A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 458

Chapter 89: The Final Battle (4)

An officetel [a type of multi-purpose building often used for both residential and office purposes in South Korea] is structurally unremarkable.

Upon entering, there’s a closet-style shoe cabinet to the side.

Across from it is the bathroom, and a sink with a built-in washing machine and refrigerator, fitted together like a puzzle.

The size is usually around 4-5 pyeong [approximately 132-165 square feet; a traditional Korean unit of area].

The differentiating factors in an officetel are whether there’s a sliding door between the entrance and the room,

whether it’s a duplex or not,

and whether it’s a studio or a one-bedroom.

However, ‘that room’ was a bit different.

Despite being midday, the room was dark due to the blackout curtains.

Dozens of photos were plastered on the wall. Most of them were of a young, handsome ‘man’.

“Hoo.”

Siho came out of the bathroom after showering.

Drying his hair with a towel, he stood in front of the wall and looked at the photos. The corners of his once straight lips curved into a smile.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this day.”

Siho stroked a photo as if touching a treasure.

The person in the photo was Junhoo.

Some photos showed him in casual clothes, others in his military uniform, and some in his doctor’s gown.

There were solo shots and group shots.

“Humans are truly full of contradictions. The person I want to destroy ends up saving me.”

During nearly ten years of prison life.

The person who saved Siho was none other than Junhoo.

How could that be?

Living among lowly criminals, being deprived of freedom, and eating prison food every day.

Siho always thought of Junhoo.

More precisely, he thought of the revenge he would inflict on Junhoo.

Each time.

He felt an unexpected strength welling up from deep within.

That strength kept Siho going.

Every moment in the detention center was hell, but those hells eventually passed and became memories.

Time was stronger than anything.

Siho stood there for a long time, looking at Junhoo’s photos.

Junhoo’s appearance hadn’t changed at all during that time.

Depending on how he dressed, he could even look like a college student.

His career had reached its peak. He graduated at the top of his class from the Mayou University Boost-Up Program [likely a fictional prestigious program], mastering his sub-specialty in neurosurgery.

So, was he envious?

Not at all!

Siho actually felt sorry for Junhoo.

Because he knew that everything Junhoo had would soon shatter like glass.

Because he knew that he was the hammer that would smash Junhoo’s life.

‘Seo Junhoo, things won’t go like last time. I’ve prepared thoroughly this time.’

Junhoo wasn’t an ordinary human.

So, Siho had devised an extraordinary plan.

The calculations were thorough, and the odds of success were high.

All that was left was execution.

The day Siho decided was the day of execution, the day Junhoo would fall into hell.

In fact, Siho’s plan was this.

Kidnap Junhoo’s parents and kidnap Ah-young.

Then, call Junhoo.

‘I’ll give you one hour to choose whether to save your parents or Ah-young.’

‘Saving both is impossible.’

‘What will you do?’

“Hehehehe.”

Laughter burst out just from imagining it.

Junhoo’s face, full of regret and blaming himself, was vividly drawn in his mind.

“What’s this?”

Bzzzz.

Suddenly, his phone rang, and he checked the number.

It was an unfamiliar number.

Hoping it was a call from ‘that side,’ he quickly answered, but he heard an unexpected voice.

A voice he had resented.

A voice he had longed for.

A voice he wanted to hear again.

“See, you and I have something in common. Don’t you think so? Seo Junhoo?”

Siho grinned.

* * *

Junhoo was walking through a residential area in Incheon.

Away from the bustling streets, old multi-family houses lined both sides of the road.

The noisy construction sounds indicated that new villas were being built nearby. The already narrow road was made even narrower by parked cars.

“This must be it.”

Scanning the street address, Junhoo’s steps stopped in front of a house.

Siho was living in the first-floor house behind that blue door.

In an instant, the bad blood with Siho flashed through his mind.

Completely captivating Junhoo.

As if he had returned to those days.

What should he say when he meets Siho?

No, what should he do?

Junhoo had many thoughts.

Of course, gently persuading him was not an option.

While a moderate villain could be reformed, a person like Siho, who was evil to the core, could not be salvaged.

Before entering the house.

Junhoo surveyed the surroundings. Fortunately, there were no CCTVs [closed-circuit television cameras].

Since he was using reverse facial manipulation [likely a fictional technique to alter one’s appearance], there was no chance of his identity being exposed.

Junhoo put on gloves.

Squeak!

He opened the gate and entered the first floor.

Since there was only one house on the first floor, he immediately pressed the doorbell.

There was no response from inside.

Was he really gone, or was he pretending not to be there?

Clunk! Clunk!

When he pulled the doorknob, he felt strong resistance.

Having come this far, he couldn’t return empty-handed.

Junhoo drew internal energy from his dantian [a key energy center in traditional Chinese medicine]. Using the Gold Touch, he pulled the doorknob even harder.

With a clunk, the door opened. He had broken the door lock with force.

It was not a difficult task for Junhoo.

Sensing the presence inside the room, Junhoo cautiously entered.

A typical multi-family house with two rooms and a bathroom.

Scanning the interior, Junhoo frowned.

“You have to give him credit for his caution.”

Junhoo muttered in a bitter voice.

Siho was not in the house.

Dust was piled up on the sink, table, and furniture. It was evidence that Siho had been away for a long time.

This was just his official residence.

He seemed to be living separately in an unofficial residence.

