A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 527

Chapter 103: Cutting to the Chase (3)

Hyun Jong—or rather, Kwon Tae-hyuk—left the temple and returned to the secular world.

Kwon Tae-hyuk realized something, but only too late.

He had become a monk not to attain enlightenment, but to escape the pain of his past.

When he announced his departure from the mountain,

the head monk clapped his hands in joy.

“Finally, you’ve come to your senses. It’s the first time you’ve truly faced your own heart.”

“……”

“Only when you can look into your own heart can you see the hearts of others.”

“You’re so harsh to the end. I thought you would at least pretend to try and stop me.”

Hyun Jong, still channeling his Hyun Jong persona, feigned being upset.

The head monk chuckled.

“This is your true self. Your manner of speaking [말투, mal-tu] and emotional expressions are much more natural than before.”

Hyun Jong smiled sheepishly, playing along with the head monk’s observation.

He was right.

As soon as he faced and accepted the wounds of the past, he felt as light as if he had shed the heavy iron armor he had been wearing.

Enlightenment felt light and natural.

“I will visit you often in the future, not as a renegade monk but as a Buddhist.”

“You are welcome anytime. I will open my arms wide every time you come.”

The conversation with the head monk ended in laughter.

His departure from the mountain took place two days later.

Returning home, his parents welcomed Kwon Tae-hyuk.

He was ashamed of having caused them so much grief, but what was done was done.

The future could be forged,

but the past could not.

So, Kwon Tae-hyuk promised himself to treat his parents well from now on.

His parents shed tears of emotion.

Kwon Tae-hyuk had to work hard not to cry along with them.

Of course, Jun-hoo

welcomed Kwon Tae-hyuk’s return with open arms.

He even secured a studio apartment for Kwon Tae-hyuk in Busan, since his family home was in Daejeon.

Using his own money, no less.

“Chief, you really didn’t have to go this far.”

“If you want to make use of other people, you have to show this much sincerity.”

Jun-hoo said jokingly when Kwon Tae-hyuk expressed his gratitude.

The man who was like an ice floe in the operating room was like warm spring sunshine outside of it.

Kwon Tae-hyuk felt like he understood why people respected Jun-hoo.

While staying in his studio apartment,

Kwon Tae-hyuk reviewed the latest papers and textbooks.

With Jun-hoo’s help, he observed surgeries and revived his senses as a surgeon that had grown rusty.

His skills were restored at a dazzling speed.

The recovery of his calling was also astonishing.

He regained consciousness three days after the surgery and was moved to a general ward.

“Monk, where did my lump go?”

“Huh? What lump?”

“I was told I had a lump in my head and it was removed. I want to see that lump.”

Come to think of it, the head monk had explained the brain tumor as a lump.

“That’s *jiji* [지지, a Korean word for ‘gone’ or ‘disappeared’], so you can’t see it.”

“Isn’t it a good lump like the old man with a lump?”

“No. That was a bad lump that was tormenting So-myeong. The teacher gave it a good scolding.”

“Yes. But why did you take off your monk’s robes?”

“I left the temple to treat young and sick people like So-myeong.”

“Wow. You’re *Gwanseeum Bosal* [관세음보살, the Bodhisattva of Compassion]? Awesome.”

So-myeong looked at Kwon Tae-hyuk with admiring eyes.

Come to think of it, it was true.

*Gwanseeum Bosal* was a bodhisattva who saved sentient beings with a heart of great compassion.

If Kwon Tae-hyuk’s mindset was right, he could follow and spread *Bulbeop* [불법, Buddhist teachings or Dharma] even in the hospital.

In fact, the temple and the outside world were not strictly divided.

So-myeong was discharged healthily in ten days. However, Kwon Tae-hyuk remained in the hospital.

From now on, the Department of Neurosurgery at Busan Shinwon University Hospital was Kwon Tae-hyuk’s new home.

* * *

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A voice told him to come in after he knocked.

Jun-hoo entered the deputy director of medical affairs’ office.

The deputy director of medical affairs was practicing his golf swing in front of the window. A swing mat made of artificial turf was laid out under his feet.

Tap!

The golf club connected with the golf ball.

The golf ball, propelled by the club, shot straight out and went right into the hole.

“Nice shot.”

“Hmm hmm. My putting is really on point these days.”

The deputy director of medical affairs smiled and leaned the golf club against the wall. He sat down on the comfortable leather sofa and offered Jun-hoo a seat as well.

“Is golf that fun?”

Jun-hoo asked, glancing at the golf club.

Why were older executives so crazy about golf?

This was a question that Jun-hoo had long held in his heart.

“Hmm… There’s so much to say, I don’t know where to start.”

