A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 485

Dilemma (1)

3 AM.

Jun-hoo sat cross-legged in his study.

He repeated the Shimgyeol [a breathing and meditation technique] and practiced breath control, building up his inner energy until his dantian [energy center in the lower abdomen] overflowed.

Perhaps it was thanks to having both a mana heart.

He hardly felt any fatigue. The time he could call sleep in 24 hours was only about 2 hours.

‘It’s not easy.’

Jun-hoo’s brow furrowed, fine wrinkles forming on his forehead.

The path from Harmony Realm to Profound Realm was not easy. He had been stuck in the same place for nearly 10 years.

‘I’m not even living in the Murim world [martial arts world].’

Modern medicine and science have developed so much. I’m already making great strides with my current skills.

Is there really a need to raise my martial arts level?

If someone knew Jun-hoo’s situation, they might ask that. They might not understand or might find Jun-hoo’s efforts puzzling.

But Jun-hoo thought differently.

As a neurosurgeon, Jun-hoo’s ultimate goal was to recover brain-dead and vegetative state patients.

During his three years of service as a military doctor, he desperately searched for a way, feeling like he was finding an oasis in the desert, but it was all in vain.

The number of doctors researching brain-dead and vegetative state patients was small, and their research results were not very effective.

Instead of suggesting treatment methods, they analyzed existing data. In the worst cases, they even presented nonsensical treatments mixed with pseudoscience.

So, the answer Jun-hoo came up with was… martial arts.

If he could achieve enlightenment in a completely different dimension, wouldn’t he be able to find a treatment for brain-dead and vegetative state patients?

…It was out of that expectation.

“Ugh!”

Jun-hoo quickly opened his eyes and placed his hand on his abdomen. His stomach was churning. It felt stuffy and uncomfortable, as if blood was flowing backward.

His Qi [life force or energy flow] and blood had reversed due to being lost in 잡념 [japnyeom – distracting thoughts]. A perilous moment where he could have fallen into 주화입마 [juhwa-ipma – cultivation deviation]!

Jun-hoo composed himself and controlled his breathing. He barely overcame the crisis. The sweat he shed cooled, making his skin feel chilly.

‘But I won’t give up.’

‘The moment I give up, my dream ends there.’

Jun-hoo’s determination and passion surged. Kneeling or sitting down was not in his nature.

* * *

That morning, in the neurosurgery department head’s office, Jun-hoo was preparing a surefire weapon to control Kim Han-sang and his subordinate professors.

Bzzzz.

The phone vibrated just in time. He checked, thinking Ah-young had called, but it wasn’t.

The moment he confirmed the sender of the text, a subtle smile spread across his lips.

[Self Q.A evaluation in a month. Prepare in advance.]

Q.A stood for Quality Assurance. It meant evaluating the quality of medical services. The concept of Q.I (Quality Improvement) was also being used these days. It meant going beyond evaluating the quality of medical services and improving them.

‘Q.A is coming up soon, and they were keeping their mouths shut?’

Jun-hoo was displeased with Kim Han-sang and his gang’s behavior.

The Q.A implementation announcement must have been made before Jun-hoo took office as the head. Since the head position was vacant, Kim Han-sang would have attended the executive meeting as the acting head.

If so, Kim Han-sang should have informed Jun-hoo that there was a self Q.A evaluation after Jun-hoo took office. Jun-hoo would need to know in advance to prepare.

But they were keeping their mouths shut?

This was no different from trying to screw Jun-hoo over. It meant waiting for him to get a huge blow to the back of the head.

Even if Jun-hoo made excuses that he didn’t know at that time, would it work? Absolutely not.

Rather, he would have been cornered for not knowing something so important. His leadership as the head would have faltered.

‘It pays to have planted a spy.’

Jun-hoo nodded with a satisfied look. He headed to the conference room with his secret weapon.

The morning conference and morning rounds ended peacefully, but this was just a brief peace before the storm.

“All professors, please gather in the conference room. No exceptions,” Jun-hoo stated firmly.

Many of the professors who were about to have tea grumbled and turned back.

