A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 467

‘They’re not just rivals… they must be enemies, at the very least?’

A wry smile touched Jun-hoo’s lips.

The reason for the anticipated conflict with Kim Han-sang was straightforward.

From Kim Han-sang’s perspective, Jun-hoo had usurped his position.

Kim Han-sang had been a fixture in Busan’s neurosurgery scene for the longest time, second only to the former department head.

So, based on seniority and professional experience, Kim Han-sang considered himself the rightful successor.

But what actually happened?

Jun-hoo became the head of neurosurgery.

Moreover, some might say he’d been parachuted in with the hospital director’s backing.

Jun-hoo would probably dislike himself if he were in Kim Han-sang’s shoes.

‘But what can’t be helped, can’t be helped.’

Perceptions can be altered.

Abilities can be proven.

…or so Jun-hoo believed.

Before the surgery commenced in earnest, Jun-hoo retrieved a notebook and pen from his doctor’s coat pocket.

He opened the notebook, ready to take notes.

He jotted down a few preliminary thoughts.

Soon, the surgery was underway.

The patient Kim Han-sang was operating on had a brain tumor.

It was located in the occipital lobe (the back of the head).

The tumor was identified as an anaplastic astrocytoma, a type of malignant [cancerous] growth.

The surgery’s difficulty was rated as upper-intermediate.

Jun-hoo meticulously observed Kim Han-sang’s technique with intense focus.

He noted how he approached the surgical site.

His surgical pace.

His hand movements, and so on.

Whenever something impressed him, he wrote it down in his notebook.

About thirty minutes elapsed.

Jun-hoo rose from his seat, having completed his initial assessment.

If someone had been there, aware of Jun-hoo’s intentions, they might have asked:

“Director, aren’t you here to observe the entire surgery? Why are you leaving already? The tumor resection [removal] is far from over.”

To that, Jun-hoo would have replied that he had already seen everything he needed to see.

Jun-hoo came from a martial arts background and had reached the realm of Harmony [a state of perfect balance and understanding].

At that level, one could discern an opponent’s skill and level simply by observing a few movements.

Surgery was no different.

In a short time, Jun-hoo had thoroughly analyzed Kim Han-sang’s abilities.

Kim Han-sang would succeed in this surgery.

He possessed the necessary skills.

‘It’s a relief. It would have been difficult to deal with him if he had only aged without improving….’

Jun-hoo, muttering to himself, frowned. He turned back towards the operating room monitor, abandoning his path to the observation room.

A scene that made him question his own eyes was unfolding.

Kim Han-sang had briefly paused the surgery. He summoned an intern with a flick of his fingers.

The intern quickly approached Kim Han-sang.

Sensing an unsettling atmosphere, Jun-hoo pulled out his phone and activated the camera.

Thwack!

Kim Han-sang abruptly kicked the intern in the shin. The intern merely winced, unable to retaliate. He wasn’t a ripe rice plant [a metaphor for someone humble and yielding], yet he hung his head low.

Jun-hoo’s hand, filming the video, trembled slightly.

It was a tremor of anger.

Times had changed, and there was more emphasis on respecting staff, but the old power dynamics still lingered.

The deplorable habit of those in high positions abusing those in low positions persisted.

Kim Han-sang ceased his outburst only after waving his finger in the air a few times.

The intern returned to his place.

The surgery resumed as if nothing had happened.

Jun-hoo added two sentences to the page in his notebook analyzing Kim Han-sang.

This bastard is beyond redemption.

I must correct him.

* * *

After witnessing Kim Han-sang’s assault, Jun-hoo paused to consider his next move.

Should he remain in the operating room and observe Kim Han-sang’s surgery further?

Should he delve deeper into the man’s depravity?

Ultimately, he changed course and headed to another operating room.

He was satisfied with the snapshot he’d captured of Kim Han-sang’s character. Even if pigs could fly, Kim Han-sang wouldn’t suddenly become a saint.

The negative karma he had accumulated thus far, and the negative karma he would accumulate in the future, could be addressed at any time.

Now was the time to move on.

It was necessary to assess the skills of other professors and develop a comprehensive strategy for the medical department.

Whirr.

The operating room door slid open, and Jun-hoo stepped into the next room. But an unexpected guest had arrived before him. The other person noticed Jun-hoo and their eyes widened.

Eyes as big as marbles looked ready to pop out of their sockets.

“D… Director Seo?”

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Yena.”

Jun-hoo extended his hand first.

The other person grasped Jun-hoo’s hand with both of theirs, as if deeply honored.

The newcomer’s name was Shin Yena.

The doctor’s coat had the name ‘Shin Yena’ embroidered on the chest.

“You recognized me right away?”

“I’m majoring in neurosurgery, so I’d be a terrible spy if I didn’t know the director’s name and face. I heard you were coming to Busan a while ago.”

“Well, it’s not that extreme.”

“I often visit your social media and watch your NewTube [parody of YouTube] videos. I’m a fan of yours, Director.”

Jun-hoo offered an awkward smile.

“By the way, what’s your position, Ms. Yena?”

“I’m a fellow. Second year.”

“Can we drop the formalities when it’s just the two of us?”

“Yes, of course!”

Yena’s response was enthusiastic.

Jun-hoo sat next to Yena and continued the conversation.

Jun-hoo found the conversation with Yena quite engaging.

Most neurosurgeons were male.

Surgery itself was physically demanding, and men tended to have greater physical endurance than women.

Jun-hoo inquired about this with Yena.

First, he asked why she had chosen to specialize in neurosurgery.

Yena revealed that she had a connection with Jun-hoo from the past.

Her father had been hospitalized at Shinwon University Seoul Main Hospital due to a stroke, and Jun-hoo, as a resident at the time, had been her father’s on-call doctor.

