A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 341

Chapter 66: Adaptation (1)

It was only after arriving in the unfamiliar land of America that Jun-hoo truly appreciated Korea’s elevated status.

The surprise began on the road.

Cars with familiar logos were visible.

It was Hyundai.

Jun-hoo had heard that Hyundai cars had high sales figures in the United States, but seeing cars from his homeland locally was both pleasing and amazing.

As he entered the city center, he could hear the catchy music of BTS [a famous South Korean boy band] coming from several stores.

When Jun-hoo visited the Social Security office to get his Social Security number,

the employee, upon learning that Jun-hoo was Korean, boasted about having traveled to Korea several times.

Jun-hoo just smiled awkwardly.

He wondered if this was what they called national pride.

While running errands with Clara in her car,

Jun-hoo had many conversations with her.

Among them, the most impressive topics were definitely about the Mayou Clinic and the Boost Up Program.

As a current surgeon at Mayou, Clara had great pride in the clinic.

She spoke with pride about training, teaching, and caring for patients at what she considered the world’s best hospital.

Jun-hoo felt like he could understand that feeling to some extent.

Jun-hoo also felt pride when he became a member of the Murim Alliance [a fictional martial arts alliance], realizing that he had become a central figure in the prestigious orthodox Murim.

“What is Clara’s specialty?”

“Me? I’m in gastrointestinal surgery. My subspecialties are liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.”

“Then have you done a Whipple procedure?”

Jun-hoo asked, his eyes shining.

A Whipple procedure was considered the pinnacle of gastrointestinal surgery.

Depending on the patient’s case, it involved resecting and anastomosing [surgically connecting] areas such as the stomach, pancreas, bile duct, and large intestine.

It was like a comprehensive set of gastrointestinal surgeries.

“Of course. The Whipple is my specialty. If Dr. Seo had chosen gastrointestinal surgery, I could have taken good care of you, but it’s a shame.”

“…….”

“That moronic bastard. Did he learn to drive from a dog? He’s cutting into the lane without even using his blinker.”

Clara’s voice, which had been so friendly until now, suddenly became rough.

Clara’s pupils widened as if she was surprised by her own words.

Then, she laughed and glanced at Jun-hoo’s reaction.

“Please pretend you didn’t hear what I just said.”

“Huh? What did you say just now?”

Jun-hoo tactfully played along with Clara’s words.

It was difficult to generalize about surgeons,

but usually, surgeons were more straightforward and outspoken than internists [doctors specializing in internal medicine].

“Does gastrointestinal surgery also have a Boost Up Program?”

“Of course. All surgical departments are scheduled to operate the Boost Up Program starting this year.”

“How are applicants selected?”

Jun-hoo asked the question he had been most curious about since he was in Korea.

Mayou Clinic, which everyone considers the best in the world.

How would they pick out new program applicants?

Jun-hoo’s gaze was fixed on Clara’s lips for a moment.

Clara wore a faint smile before explaining.

“Are you asking me to leak the test method now? That’s a bit difficult.”

“Can’t you tell me roughly? Like if there’s an interview or a practical exam.”

“As you said, there’s an interview and a practical exam. But the practical exam won’t be easy.”

Clara said, looking at Jun-hoo when the car stopped at a light.

Clara’s voice sounded like a warning or an intimidation.

“Especially neurosurgery.”

“Is there a reason why the neurosurgery exam is particularly difficult?”

“There’s a very simple reason. Because there are the most applicants. If the exam is going to be discriminating [selective], it has to be difficult, right?”

A difficult practical exam…….

Jun-hoo stroked his chin and pondered.

Honestly, he had no idea how the test would proceed.

His head felt foggy, filled with mist.

“What will you do if you fail the Boost Up Program? Will you go to another hospital?”

“No. I haven’t thought about that?”

“Huh? Shouldn’t you think about that in advance?”

Clara asked with an absurd, or perhaps pathetic, look on her face.

Wrinkles had already formed on her forehead.

“I communicate freely in English and I’m good at what I do, so why would I fail?”

“There are no idiots among the Boost Up Program applicants. Confidence is good, but arrogance is a no-no.”

“It’s hard for you to understand, but I’m being incredibly humble right now.”

Jun-hoo said with a relaxed smile.

Not only was he armed with martial arts and internal energy,

but Jun-hoo had also accumulated medical knowledge that others couldn’t match, and he had trained in various surgeries through practical experience and imaginary training.

For Jun-hoo to fail the Boost Up Program?

That was something that couldn’t happen unless the sky split in two.

“If you don’t believe me, do you want to make a bet?”

Jun-hoo provoked Clara first.

* * *

After finishing all the errands at once.

After an early dinner, the night sky darkened.

Clara’s car stopped in a residential area on the border between the city center and Harlem [a neighborhood in New York City].

Even though it wasn’t long after sunset, the residential area had an eerie and gloomy atmosphere.

Flicker- flicker-

Some of the streetlights flickered precariously.

Several black people smoking cigarettes in the alley glanced at the car.

“See that 5-story apartment building over there? Room 501 is where Dr. Seo will be staying.”

Clara handed over the room key with an apologetic expression.

“I looked for a good place, but there wasn’t a suitable one. Either financially or geographically.”

“It’s okay. I only need to stay for ten days anyway. I heard that I can use the dormitory if I pass the test, is that right?”