“What is the head thinking? This is the first time he’s summoned all the professors, isn’t it?”

“Who knows? He’s such an inscrutable person…”

“Why are you taking it so seriously? He just wants to play head.”

Kim Han-sang’s gang of professors were tearing Jun-hoo apart. They had never thought of Jun-hoo as the real head. To them, the real head was only 성골 [seonggol – true bone, referring to Kim Han-sang’s prestigious background] Kim Han-sang.

“What do you think, Associate Professor?”

The professors’ eyes all turned to Kim Han-sang. Kim Han-sang just laughed hollowly.

When the professors entered the conference room, thick printed materials were placed on the table. They sat down and looked through the unfamiliar printed materials.

The various graphs and figures caused a throbbing headache.

“Do you know what you’re looking at right now?” Jun-hoo, who had arrived earlier, scanned the professors who had finished seating. His gaze was as sharp as an eagle.

The professors couldn’t dare to answer. The atmosphere Jun-hoo was emitting was unusual. Whatever it was, it was clear that it wouldn’t be favorable to them. The professors’ eyes flickered anxiously.

“I asked the 원무과 [wonmukwa – hospital administration department] for statistical data. Only data from our neurosurgery department.”

“So, what do you want us to do with it?” Jo Seung-hyun asked, as if he was arguing.

If Choi Jin-gu was Kim Han-sang’s right-hand man, then Jo Seung-hyun was his left-hand man. If Choi Jin-gu was a strategist, then Jo Seung-hyun was a general. If he recognized the opponent as an enemy, he would charge at them first.

“If there’s anything lacking in the data, we need to fix it. It’s good that you stepped up, Associate Professor.” A smile appeared on Jun-hoo’s lips. He was already planning to deal with Jo Seung-hyun properly.

Jo Seung-hyun had been irritating Jun-hoo with his rude remarks more than once or twice. If he could defeat Jo Seung-hyun, it would have the same effect as clipping Kim Han-sang’s wings.

“Associate Professor.”

“What?”

“The outpatient satisfaction evaluation has been the worst for the past three years? Check page 4 of the handout.”

At Jun-hoo’s words, the professors all looked at the handout. There, the outpatient satisfaction was organized in ascending order.

After checking their ranking, some professors sighed in relief. Some professors let out a sigh mixed with lament. Of course, the most dramatic reaction was from Jo Seung-hyun.

Jo Seung-hyun’s skin turned red. He couldn’t have been happy that he was the worst in any statistic, especially if he was pointed out in such a public setting. That shame was bound to amplify.

“This is also a great achievement. Isn’t it?”

“Don’t be sarcastic.”

“If you point out a problem, you should think about fixing it, not about saving your pride.”

Jun-hoo emitted his inner energy and took control of the atmosphere in the conference room. Perhaps feeling the pressure, the professors’ expressions stiffened.

They couldn’t say it, but they were all sharing similar feelings: that this moment would be hell.

“The data might be wrong, isn’t it?”

“Then go to the 원무과 [wonmukwa – hospital administration department] and argue with them. Should I give you the 원무과장’s [wonmukwajang – head of the hospital administration department] contact number?”

“Ugh……”

“The outpatient satisfaction evaluation has been conducted in the first and second half of the year, right?”

“Yes.”

“Our department will do it every month from now on. Be careful because it will be reflected in your personnel evaluation.”

“Why is only our department doing that when other departments aren’t?” Jo Seung-hyun raised his voice as if he had caught something.

“Would you die if another department told you to die? And why is it a problem to improve the quality of customer service? The neurosurgery department’s outpatient satisfaction is 4th. 4th from the bottom. You should be ashamed!” Jun-hoo scolded sharply.

It wasn’t a vague story, but a story based on data. Since there were numbers, graphs, and rankings right there, the professors couldn’t dare to refute Jun-hoo.

“And Associate Professor, the bed turnover rate is particularly low for inpatients? Everyone, please pay attention to page 10 of the handout.”