“I was a high school student. I often saw you visiting the hospital room and treating my father with such kindness and skill, and I knew I wanted to become a doctor just like you.”

Yena said shyly.

Jun-hoo nodded silently.

He was reminded of how profoundly one person could influence another.

Jun-hoo was no different from Yena.

Wasn’t it his teacher, Park Jae-hyun, who had inspired him to become a neurosurgeon?

It was natural to admire someone who had moved you.

Just as Professor Lee Jong-guk of the Department of Trauma Surgery sincerely treated patients, some residents chose to specialize in trauma surgery.

Teacher Park Jae-hyun’s emphasis on the importance of ‘star surgeons’ was in a similar vein.

A doctor who hasn’t found meaning chases money, but a doctor who has found meaning chases meaning.

“I have one more question.”

“Yes, please ask.”

“Why are you observing this surgery?”

“I want to learn from the professor’s technique. I’m doing solo surgeries these days, so I don’t get many chances to observe the professors’ surgeries.”

“You’re working hard. Yena, you’re sure to succeed.”

“Thank you for seeing me in a good light. But I still have a long way to go.”

Near the end of their conversation, the surgeon entered the operating room.

The surgeon was Assistant Professor Choi Jin-gu, specializing in neurovascular surgery.

The patient was a 30-year-old with arteriovenous malformation [an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins].

Since the purpose was to observe the surgery, the two fell silent.

‘What is he doing?’

Yena glanced at Jun-hoo. He was scribbling in his notebook.

She knew she shouldn’t peek, but her eyes betrayed her and drifted towards the notebook.

Understanding of surgery: B

Use of surgical tools: B

Surgery speed: C

Surgery accuracy: B

Staff management: C.

…….

Overall rating: B-

Yena, having glimpsed Jun-hoo’s notes, was so mortified that she covered her mouth with both hands.

She nearly screamed.

Who was Professor Choi Jin-gu?

Wasn’t he practically a legend in the neurovascular field at Busan Shinwon University Hospital?

Patients had to wait at least two months to get an appointment with Professor Choi Jin-gu.

And yet, such a renowned surgeon only received a B- rating?

Just how high were Jun-hoo’s standards?

But the surprises didn’t end there.

Jun-hoo suddenly stood up.

“I’m done here. What are you going to do?”

“The surgery… isn’t over yet?”

“I’ve seen enough to grasp his skills.”

Jun-hoo’s answer was confident.

Yena was taken aback, as only thirty minutes of the surgery had passed.

If the surgery was a five-hour movie, it was as if he’d watched only the first thirty minutes and somehow understood the entire plot.

As expected, the genius who graduated at the top of the Mayo Boost Up program [a prestigious medical training program] was on another level.

“I’m heading out. Good luck.”

While Yena was still reeling, Jun-hoo left the observation operating room.

Yena, snapping out of her daze, hurried after Jun-hoo.

“Director, I’ll go with you too!”

* * *

That afternoon, Jun-hoo and Yena visited a cafe on the first basement floor of the hospital.

Whirr.

The vibration pager on the table buzzed.

Yena picked it up and headed towards the checkout counter.

In the meantime, Jun-hoo retrieved his notebook from his doctor’s coat pocket and quickly reviewed it.

He had achieved his goal.

He had observed all the surgeries of the surgeons who had surgery schedules today.

In summary:

The surgical skills of the professors at Busan Shinwon University were respectable.

Not quite on par with Mayo, but comparable to the Seoul Main Hospital.

If the Seoul National University Main Hospital scored an 8 out of 10, Busan was around a 7.

Whether the professors’ skills could be further improved was a challenge that depended on Jun-hoo’s future actions.

After a while, Yena returned.

The two continued their conversation over cake and coffee.

Jun-hoo primarily asked questions.

Yena primarily answered.

“I’m not really in a position to say this to the director, but….”

Yena suddenly spoke, her expression serious.

She sounded like she was about to confess something.

Jun-hoo straightened his posture, ready to listen.

“It’s okay. Speak freely.”

“I’m worried that you’re going to have a difficult time in the future.”

“What? I thought it was something serious.”

Jun-hoo chuckled.

“The professors in the medical department are all strong-willed. No matter how much authority you have as director, it will be difficult to control them.”

“If you have the skills and leadership, people will eventually follow you.”

Jun-hoo’s voice was filled with confidence.

Jun-hoo pretended to be confident.

“No matter how long it takes, the other professors will fall in line within six months. You don’t have to worry too much.”

“Then… I’ll put my faith in you, Director.”

Jun-hoo simply nodded, offering no further comment.

Both the head of the administration department and Yena were so concerned about Jun-hoo that they couldn’t help but voice their worries.

But everyone was worried because they didn’t know Jun-hoo’s true nature.

A honey badger [Osori in Korean] looks cute, but it fearlessly eats poisonous snakes.

Jun-hoo was the honey badger.

The medical department teachers were the snakes.

The advantage in compatibility clearly lay with Jun-hoo.

“Just a moment.”

Yena excused herself and took out her cell phone to make a call.

Jun-hoo overheard Yena’s conversation.

Even though she wasn’t using the speakerphone, he could hear the other person’s voice.

It was easy to amplify his hearing with internal energy.

“Ha…….”

As soon as she hung up, Yena sighed deeply, as if the ground had given way beneath her.

Her face paled.

“An emergency patient came in? You have to go to surgery now.”

“Yes. How did you know that?”

“If it’s me, I can tell just by looking at you.”

Jun-hoo rose from his seat.

He was already itching to perform surgery, as he didn’t have any scheduled.

Shall we start showing off our skills?

“Let’s go to the operating room. I’ll do the surgery.”