A Surgeon Who Uses Martial Arts [EN]: Chapter 6

Martial Surgeon – Episode 6

Chapter 2: A Lucky Day (1)

Jun-hoo sat at his desk, engrossed in his studies.

His primary goal was to gain admission to Shinwon University Medical School, the most prestigious public university in the country.

His secondary goal was to achieve the highest score among all applicants and secure a full tuition waiver.

Attaining both of these objectives would be exceptionally challenging.

It was akin to threading a camel through the eye of a needle [an extremely difficult task].

However, Jun-hoo possessed a unique confidence.

He had the ability to study for extended periods, thanks to his Qi Circulation [a meditative practice to cultivate and circulate internal energy].

Unexpectedly, his martial arts training also proved beneficial to his studies.

The heightened focus he had developed during life-or-death encounters with Madu [a formidable opponent or rival] became a valuable asset.

After all, the martial world was a realm where a single misstep or an incorrect sword strike could lead to fatal consequences.

The survival-oriented concentration he had cultivated was extraordinary.

Jun-hoo could consistently maintain peak concentration as long as his stamina permitted.

Moreover,

Jun-hoo also demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for comprehending textbook content and grasping the underlying intentions of workbooks.

This ability was another byproduct of his experiences in life-and-death battles and sparring matches.

Thus, martial arts were proving advantageous to Jun-hoo in numerous ways.

Perhaps that explained why.

Jun-hoo didn’t perceive gaining admission to Shinwon University Medical School as the top student to be an insurmountable challenge.

Instead, he regarded it as an objective he was compelled to achieve.

After approximately three hours of studying,

Jun-hoo assumed a cross-legged position, as was his custom, and initiated Qi Circulation.

Ssshhh.

Hooo.

He inhaled and exhaled with a depth that surpassed ordinary individuals.

The intangible energy perceived in the air, Inner Force [cultivated internal energy], coursed through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians and subtle meridians, ultimately settling in his dantian [energy center located in the abdomen].

Simultaneously, his stamina and concentration were replenished.

In a mere 30 minutes, Jun-hoo rose to his feet, his face radiating freshness.

He desired some fresh air, so he left his residence and made his way to a nearby spring.

Was it because he had performed CPR on a patient the previous day?

The martial artists who had met their demise in a similar fashion flickered in his memory.

Seo Moon-jung, an elder of the Seo Clan.

Seo Moon-jung had abruptly clutched his chest one day and passed away.

It was a sudden and unexpected death.

No one had foreseen or prevented Seo Moon-jung’s untimely demise.

‘It was truly a pity.’

Jun-hoo, now residing in modern times, recognized that Seo Moon-jung had succumbed to a heart attack.

If only he had retained his memories of modern medicine while in the martial world, just as he retained his memories of the martial world in modern times…

If that were the case, he could have saved Seo Moon-jung with CPR…

A wry smile formed on Jun-hoo’s lips as he reflected on the past.

He would strive to do better in the future.

From this point forward, he would ensure that no one would suffer a senseless death like Seo Moon-jung.

With unwavering determination, Jun-hoo steeled his resolve.

The spring he arrived at exuded an atmosphere of tranquility and ordinariness.

Local residents leisurely strolled along the trails.

The incessant chirping of cicadas greeted Jun-hoo, and the humid breeze carried the invigorating scent of fresh grass.

Jun-hoo settled down in an unoccupied area deep within the mountain.

Instead of practicing the Seo Clan’s swordsmanship, he executed various stances, including fist techniques, palm techniques, footwork, and leg techniques, for the first time in quite a while.

It was a form of physical conditioning.

After all, there were no Madu in modern times.

He believed that martial arts should primarily serve to promote physical well-being.

‘I suppose blood cannot be denied?’

Jun-hoo checked the time and chuckled to himself.

He had only intended to briefly engage in martial arts, but two hours had elapsed.

He had become completely absorbed in mastering the techniques.

As he rested on a bench, Jun-hoo became lost in contemplation.

He pondered whether there existed a connection between martial arts and medicine.

Several possibilities immediately came to mind.

