A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 455

Chapter 89: The Final Battle (1)

“…….”

Moon Kyung-rae was speechless. He was so dumbfounded he couldn’t say anything.

Acupuncture was by no means an easy treatment. It might seem like you could just stick needles in randomly, but that was far from the truth.

You had to identify the acupoints. Choose the right needle for the acupoint and insert the needle to the correct depth.

No matter what anyone said, acupuncture was the flower of Korean medicine. But Jun-hoo was saying he could do it after seeing it just once?

Wasn’t this Jun-hoo insulting acupuncture?

As his thoughts reached that point, anger simmered in Moon Kyung-rae’s stomach. He had begged him to see the patient, and all he got in return was contempt for acupuncture….

The Jun-hoo he had seen in the news articles was a righteous and skilled neurosurgeon [NS surgeon], but it seemed that was all an illusion created by the media.

“Dr. Seo, your joke is too much.”

“I fully understand that you don’t believe me. You must think I’m looking down on you.”

“How can you say such a thing when you know that?”

“But I can’t help it. I’m just saying I can do what I can do.”

Jun-hoo was still full of confidence. Moon couldn’t comfortably return to his position without crushing that arrogance.

“Okay. Then put the needles in your own toes.”

“Yes, I will.”

Jun-hoo readily agreed. He sat on the bed in the company commander’s office and bent his knees into a ‘∧’ shape.

Moon Kyung-rae placed a set of acupuncture tools next to Jun-hoo. Jun-hoo picked up a medium-length needle. It was a fine needle (毫鍼) [a thin, slender acupuncture needle].

Fine needles were the most commonly used needles by Korean medicine doctors. The length was 4.2cm to 4.8cm. It was characterized by its cylindrical shape and rounded tip.

*Pooh-ooh-ook!*

The fine needle pierced Jun-hoo’s Taechung acupoint. The Taechung acupoint was located 2cm above the big toenail.

‘Good needle. Good acupoint. The depth to which the needle penetrated the acupoint was also good.’

‘So he wasn’t talking complete nonsense. He was observing carefully without just spacing out.’

Moon Kyung-rae nodded. However, he didn’t 100 percent acknowledge Jun-hoo. If he had a good memory, he could memorize a few acupuncture points. But Moon Kyung-rae used as many as 20 needles to treat the frostbite patient.

To memorize all of that after seeing it once? That was impossible unless the sky was falling.

How much time had passed? Moon Kyung-rae’s face turned blue. The sky was falling.

Jun-hoo only struggled for a moment when choosing the needles. When he pierced the needles, he didn’t hesitate at all. His hand movements were lightning fast.

After gaining momentum with the acupuncture, he put the needles in faster than Moon Kyung-rae. It was a sight hard to believe even when seeing it with his own eyes.

As the number of needles stuck in Jun-hoo’s toes increased, Jun-hoo’s toes looked like a baby hedgehog.

“Are you satisfied now?”

Jun-hoo, who had finished the acupuncture, looked at Moon Kyung-rae.

“…….”

“Dr. Moon, please answer.”

“Oh… I feel a sense of shame as a Korean medicine doctor.”

Moon Kyung-rae laughed hollowly. His gaze was still fixed on Jun-hoo’s toes.

The acupuncture was perfect. It was exactly the same as if Jun-hoo had copied and pasted his acupuncture. If another Korean medicine doctor tried to distinguish between the two people’s acupuncture, it would be absolutely impossible.

“Are you a memory genius?”

“Hahaha. Well, I’m good at memorizing things.”

Jun-hoo smiled awkwardly. It wasn’t wrong. Contrary to the prejudices of ordinary people, martial artists (武人) [practitioners of martial arts] were usually smart.

In the case of recognizing other people’s martial arts, in the case of reviewing after sparring, they had to meticulously review it and use it as a stepping stone for growth.

In the past, Jun-hoo had even memorized a series of moves that lasted for 2 da-gyeong (茶頃) [a unit of time, approximately 30 minutes, or the time it takes to drink two cups of tea]. Compared to that, memorizing acupuncture was a piece of cake.

“Anyway, let’s get back to the main point?”