“Of course. And I’m saying this because I’m worried…….”

Clara gestured slightly with her chin towards the group of black people.

Jun-hoo’s gaze naturally turned to them.

“If possible, don’t get into fights with these people. It’s a completely different and brutal environment than Korea.”

“…….”

“Guns are common, and many people do drugs. You may have already prepared yourself, but there will be racism too.”

“…….”

“I recommend staying home until you pass the test and enter the dormitory. Do you know what I mean?”

“I understand perfectly. Thank you, Clara. Thanks to your help, the work went quickly.”

Clara winked at Jun-hoo’s words of gratitude.

Whether she was just cheerful by nature…….

Or whether she had romantic feelings for Jun-hoo, it was a subtle wink that was hard to interpret.

Brrr- brrr-

Jun-hoo waved his hand at the receding car and looked at the apartment building where he would be staying.

It was a shabby building with peeling paint and rusty pipes, but he didn’t feel any particular aversion.

Dragging his suitcase, Jun-hoo entered the building.

There was no elevator, but it wasn’t a problem.

Jun-hoo lifted the suitcase with one hand and climbed the stairs to stand in front of room 501.

Click!

He opened the door with the key and entered the hallway.

It was a large apartment for one person to live in.

There were two rooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a properly equipped kitchen.

Except for the yellowish wallpaper and the musty smell of mold somewhere, there was nothing to criticize.

After quickly unpacking, Jun-hoo sat cross-legged and began his mind training.

His goal was to create five layers of Mana Heart [a concept related to internal energy cultivation] before the Boost Up test.

* * *

Jun-hoo’s daily life was peace itself.

Since he wasn’t treating patients at the hospital, he had plenty of time.

Jun-hoo spent most of his time building up his internal energy.

He spent his time closing his eyes and using ‘Internal Energy Optic Nerve Stimulation’ [a technique for enhancing internal energy through visualization] to do imaginary training.

Recently, his imagination had become so sophisticated that he even created various scenarios during surgery.

Suddenly, a situation would unfold where he had to perform CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation], or suddenly a cerebral blood vessel would burst, or a virtual staff member would make a ridiculous mistake, etc.

In a world of imagination that was the same as reality.

Jun-hoo was growing day by day.

It was a training method that only Jun-hoo could do on Earth.

Feeling stuffy from being inside all the time, Jun-hoo sometimes went for walks.

Whenever Jun-hoo went for a walk, eyes poured out from all directions. The nearby residents looked at Jun-hoo like an animal in a zoo.

They seemed curious about the newly arrived Asian.

He kept in touch with his family and Ah-young.

At least once every two days.

Jun-hoo knew very well which one was more heartbreaking, the one who left or the one who was left behind.

Even in Murim.

Even in modern times.

He had experienced countless long and short farewells with many people.

He also had dinner with Richard, whom he had given first aid to on the plane.

As written on his business card.

Richard was a successful local reporter in Cleveland.

At dinner, he proudly handed Jun-hoo the newspaper.

On page 2 of the local newspaper that day, there was a large article about Jun-hoo’s first aid with Jun-hoo’s picture.

It seemed like they had put a lot of effort into the page.

When they exchanged contact information at the airport,

he was puzzled when they asked to take a picture for a moment, but this was the hidden intention.

-If you ever need my help in the future, feel free to tell me. I’m ready to do anything to help the benefactor of my life.

Richard said, pounding his chest as if to tell him to trust him, when they finished dinner and parted ways.

Jun-hoo nodded, saying he understood.

He felt reassured by the first friend he had made in America.

As time flowed…….

The night before the long-awaited Boost Up Program arrived.

Jun-hoo put the warm phone in his pocket and continued walking down the street.

He had just finished filming NewTube [a fictional video platform] content.

He couldn’t neglect filming NewTube just because he came to America.

As NewTube grew.

As NewTube revenue increased.

The options available to help patients with poor economic conditions increased.

Recently, he had been filming videos with the theme of ‘Life as a Doctor in America’ and handing them over to his manager.

The response was quite positive.

So far, he had uploaded a total of 3 episodes, and the average number of views was close to 400,000.

-Teacher. Why don’t you just settle down in America from now on? The number of views is so sweet? LOL

The manager, who had been in contact with him recently, made such a joke.

Jun-hoo walked along the main road and entered a narrow path between buildings.

Then, he crossed his arms and looked back.

“Why don’t you stop tailing me around here?”

Jun-hoo’s voice was more prickly than usual.

Jun-hoo’s eyes were glaring at a huge green trash can placed on one side of the alley.

Whoosh.

The wind blowing from the opposite side scattered Jun-hoo’s bangs.

The trash scattered on the alley floor blew away or tumbled over in the wind. The darkness cast over the alley deepened.

“What? How did he notice? I definitely followed him like a ghost?”

“Idiot. That’s why I told you not to wear those crappy boots.”

A faint conversation was heard from behind the trash can.

Jun-hoo waited patiently.

After a while, two black men came straight at Jun-hoo, staring at him.

They stood at a reasonable distance from Jun-hoo, put their hands in their pockets, and chewed gum.

Are they robbers?

Do they have guns?

Jun-hoo was on guard, not letting his guard down.

The Boost Up Program test was tomorrow, of all days. Getting caught up in trouble was the last thing he wanted.

But the first words the tall black man said were unexpected.

“Hey. You’re a doctor, right?”