Jun-hoo focused his Inner Force into his eyes and tracked the flight of a bird.

The bird’s features became vividly clear, as if he were using binoculars.

He could even discern a wound between the pigeon’s wings.

This was a martial art known as Eye Technique [enhancing eyesight through internal energy cultivation].

A martial art that maximized eyesight with Inner Force.

If he were to become a surgeon, wouldn’t Eye Technique assist him in securing a clear surgical view?

‘Next is…’

Jun-hoo recalled Meridian Pressing [applying pressure to specific points along the body’s energy pathways] and Qi Healing [channeling internal energy to promote healing].

Meridian Pressing resembled modern massage, and its effectiveness had already been acknowledged by his parents.

Qi Healing involved Jun-hoo injecting Inner Force into the patient to accelerate recovery and bolster immunity.

It would be beneficial to employ Meridian Pressing on general patients.

It seemed that Qi Healing could be utilized for patients in the intensive care unit.

Ssshhh.

Ssshhh.

Jun-hoo rose from the bench and sketched a human figure on the dirt floor with his finger.

The drawing was approximately life-size.

Jun-hoo pointed his index finger at specific areas on the makeshift model.

This was a technique known as Pressure Point Striking in the martial world.

Pressure Point Striking was, in essence, a versatile skill.

It could be applied in numerous ways.

It could alleviate the patient’s pain (the effect would be amplified when combined with painkillers).

When properly infused with Inner Force, it could even staunch bleeding.

Pressure Point Striking appeared to be particularly valuable in emergency situations.

Jun-hoo was exploring the intersection of martial arts and modern medicine when he paused before a tree.

He lightly struck the tree with his open palm.

Woo-oong.

The tree quivered, and a peculiar resonance reverberated.

The martial art he had just executed was Penetrating Palm [a technique that delivers internal damage].

It was a type of internal energy skill that inflicted internal injuries on the opponent rather than external wounds.

It was a martial art that turned the enemy’s organs into sludge with the Inner Force sent through the palm.

Penetrating Palm would likely be able to substitute for a defibrillator when one was unavailable.

It was akin to delivering a shock to the heart with Inner Force instead of the voltage of a defibrillator.

If I had considered this earlier, I would have used it yesterday…

He couldn’t deny feeling a tinge of regret.

‘I risked my life to learn martial arts, so I must utilize it as much as possible.’

With that thought, Jun-hoo departed from the spring.

However, at that moment, the cell phone in his pants pocket began to ring.

He anticipated a call from his mother, but it was not her number.

It was an unfamiliar number.

Puzzled, Jun-hoo answered the call.

-Hello, is this Seo Jun-hoo?

“Yes, who is this?”

-This is Lee Tae-hwan from Sancheon Daily. Would you be available to meet and discuss something?

Upon learning the caller’s affiliation, Jun-hoo nodded.

Come to think of it, the reporter who was present at the CPR site had requested my contact information, hadn’t he?

* * *

That evening.

Jun-hoo was seated in a cafe in a downtown area away from his home.

Sitting across from Jun-hoo was a slender man in his early 30s.

The man was Lee Tae-hwan, a reporter from Sancheon Daily.

After meeting Tae-hwan, Jun-hoo engaged in a conversation for approximately 30 minutes.

Tae-hwan expressed his admiration for the CPR that Jun-hoo had performed the previous day.

He stated that he wished to write an article about it, which prompted him to contact Jun-hoo.

-Have you ever received formal CPR training?

-Weren’t you afraid while performing CPR?

-Did you feel an immediate urge to help the patient upon seeing them?

…

Jun-hoo calmly responded to the barrage of questions.

He had learned CPR once during a school health class, and he had not been afraid to perform it.

He replied that he aspired to become a doctor, which motivated him to provide first aid with greater enthusiasm.

“Jun-hoo, you possess remarkable courage. I’m an adult, yet I froze and was unable to do anything.”

Tae-hwan appeared somewhat ashamed of himself.

“I learned CPR in the military and during reserve training, but when the situation arose, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

“Not only the reporter, but anyone would have reacted that way.”

Jun-hoo defended Tae-hwan.