Jun-hoo took out the needles in an instant and continued speaking. “Actually, it’s a violation of the Medical Service Act for me, a doctor, to perform acupuncture.”

“That’s right. It’s a natural thing.”

Moon Kyung-rae nodded.

“But since the situation is what it is, I’ll ask for your understanding. It’s a matter of the patient’s remaining life.”

“Hmm… It’s a bit unsettling, but I’ll keep my mouth shut. I would have opposed it unconditionally if the acupuncture was clumsy, but since you’re doing it the same way, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Thank you, Dr. Moon.”

“But don’t you have to persuade the patient too? Even if you get my permission, it’ll be useless if the patient refuses, right?”

Moon Kyung-rae expressed his concern. He felt that the patient was not fond of acupuncture. But if Jun-hoo performed the acupuncture instead of himself, a Korean medicine doctor, the antipathy would be even greater.

“If the treatment is successful, there will be no problem, but if the treatment fails, there will definitely be talk.”

“…….”

“Dr. Seo’s kindness may be poison. People tend to blame others when things don’t go well.”

“Leave In-ho to me. I have a good method.”

“What method?”

Jun-hoo answered, and Moon Kyung-rae let out a hollow laugh. That scheme was as precarious as a sandcastle on the beach. But Moon Kyung-rae didn’t press further.

Strictly speaking, Moon Kyung-rae was a third party in this treatment.

“Dr. Moon, I also have something I’m curious about.”

“Yes, ask me.”

“Is the acupuncture I just memorized the only thing I need to use to treat frostbite?”

“Yes. Remove one needle at a time as the condition improves. It would be good to use cupping, but it’s hard to do in the military unit. Give him frequent warm water foot baths.”

“Thank you, Dr. Moon.”

“Contact me anytime if there are any problems during the treatment.”

Just in time, the patient came, so Moon Kyung-rae said goodbye to Jun-hoo and left the company commander’s office.

Under the bright sunshine, he stared intently at the military barracks building.

Considering the ability he had just shown, and the sincerity towards the patient, Jun-hoo was a rare, genuine surgeon these days.

* * *

The next day morning, as soon as Jun-hoo arrived at work, he called In-ho to the company commander’s office.

“Attention.”

In-ho saluted weakly and sat in the chair opposite Jun-hoo. Unlike yesterday, In-ho was wearing his training uniform and slippers because he was officially admitted to the medical unit.

“Let’s take a look at your toes?”

“Yes, Company Commander.”

“You don’t have to lift your feet, just stay still.”

Jun-hoo’s eyes carefully examined In-ho’s toes. Since he had removed the needles before leaving work yesterday, there were no needles stuck in his toes.

Was it because it was the first day of acupuncture treatment? The big toe didn’t seem to have improved much. The toes were still as black as charcoal.

“Did you have a warm water foot bath in the evening?”

“Yes, I did.”

There was no soul in In-ho’s voice as he answered.

“But Company Commander.”

“Why?”

“I’m very grateful that you’re trying so hard for me… but I don’t know if this treatment is really meaningful.”

In-ho carefully brought up the topic.

“Maybe it would be better to get an amputation surgery quickly. Wouldn’t it be more dangerous if the necrotic area widens while receiving acupuncture treatment?”

In-ho’s words were mixed with a deep sigh.

That’s right. In-ho already seemed to have given up on his toes. Jun-hoo’s heart ached as he saw his lifeless appearance.

“The dermatologist also said it’s okay to watch the progress for about a month, so let’s just suffer for one more month.”

“I understand.”

“Okay, let’s do what we can. It’s too early to give up.”

Jun-hoo comforted In-ho. He opened the lid of the Mayo stand [a small, portable stand used to hold surgical instruments and supplies] placed on the desk.

Needles were arranged inside the Mayo stand. They were needles that the medics had disinfected yesterday.

“Isn’t the Korean medicine doctor coming today?”

“He has a schedule, so he can’t visit every day. I’ll be putting the needles in from now on.”

“You’re not a Korean medicine doctor, are you?”

In-ho’s eyes widened as if they would pop out at any moment. Finally, the first hurdle of acupuncture treatment had arrived.

Acupuncture treatment was impossible if he didn’t persuade In-ho.