In fact, there was no sign of human presence in the house.

Perhaps…

Siho had predicted to some extent that Junhoo would come like this.

Having failed, Junhoo went outside.

He moved to the downtown area and headed towards the public phone he had seen earlier. Since the CCTV was pointing at the public phone, it was necessary to take care of it in advance.

Click!

Junhoo reached out to the CCTV from a blind spot.

Then, an amazing change occurred.

The CCTV moved upwards as if raising its head, and began filming the sky.

Remote Manipulation.

He had used a martial art that moves objects with internal energy without touching them.

Only then did Junhoo enter the phone booth, put in a coin, and make a call.

The private investigator had given him not only Siho’s address but also his phone number.

Ring. Ring.

While the dry ringing tone continued, sweat formed on Junhoo’s gloved hand.

-Hello.

Finally, the other party answered the phone.

It was just a short word, but Junhoo was certain that the other party was Siho. In an instant, blood boiled throughout his body. His muscles and tendons tightened.

“Where are you?”

-See, you and I have something in common. Don’t you think so? Seo Junhoo?

Siho giggled as if he was very happy.

Siho also recognized Junhoo’s voice at once.

-I was just thinking about you too.

“Shut up and let’s meet and talk.”

-Don’t be so pathetic, clinging to your ex-lover. We’re over.

“I’m not in the mood for jokes. What the hell are you plotting?”

The hand holding the receiver involuntarily tightened.

It was harder to believe that Siho, who had been released from prison, was living quietly than to believe that a sparrow would pass by a mill without stopping [a Korean proverb meaning something highly unlikely].

Siho definitely had a sinister scheme.

-The great Seo Junhoo must be in a hurry? Seeing you so desperate to find me.

“……”

-Seeing that you found out my contact information, you must have hired a private investigator?

“So?”

-I just wanted to say thank you. Even my parents haven’t looked for me since that incident. But you’re the only one who keeps looking for me so persistently. Hehehe.

There was madness mixed in Siho’s laughter.

This guy was definitely not normal.

If he had learned martial arts in the Murim [a fictional martial arts world], he would surely have become a great demon.

“You better not do anything stupid. No matter what you do, you’ll have to pay ten times the price for it.”

-I’m so scared. I’m about to pee my pants.

“Don’t be sarcastic. This is my last warning.”

The tension between the two people on either side of the receiver was palpable. Neither side would back down first.

-Fighting with words is less fun. Let’s meet in person soon with a fun event. I guarantee whatever you expect will be more than you expect.

Siho hung up first.

Bang!

Junhoo slammed the receiver down nervously. The arm holding the receiver trembled slightly.

Bzzzz.

But then his cell phone rang.

Coincidentally, the person calling was Ah-young.

Perhaps because he had just spoken with Siho.

His worry doubled.

The hairs on his head stood on end, and the back of his neck felt cold.

“Ah-young. What’s wrong?”

Junhoo urgently asked for the reason.

-Ju… Junhoo. I’m sorry, but can you come to my house?

Ah-young’s voice sounded faint.

* * *

Junhoo got out of the taxi and quickened his pace. He released the reverse facial manipulation, and his face returned to its original state.

The season was heading from spring to winter, but the sun still set early.

Even though it was only 6 PM, the surroundings were already dim.

Ah-young’s officetel was quite far from the downtown area. The closer he got to the officetel, the fewer people there were.

‘Something’s fishy?’

Junhoo squinted and surveyed the surroundings.

A car was parked a little distance from Ah-young’s officetel.

It was a car he hadn’t seen before.

Recently, Junhoo had been leaving his military doctor duty and going to Ah-young’s officetel.

So he was familiar with the surrounding area.

Pretending not to notice, Junhoo carefully examined the inside of the car, and two men were smoking e-cigarettes inside.

He had a hunch.

Junhoo passed the car and went to Ah-young’s officetel.

Ah-young was sitting on the bed in her pajamas.

Her face was as white as wax. She was shaking her legs anxiously.

It was a rare sight.

Ah-young, who was a thoracic surgeon and proficient in various emergency situations to perform heart surgery.

“Junhoo.”

Ah-young found Junhoo and got up from her seat.

As if she had been waiting, she hugged Junhoo.

Junhoo hugged Ah-young and patted her shoulder.

He could feel Ah-young’s trembling.

“What’s wrong? Why couldn’t you say it on the phone?”

“Be… because of that…”

Ah-young pointed to the bathroom with a trembling finger.

The bathroom door was half open.

Because it was hidden by the door, he couldn’t see what Ah-young was pointing at yet.

“It’s okay. I’m here now. No one can hurt you.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Fortunately, Ah-young became noticeably calmer after Junhoo arrived.

Only then did Junhoo slowly move towards the bathroom. Ah-young still didn’t dare to go near the bathroom.

What could be in the bathroom that made Ah-young so scared?

Half worried, half curious, Junhoo opened the bathroom door wide.

A cardboard box was placed on the bathroom floor tiles.

The placement was somewhat out of place.

“Junhoo. Don’t be too surprised.”

“Don’t worry.”

Ignoring Ah-young’s worry, Junhoo knelt on one knee. He lifted the top paper of the closed cardboard box upwards.

The moment he checked the contents.

Even Junhoo, the epitome of calmness, frowned and bit his lip.

Lee Siho.

That son of a bitch, really!