After checking the handout, Jo Seung-hyun lowered his head. A vague smile hung on his lips. It was a relief that he wasn’t the worst, but even in this data, his ranking was at the bottom.

“Because they are brain tumor patients, the recovery time after surgery is bound to be long.”

“That’s not the case with Professor Chun, though?”

“Professor Chun and I don’t see the same patients.” Jo Seung-hyun said, pulling up his pride that had fallen to the soles of his feet. If he lost in this battle of nerves again, it would be over. He somehow had that feeling.

“Please check page 12 of the handout. Brain tumors are classified by malignancy and stage.”

“……”

“Professor Chun also performed the more difficult surgeries. Professor Chun also has a better bed turnover rate.”

Jun-hoo inflicted violence on Jo Seung-hyun with data. A deep blue bruise formed on Jo Seung-hyun’s chest. His heart faltered as if he had been hit with an uppercut.

“Associate Professor. Are you jealous of Professor Chun?”

“……”

“If you discharge patients late, it looks like you have more patients. So, are you comforting yourself that you are better than Professor Chun in that aspect?”

At Jun-hoo’s remark, Jo Seung-hyun bit his lip tightly. He felt a sense of shame as if his whole body had been stripped naked. He wanted to say something. He wanted to shout and refute, but his throat was locked, and no words came out because Jun-hoo’s point was true.

Jo Seung-hyun was feeling inferior to Professor Chun Geon-woo. He deliberately discharged patients late for the reasons Jun-hoo mentioned, but how could a greenhorn who had been appointed as the head for less than a month have seen through the truth that he had hidden deep in his heart?

Jo Seung-hyun couldn’t understand. Was he reading minds? In any case, Jo Seung-hyun felt as if he was sitting on thorns because his inner thoughts had been exposed.

“I’ll be back after using the restroom for a moment.” Jo Seung-hyun left his seat as if he was running away. After that, Jo Seung-hyun never returned to the conference room.

* * *

Jun-hoo defeated the professors sitting close to Kim Han-sang one by one. It wasn’t exactly a targeted investigation. It just so happened that those with low scores in the statistical data were 잔당 [jandang – remnants or followers] of Kim Han-sang.

It was proof that they had been 까불어댔다는 증거 [kkabureodaetdaneun jeunggeo – acting up or being arrogant] relying on Kim Han-sang.

Neutral professors, in other words, professors who didn’t belong to Kim Han-sang, generally had good evaluations, so there was no need to nag.

“Professor Seong is……”

“Professor Kang is……”

“Professor Pyo is……”

The professors who were called by Jun-hoo all turned pale. They were fact 폭행 [pokhaeng – assaulted with facts] and had a 똥 씹은 face [ttong ssibeun – face of someone who ate poop, meaning disgusted].

But Jun-hoo didn’t let go of the reins of the offensive. He only wielded the 채찍 [chaejjik – whip] without the 당근 [danggeun – carrot].

‘Isn’t he attacking too much, even if they are opposing forces?’

‘If he buys this much animosity, won’t he be counterattacked?’

‘Or rather, isn’t he fostering hatred?’

Someone might point out that Jun-hoo’s way of speaking is rough. Jun-hoo’s thoughts were different. Jun-hoo’s purpose was also different.

First, he would completely ‘dominate’ the 의국 [uigung – department or office]. Jun-hoo was convinced that once he could manipulate the professors at will, it wouldn’t be too late to create an atmosphere of consideration and care for each other from that time on.

The professor hunt (?) that lasted nearly 30 minutes ended like that. Only blood didn’t flow. Everyone was tattered with the wounds that Jun-hoo had bitten. They were letting out silent groans.

“Before ending the meeting, I would like to add one last word.” Jun-hoo’s gaze lingered on Associate Professor Kim Han-sang.

“Professor Kim.”

“Yes, please speak, Head.” Kim Han-sang answered leisurely. Even though his forces had been hit hard by the offensive, his expression was still calm.

“There is a hospital’s own O.A in a month, but why didn’t you tell me?” Jun-hoo’s question became a blade. The blade flashed and aimed at Kim Han-sang’s neck.