“When you weren’t around, I got recognition from the Korean medicine doctor. He said it’s okay for me to put the needles in.”

“Still, that’s a bit….”

In-ho stepped back, expressing his rejection. He didn’t know doctors well, and he didn’t know Korean medicine doctors well either, but he knew the common sense that doctors shouldn’t put needles in recklessly.

“This is the best we can do right now. There’s no way for you to be hospitalized in a Korean medicine hospital, is there?”

“Still, I don’t think this is right.”

“I fully understand your feelings. You must not trust me, but you have to trust me. There’s no other way right now.”

Jun-hoo continued calmly. “I’m not trying to treat you to enjoy wealth and fame. I just want you to regain your healthy toes.”

“…….”

“To be honest, it’s none of my business whether you have your toes amputated or not, right?”

In-ho’s pupils shook at Jun-hoo’s words. Come to think of it, that was true.

Jun-hoo was just trying his best out of a desire for In-ho to be healthy, giving him a 4-day and 5-night vacation pass to get treatment at an outside hospital, or bringing a Korean medicine doctor to try acupuncture, etc.

Jun-hoo had been doing his best only for In-ho.

‘Oh well, I don’t care. If it’s a toe that’s going to be cut off anyway, it doesn’t matter what I do.’

In-ho made up his mind like that.

“Then… I’ll receive the acupuncture that you give me.”

“Okay, good thinking. Thank you for your courage. And it’s a secret that I’m putting the needles in. You know that much, right?”

“Yes, Company Commander.”

In-ho put his hand to his mouth and pretended to zip it up. Jun-hoo chuckled.

“But won’t the medics notice?”

“I’ve already talked to the medics, so don’t worry about that.”

“I understand.”

Before starting the full-scale acupuncture, Jun-hoo lightly bent his neck left and right.

Moon Kyung-rae had clearly said this: In-ho’s condition was worse than the frostbite patient he had treated. There was no guarantee that treatment would be possible even if he performed acupuncture.

But Jun-hoo’s thoughts were different. He was 100 percent confident that In-ho’s toes would recover.

Did he have a basis for that? Of course, he did!

Jun-hoo reproduced Moon Kyung-rae’s acupuncture and put the needles directly into his own toes, and he felt it then.

The acupuncture was stimulating the acupoints and generating heat. This was what was called healing heat in the martial arts world. Healing heat was the heat generated when wounds and organs or tissues were regenerated.

However, Moon Kyung-rae’s words were not entirely unreasonable. The healing heat generated by acupuncture was woefully insufficient to restore In-ho’s toes. It was like giving a sip of water to a dehydrated patient.

But who was Jun-hoo? Wasn’t he a surgeon from the martial arts world? Only Jun-hoo could regenerate In-ho’s toes.

*Pabababat!*

Before starting the acupuncture, Jun-hoo touched a few acupoints on In-ho’s toes. It was because he remembered that it hurt when he pierced the needles.

“Starting now.”

“Yes, Company Commander.”

*Pooh-ooh-ook!*

The beginning of the acupuncture was the Foot Tae-eum Spleen Meridian located at the tip of the toe. No sooner had he finished the first needle technique than Jun-hoo’s hands moved as if possessed.

Dozens of needles quickly and accurately pierced the toes. The order was muscle, nerve, and blood vessel. The needles mainly used were fine needles and round needles.

‘Our Company Commander is crazy. He seems to be better at putting needles in than the Korean medicine doctor?’

In-ho was shocked as he watched Jun-hoo’s acupuncture. There was no way to check if the acupuncture was proceeding properly, but at least on the surface, Jun-hoo’s acupuncture looked perfect.

Unlike yesterday, his toes didn’t hurt.

“Okay, the acupuncture is over. Don’t move and stay still.”

Jun-hoo placed his left index finger under In-ho’s big toe.

*Woo-oo-oong.*

*Woo-oo-oong.*

The internal energy drawn from his dantian [energy center in the body] flowed from his index finger to In-ho’s big toe.

“Company Commander, suddenly my foot feels very warm.”

In-ho exclaimed in a surprised voice. That was exactly what Jun-hoo wanted.