The deputy director of medical affairs stroked his chin before continuing.

“First of all, it’s a sport that puts less strain on the body. And it feels good to see the green, open field.”

“……”

“It’s also good for having conversations during the round. And you can show off to the people around you.”

“……”

“If I were to list them one by one, ten fingers wouldn’t be enough, would they?”

“I see. I understand to some extent.”

“Why don’t you start learning golf soon? It’ll help you get ahead in the world.”

The deputy director of medical affairs suddenly recommended golf.

Jun-hoo waved his hand in refusal almost instantly.

What if an emergency patient came to the hospital during the time he was playing golf?

Busan Shinwon University Hospital was already designated as an emergency trauma center, and the staff was already insufficient.

In the first place, he had learned *Jecheon Gong* [제천공, a martial arts technique] to solve the problem of lack of time.

He didn’t want to waste the precious time he saved with *mugong* [무공, martial arts] on golf.

“Anyway… I don’t think you came to see me this morning because you were curious about how I was doing. What’s the matter?”

The deputy director of medical affairs’ expression turned cold.

As expected, his intuition was top-notch.

“Isn’t there a major personnel change next week? There’s something I’d like to ask for.”

Jun-hoo took a piece of paper out of his gown pocket and handed it over.

The deputy director of medical affairs put on his reading glasses and began to scan the paper.

There was a subtle but noticeable change in his expression.

“First of all, you want to recruit an additional pediatric neurosurgeon?”

“Yes. He’s a capable surgeon. We definitely need him in our department.”

The person Jun-hoo was pushing was, of course, Kwon Tae-hyuk.

Only with Kwon Tae-hyuk could the number of children who lost their lives while being turned away from hospitals be reduced.

“As Chief Seo knows, the neurosurgery professor T.O. [Table of Organization, i.e., available positions] is already full. If we accept this person, I think there will be complaints from other surgical departments.”

“……”

“You know that fairness is important, right?”

“The number of patients treated by neurosurgery is overwhelmingly higher than that of other surgical departments. It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but there are many patients who come to see me from all over the country.”

“……”

“Especially since the epilepsy clinic has been successful.”

The deputy director of medical affairs remained silent.

He tapped the printout he was holding with his index finger.

If he wanted to, he could reject Jun-hoo’s proposal right away. As the second-in-command at the hospital, he had that much power.

*Should I suppress him here so he can’t make a peep?*

*Or should I build a friendly relationship with Jun-hoo instead?*

His mind wavered like a reed in the wind.

The deputy director of medical affairs postponed his decision and turned to the next page of the printout. The real shocking content was on the next page.

He frowned and glared at the printout.

“This is a hit list.”

“I won’t deny it. But those who should live must live, and those who should be removed, must be removed.”

“Wouldn’t there be a lot of backlash if you pushed this through?”

The deputy director of medical affairs looked at Jun-hoo with a worried expression.

Jun-hoo calmly met his gaze.

“I’ve already taken control of the *uigung* [의국, the department’s inner circle or power structure]. There won’t be any problems.”

“You’re very confident.”

“Wouldn’t it be rude to the deputy director of medical affairs if I visited him without confidence?”

“You’re boldly doing this even though you know the relationship between me and Professor Kim?”

The deputy director of medical affairs smiled bitterly.

The second page of the printout that Jun-hoo handed over dealt with personnel changes.

Associate Professor Kim Han-sang.

A person connected to the deputy director of medical affairs by regional and school ties.

A surgeon from the *seonggol* [성골, literally ‘sacred bone,’ referring to someone from a privileged lineage] lineage of Busan Shinwon University’s Department of Neurosurgery who would have become the head if it weren’t for Jun-hoo.

Jun-hoo had written that he wanted him transferred to Incheon.

In short, he was saying that he was getting in the way, so he was going to get rid of him.

And he had written that he wanted Choi Jin-goo to take his place.

“Professor Kim. Isn’t it time to throw him away?”

Jun-hoo took an aggressive stance.

Now was the time to use his tongue like a sword.

Kim Han-sang, who had been a thorn in his side ever since he took office as head.

Only by uprooting him could Jun-hoo make the *uigung* entirely his kingdom.

“Chief Seo, that’s a bit harsh.”

The deputy director of medical affairs frowned as if he was displeased.

He also crossed his arms as if to defend himself.

“Frankly speaking, Professor Kim has only asked the deputy director of medical affairs for favors. What has he done *for* the deputy director of medical affairs?”

“……”

“Besides the measly rounds of golf, what else is there?”

Jun-hoo did not miss the offensive he had seized.

“Who performed the surgery when the foundation chairman collapsed? Was it Professor Kim? Or was it me?”

