely different person.

A person who had grown, evolved one step further.

“Joshua, you worked hard too. You must be tired, hungry, and need to use the bathroom, right?”

Jun-hoo asked Joshua, who stood beside him.

“I definitely feel the fatigue washing over me now that the surgery is over. But the doctors worked even harder. I was just sitting still.”

“It’s actually harder to stay still sometimes.”

“Is that so?”

Joshua smiled at Jun-hoo’s words. The fear of losing his finger seemed like a distant memory. A subtle ease had settled on his face.

Joshua wore a medical sling on his shoulder, supporting his recently operated right hand. The finger that had been successfully reattached was in a finger splint bent at an 80-degree angle.

White bandages were wrapped around the splint.

Jun-hoo wasn’t familiar with the post-operative treatment plan, his background being in neurosurgery, not hand surgery.

But considering Gyu-sik’s satisfaction with the surgery, it seemed unlikely that any major complications would arise.

“Doctor, hurry up. We can’t leave Professor alone.”

Hye-sun urged, and Jun-hoo quickened his pace. Gyu-sik was already walking ahead.

“Doctor, you were really cool today. Like a drama protagonist.”

Hye-sun winked at Jun-hoo.

“‘I’ll do the vein sealing’… Isn’t that a line from a drama?”

“I didn’t plan it that way, but it turned out that way. But the surgery wasn’t completed just because I did well, right?”

“…….”

“Hye-sun’s role was also very important. I survived thanks to you.”

Jun-hoo praised Hye-sun, raising his thumb in acknowledgment.

In the final stages of the surgery, Jun-hoo had taken on the role of the chief surgeon, and Hye-sun had become the first assistant.

What if Hye-sun’s skills had been lacking?

Jun-hoo wouldn’t have dared to guarantee the surgery’s success.

Jun-hoo’s vein-sealing skills weren’t yet at the level where he could drag a troublesome colleague along.

At least, not yet…….

“That was also possible because of Doctor Jun-hoo’s orders. Come to think of it, you have a talent for giving orders too?”

“A talent for giving orders… I suppose you could say that’s right.”

Jun-hoo laughed.

-From now on, hold the blood vessel while holding your breath for exactly 10 seconds. Don’t let your hands shake. The needle will slip.

-Move your hand back a little. Your finger is blocking the surgical view.

-More. More. Yes. Right there. Cut the suture at that position. In one go!

During the vein sealing, Jun-hoo passed on the techniques he had learned from Gyu-sik to Hye-sun.

Perhaps it was thanks to his experience as an instructor in the Murim Alliance [fictional martial arts association]?

Jun-hoo’s teachings were kind and meticulous, and Hye-sun absorbed them at lightning speed.

She quickly transformed into a first-class assistant.

Just as he excelled himself, Jun-hoo also had a remarkable talent for helping others grow.

To make proper use of this talent, he would need to become at least an associate professor.

‘When on earth will I become a professor?’

Pushing away the *잡념* [japnyum – idle thoughts or distractions], Jun-hoo stood next to Gyu-sik.

Gyu-sik was talking to the middle-aged man, Joshua’s factory colleague and guardian.

He was reassuring him that the surgery had gone well and there was nothing to worry about.

The guardian was relieved that Joshua had returned safely and that his finger had been successfully reattached.

He sighed in relief as he watched Joshua return.

But at that very moment!

A very ominous idea flashed through Jun-hoo’s mind.

His skin turned cold.

His hair stood on end.

It was certainly something to celebrate that the reattachment surgery was successful.

But there was still an unfinished task left.

If that task wasn’t completed…….

Wouldn’t this surgery ultimately have a bad ending?

“Guardian, I have one question for you.”

As soon as Gyu-sik’s explanation ended, Jun-hoo jumped into the conversation.

Everyone’s eyes were on Jun-hoo, their expressions seeming to say, “What do you have to say now?”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Joshua’s finger was cut off while he was working at the factory, right?”

“So what? Don’t you know that, of course?”

“The main point is from now on.”

Jun-hoo calmly began.

“Surely Joshua will be able to get industrial accident insurance [worker’s compensation], won’t he?”

* * *

At a similar time, in the observation operating room.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

A loud applause echoed through the room.

It was Si-deok, the chief of Daejeon Shinwon University Hospital, clapping his hands.

“He’s crazy, isn’t he? This guy keeps exceeding expectations. Not only did he do a mock sealing with 8-0 sutures, but he actually sealed a blood vessel in real life.”

Si-deok said, referring to Jun-hoo, and laughed heartily.

The laughter was as loud as the applause.

In fact, it was Si-deok who had gotten Jun-hoo involved in the finger reattachment surgery.

But even he…

He never knew that Jun-hoo would be so active.

To think he would seal it instead of the professor.