If he had not experienced the martial world, Jun-hoo would not have been able to perform CPR so confidently.

That one person’s life depends on his treatment.

What could be more frightening and burdensome than that?

Moreover, the world was a frightening place these days.

[Article 5, Paragraph 2 of the Emergency Medical Care Act]

-According to the exemption from liability for emergency medical care in good faith.

-In the event of property damage or injury (death) caused by providing emergency medical care or first aid to an emergency patient whose life is in danger, if there is no intention or gross negligence.

-The actor shall not be liable for civil liability or criminal liability for injury (傷害), and criminal liability for death shall be reduced.

Jun-hoo later learned about the law.

Even with this law in place, it did not guarantee complete protection for individuals who performed CPR.

For instance, if a patient died during CPR.

In this scenario, the first aider would only be exempt from criminal liability.

He was not entirely absolved of responsibility.

Even if he acted in good faith, he could still face repercussions.

Moreover,

There had been instances where patients’ ribs were broken, leading to lawsuits for assault.

In rare cases, women had been sued for sexual harassment after performing CPR on male patients.

Jun-hoo fully understood why people were hesitant to actively participate in CPR, given the state of the world.

“You have a good personality, Jun-hoo. Thanks to you, I feel a little comforted.”

“No. I’m simply expressing my feelings.”

“The article and news will be published in approximately two days. I’ll contact you when the article is released.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Oh, I have something else I wanted to mention.”

Tae-hwan changed the subject.

Tae-hwan brought up the Seoul Resident CPR Contest, scheduled to take place the following week.

He suggested that Jun-hoo participate, as his CPR skills were impressive enough to win an award.

“The prize money is quite substantial, and it would be a valuable addition to your resume if you aspire to become a doctor. Consider it.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you for the information.”

Jun-hoo parted ways with Tae-hwan and returned home.

He had dinner with his parents and searched for the Seoul Resident CPR Contest online.

‘Wow, there really is a contest like this.’

Jun-hoo’s eyes widened as he examined the recruitment guidelines.

The grand prize was a staggering 5 million won [approximately $4,000 USD].

Considering that his father and mother’s birthdays were the following month, he thought he could purchase them meaningful gifts with the prize money.

Shouldn’t he move beyond giving his parents letters or thank-you notes for their birthdays?

That wasn’t the only appealing aspect.

He believed it would be beneficial to compare his CPR techniques with those of others on this occasion.

Jun-hoo quickly reviewed the remaining details.

There were no disqualifications based on the eligibility requirements, but there was one obstacle.

The participation requirement was a team of two.

Therefore, Jun-hoo couldn’t participate in the competition alone, even if he were to die and be resurrected.

That meant he needed to find a partner…

Jun-hoo stroked his chin thoughtfully.

He had hardly made any friends in high school because of the Hyung-tae gang [a group of bullies or troublemakers].

The only person he could currently envision as a partner was Young-ho.

However, there was another issue to consider; the CPR contest didn’t solely evaluate CPR skills.

-Competition details: CPR with a story that includes the situation of cardiac arrest and how to respond.

In other words, the ability to naturally portray the emergency situation was also a significant factor in the scoring.

‘Come to think of it, there was someone who was perfect for it?’

Jun-hoo searched his contacts, recalled the right person, and immediately placed a call.

Fortunately, the call was answered promptly.

-What’s wrong with you? Did you decide to ignore me completely?

The other person’s voice was curt.

It was also sharp like the vertex of a triangle.

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s definitely not like that.”

-If that’s not the case, why did you ignore all my calls?

“I had unavoidable circumstances. I can explain everything. Let’s meet and talk first. When would be a good time for you?”

-It has to be now or never. I’m quite busy too.

“That’s perfect. Let’s meet now. You know the snack bar we used to frequent? Let’s meet there.”

Jun-hoo hung up, informed his parents that he was going out, and left the house.

He arrived at the meeting place 15 minutes later and waited.

Just then, a familiar face wearing training shorts and a short-sleeved T-shirt was approaching.

Jun-hoo waved his hand enthusiastically at the other person.

“Yoo Ji-ae, long time no see?”