“…It was you.”

“People should help when they’ve been helped.”

“……”

“But we call people who only receive help, like a parasite.”

Jun-hoo subtly framed Kim Han-sang as a parasite.

It wasn’t exactly a vile curse.

It was a well-known fact that Kim Han-sang had gone to the deputy director of medical affairs to beg and plead every time he fell behind in his power struggle with Jun-hoo.

“So you’re telling me to choose. Between Professor Kim and you.”

The deputy director of medical affairs bit his lip.

He was caught up in a difficult situation from the morning.

Both sides of his temples throbbed.

In fact, the current situation was the best for the deputy director of medical affairs.

It was an undeniable fact that he was losing his affection for Kim Han-sang because of the chairman’s incident.

However, he was also uneasy about easily dismissing Kim Han-sang.

Jun-hoo’s power was growing too strong.

Kim Han-sang was the only force that could keep Jun-hoo in check.

So it was better for Kim Han-sang to stay in the *uigung*.

But it wasn’t easy to reject Jun-hoo’s request either.

Jun-hoo was a rising sun.

After the great success of the epilepsy clinic, the hospital director had fallen completely for Jun-hoo, and the chairman had even handed Jun-hoo his business card.

To turn Jun-hoo into an enemy in this situation?

It was no different from asking for trouble.

A heavy atmosphere weighed down the office for a while. Both the deputy director of medical affairs and Jun-hoo remained silent.

Both were busy calculating each other’s intentions.

A moment that felt like an eternity passed.

Tap!

The deputy director of medical affairs put the printout on the table as if he had made up his mind.

He looked Jun-hoo straight in the eye and said.

“Then let’s do this.”

* * *

Monday morning, a week later.

The conference atmosphere was unusually chaotic.

It was the day of the announcement regarding personnel changes.

Originally, there was no reason for there to be any commotion just because there were personnel changes.

Professors were usually tenured.

Being transferred to hospitals in other regions was as rare as hen’s teeth.

In the case of positions, they usually went up, and it was rare for them to go down, unless they caused an accident themselves.

All that personnel changes usually entailed was residents being dispatched to other hospitals.

But rumors were rife that Jun-hoo was going to wield the sword during this personnel appointment.

So everyone was very nervous.

Jun-hoo was not a man of empty words.

Soon, the conference began under Jun-hoo’s leadership.

Before organizing the briefing on hospitalized patients and the surgery schedule, Jun-hoo first brought up the issue of personnel changes.

The first wind blew.

Kwon Tae-hyuk had newly joined the *uigung* as a pediatric neurosurgeon.

Kwon Tae-hyuk shyly introduced himself, his hair still wet.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The professors and residents applauded.

“Chief Seo is slowly revealing his ambition. He’s starting to plant his own people.”

“He needs to get burned once.”

The professors next to Kim Han-sang took Kim Han-sang’s side.

Kim Han-sang nodded.

Although small in number, he still had his supporters. The opportunity for a comeback had not yet disappeared.

Originally, it hurts more when you fall from a high place.

The moment Jun-hoo made a mistake.

Kim Han-sang would seize that golden opportunity and snatch the position of head.

“Next is the promotion news. Assistant Professor Choi Jin-goo has been promoted to associate professor. Please come forward.”

At Jun-hoo’s call, Choi Jin-goo went on stage.

He expressed his future aspirations with his unique affability.

Kim Han-sang glared at Choi Jin-goo as if he would devour him.

*You treacherous bastard.*

*I will definitely take you down.*

“As the only assistant professor in the *uigung*, I will do my best for the development of the *uigung*.”

Choi Jin-goo said before coming down from the stage.

At that moment, a vein popped out on Kim Han-sang’s forehead.

“Professor Choi. Aren’t you going too far? Are you going to treat me like I’m invisible now?”

Kim Han-sang flared up.

He was also an associate professor.

“You’re mistaken. I’m the only associate professor in the *uigung*.”

“What? I’ve been putting up with this guy for too long!”

Kim Han-sang got up from his seat and pointed his finger at Choi Jin-goo. But Choi Jin-goo just smiled annoyingly and didn’t respond.

Something felt wrong.

And Jun-hoo put the finishing touch on Kim Han-sang’s ominous premonition.

“As of today, Associate Professor Kim Han-sang has been transferred to Incheon. Everyone, please give him a round of applause with your regrets.”

Kim Han-sang doubted his ears at Jun-hoo’s shocking statement.

*They’re getting rid of me?*

*I have the deputy director of medical affairs behind me?*

*And what, give him a round of applause with your regrets?*

*Is this bastard making fun of me?*