Chapter 19: The Blade [3]

It didn’t make sense, did it?

Why would there be a need for surgery equipment during a house call? Dressing simple wounds or treating minor injuries would be understandable.

‘The chairman definitely requested these supplies to be included,’ Kang-hyuk recalled.

The hospital director wasn’t the type to lie, even for trivial matters. He was meticulous, but he wouldn’t have packed a “plate” into a house call bag unless someone higher up—namely the chairman—had ordered it.

‘Why would he do that? And who even was the chairman, anyway?’

No matter how hard he tried, Kang-hyuk couldn’t remember. This was unsettling for someone who had always prided himself on having a superior memory. It was as if, just like being whisked away to Joseon, something mysterious was at play here.

“Young master, my arms are going numb.”

“Ah, right. Sorry about that.”

Kang-hyuk snapped out of his thoughts. There were more pressing matters at hand.

He positioned the plate over the aligned tibia. In truth, this was the real start of the surgery.

“This part will really hurt. There’s not much I can do to help with that.”

“It’s fine. It’s already much better than before,” the man replied, nodding in satisfaction.

With the dead blood drained and the bone realigned, he had reason to feel relieved, even though the process had been painful.

“I trust you. Dolseok, hold it steady.”

“I’m doing my best, young master.”

Kang-hyuk began screwing the plate into the bone.

The bone was strong, and the screws weren’t going in easily.

-Crreeek.

Sweat began to form on Kang-hyuk’s forehead.

In an operating room, they’d have used a drill to swiftly drive the screws in, but here he had to use a manual screwdriver, making the task painstakingly difficult.

Even for Dolseok, who was just watching, it was a grueling sight. Seeing bone being drilled into right in front of his eyes added to the discomfort.

The unpleasant sound that echoed made the experience even more taxing.

The only saving grace was that the man wasn’t an ordinary person.

“Mmm.”

The man let out a low groan but remained completely still.

‘He really is something.’

It’s often said that internal organs are less sensitive than skin, making surgery easier. However, bones are an exception—they are incredibly sensitive. And yet, the man wasn’t moving despite the screws being driven into his bones.

“Mmm.”

The groans were becoming more frequent, and his head was slightly raised, clearly uncomfortable.

Despite his superhuman endurance, he was still only human.

‘I better finish this quickly.’

As a doctor, the least Kang-hyuk could do was minimize the amount of time the man had to endure this pain.

-Crreeeek.

The eerie sound of screws sinking into bone continued, but fortunately, none of the screws broke. They were of high quality.

“Alright, it’s done. I just need to close the wound.”

“Thank… you…”

With those words, the man’s head dropped back onto the pillow, as if he had passed out.

Dolseok, seeing the man collapse, let out a low whistle.

“I’ve thought this before, but this man isn’t ordinary.”

“Right? I’ve never seen anyone like him either.”

“Wow. Um… Young master, his palms are bleeding.”

“What? Ah, I see.”

There was no way he could have endured all that pain without a reaction. He had gripped his fists so tightly that his nails had dug into his palms, causing them to bleed.

“Let’s leave it for now. The wounds don’t look too serious.”

“Understood, young master.”

Kang-hyuk turned his attention back to the man’s leg.

The dark blue color had subsided somewhat, and the bleeding had stopped.

Most importantly, the calf had returned to a normal shape.

Compared to how it looked at the start, the result was almost miraculous.

As the tension eased, fatigue began to set in.

“Let’s wrap this up. I’m exhausted.”

“I’ve been exhausted since the start—Ow!”

Kang-hyuk gave Dolseok a swift tap on the head with the screwdriver, which clanged as it hit.

Then, he tossed the screwdriver aside, not caring if it got dirty. There was no need for it anymore.

“Using a tool that was just inside someone’s bone to hit me on the head?”

“Who told you to keep mouthing off during surgery?”

“You always talk nonstop too, young master.”

“Well, I’m the surgeon.”

“The what now?”

“Never mind, just pull the skin together.”

“Who would even know how much I suffer here?”

Dolseok grumbled, but despite his complaints, he started to get cheekier around Kang-hyuk. He no longer acted like the overly deferential servant he’d been when they first met.

Not that Kang-hyuk minded. In fact, he found it more comfortable this way.

The idea of master and servant was something too foreign for someone who had lived in the 21st century.

“Is this enough cutting?”

That was fine, though. Kang-hyuk didn’t mind being a mentor, especially to someone like Dolseok who was eager to learn.