If it were possible, Si-deok wanted to record only the scene of Jun-hoo sealing and watch it over and over again.

Jun-hoo’s sealing technique was that flawless.

“He’s amazing. I could see his potential since the awakening surgery.”

Dong-hoon, who was next to him, nodded.

“But, senior, that’s why I’m more worried about Jun-hoo.”

“Worried because he’s too good?”

“Yes. It’s good that he cares about the patient and has excellent skills, but I’m worried that he’ll be used by the higher-ups and then abandoned.”

“Don’t tell me… are you targeting me right now?”

“No. Except for you, senior. Anyway, you know what I mean, right?”

“I can’t help but know. There’s a living witness next to me.”

Si-deok’s gaze lingered on Dong-hoon.

Dong-hoon turned his head to avoid Si-deok’s gaze.

“You can learn politics from me. It’s not that difficult.”

“I found politics more suffocating than surgery.”

“It depends on your personality. But Jun-hoo’s case is a little different.”

“In what way?”

“Before that, let me ask you in reverse. Do you know what the highest level of politics is?”

“Isn’t it alienating people without being obvious?”

Dong-hoon cautiously offered his opinion.

“That’s second-rate. There’s a separate first-rate politics.”

“Don’t hesitate and tell me.”

“The best politics is… ‘skill’. If you have skill, you can transcend politics.”

“…….”

“If he continues to grow like this, Jun-hoo will become the top politician in surgery.”

“Are you targeting me right now? Are you saying that I need politics because my skills are lacking?”

“Is that how it sounds?”

Si-deok smirked.

Anyway, Si-deok had visited the Seoul main hospital and discovered an amazing treasure called Jun-hoo.

There was no way he could pretend not to see this sparkling and shining treasure and go back.

“Ugh. My body feels stiff.”

Getting up from his seat, Si-deok stretched.

As soon as the surgery observation was over, the fatigue he had forgotten rushed in.

“You worked hard too. You guided me on my day off and observed the surgery next to me.”

“It’s enough that you know. Buy me something delicious for dinner.”

“Of course. Of course, I have to.”

Si-deok nodded.

He took out his cell phone and made a call.

The person on the other end of the line was the chief of neurosurgery at the Seoul main hospital.

“Ah. Yes. This is me, chief.”

-…….

“Yes. Yes. Let’s do that. I was going to get together with Professor Seo, but I’ll buy Korean beef for the first time in a while.”

-…….

“Yes. Then I’ll see you in the lobby.”

“Do you want to see me get indigestion? Why is the chief at dinner…….”

Dong-hoon grumbled as Si-deok hung up the phone.

“Do you have to ask that? I have to steal Jun-hoo.”

* * *

After successfully completing the finger reattachment surgery, Jun-hoo was heading to the underground cafeteria with Gyu-sik and Hye-sun.

During the half-day surgery, the staff had skipped a meal.

Grumble~ Grumble~ Grumble~

The beggar in his stomach was singing a beggar’s song, asking for food. So Gyu-sik decided to buy lunch and dinner.

While riding the escalator down to the restaurant, Jun-hoo stared out the window.

Perhaps because it was winter, the sky was already dark.

The light emitted by the streetlights and hospital buildings looked much brighter than the sunset.

Because outpatient hours were over, the lobby had a rather quiet atmosphere.

“Professor, are you feeling a little better?”

“The dizziness is still there… but it’s bearable now.”

Gyu-sik looked at Jun-hoo and smiled bitterly.

“Are you usually this busy?”

“Today is rather good. There have been many times when I skipped two meals and went straight into surgery.”

Gyu-sik’s words stabbed Jun-hoo’s heart like a dagger.

Hand surgery was a department that was as busy and understaffed as neurosurgery or thoracic surgery.

The professor was also in a department where he worked as hard as a resident.

Was that why?

Gyu-sik, who had taken off his surgical cap and mask, looked much older and more tired than Jun-hoo had thought.

Where is the haven for surgeons?

Who will be the savior of the collapsing surgical world?

And when will the savior come?

Even though he had successfully completed the surgery, Jun-hoo had many thoughts.

Perhaps his teacher Jae-hyun’s judgment was correct.

There is a limit to individual surgeons struggling, and everyone will only survive if the system changes.

While chatting, they arrived at a Chinese restaurant.

It was quiet with few customers.

While waiting for everyone to order, Jun-hoo got up from his seat.

“Did you get a *병동* [byungdong – ward] call?”

Gyu-sik tilted his head at Jun-hoo’s sudden action.

“No. I’m going to give you a simple massage, Professor.”

“It’s okay. I appreciate the thought, but you don’t have to go that far.”

“You’ll regret it if you don’t get it?”

Jun-hoo smiled and put his hand on Gyu-sik’s shoulder.

“My massage is a whole new world.”