“Yeah. Just make sure it matches the spacing of the stitches I’ve already done. Looks good.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. I’m a good teacher.”

“Oh, please.”

Dolseok shook his head but then looked down at the scissors in his hand, clearly impressed.

“By the way, these scissors are amazing.”

Dolseok admired the scissors from Kang-hyuk’s medical bag.

Kang-hyuk thought of the rusty, dull scissors Dolseok used to trim his nails—those were terrifying, to say the least. When Kang-hyuk first saw them, he was worried Dolseok might cut off his fingers instead of his nails.

“What’s so amazing about them?”

“I even tried cutting my nails with them yesterday. It was like magic!”

“You did what?”

“I used them while you were sleeping. Put them right back in place afterward.”

Dolseok looked innocent, as if he hadn’t done anything wrong.

Kang-hyuk chuckled in disbelief.

‘Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter.’

He had already tested the bag many times.

‘No matter where I leave it, it always mysteriously ends up back in my hands by morning.’

So there was no need to worry about it being stolen.

‘Still, I shouldn’t treat it carelessly.’

You never knew what might happen.

“Fine. You can use it, just don’t lend it to anyone else. Understood?”

“Am I crazy? I wouldn’t give away something that belongs to you, young master.”

“Alright. Looks like we’re done here. What do you think?”

“The wound?”

“Yeah.”

Dolseok inspected the stitches along the man’s calf.

Moments ago, the wound had been gaping open, and he had even pulled it apart with all his strength. Now, all that was left was a neat, straight line of stitches.

“It’s amazing how well it’s closed up.”

“Right? Touch his calf. What’s different?”

“Huh… It feels softer now.”

Dolseok’s eyes widened as he nodded repeatedly.

“Mmm.”

The man grimaced and opened his eyes again.

Dolseok must have pressed too hard in his excitement.

“Ah.”

Dolseok instinctively covered his head, bracing for the usual smack.

But Kang-hyuk didn’t hit him. He was planning to wake the man up anyway.

“How do you feel?”

Kang-hyuk asked in the gentlest voice he could muster.

The man struggled to sit up halfway, glancing down at his leg.

“The pain is less.”

Kang-hyuk was surprised by how stoic the man’s response was. After all, he had just repaired a completely shattered leg, and this was all the man had to say?

Still, Kang-hyuk continued.

“I’ll wrap your leg in bandages for now. I’ll be staying here tonight, so if you feel any discomfort, let me know right away.”

“I will.”

Kang-hyuk wasn’t convinced. Given the man’s tolerance for pain, it was likely he’d just silently endure anything.

“Make sure to tell me. Dolseok, could you lift his leg?”

“Me? Oh, yes, young master.”

Dolseok, still dazed from the conversation, hurriedly moved to assist.

“Like this?”

“Yeah. We’ll keep it elevated on this pillow. If it stays down, it’ll swell.”

“Thank you.”

The man bowed his head in gratitude, and Kang-hyuk felt a strange sense of humility wash over him.

-Dong, dong, dong.

The sound of the night watchman’s bell echoed faintly in the distance, signaling how long the surgery had taken.

Even in a wealthy household, oil was precious.

It was about time to blow out the lantern.

‘I’ll wake up again soon anyway.’

With the bell clanging incessantly, no one could stay asleep for long.

Being near the marketplace only made the noise worse.

“Rest up now. We’ll get some sleep too.”

“Alright.”

“Dolseok, spread out the bedding. I’m getting too old for this.”

“Young master, I’m already twenty myself.”

Dolseok ran his hand over his scruffy beard, trying to assert his age.

To Kang-hyuk, it was nonsense.

“Twenty? You’re just a kid. Hurry up and lay out the bedding.”

“Calling me a kid… Ugh.”

“You want me to roll you up in the mat?”

“No, no. I’ll get right on it.”

Grumbling, Dolseok laid out the bedding.

“Good night, young master.”

“Thanks.”

It had been an exhausting day.

As Kang-hyuk collapsed onto the bedding, a thought occurred to him.

‘I should close the clinic tomorrow. Oh, by the way…’

He suddenly realized he didn’t even know the man’s name, despite having just performed surgery on him.

He turned his head to look at the man, who wasn’t asleep yet, staring intently at the ceiling.

“Excuse me, sir?”

“Are you talking to me?”

“Yes. What’s your name, by the way? I’m Baek Kang-hyuk, twenty-four years old.”

“Ah, I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused. My name is Yi Sun-shin. I’m twenty-eight.”