Chapter 121

“Stop! Stop! You bastard, stop!”

Baek Kang-hyuk’s shout soon filled the operating room.

Jaewon turned around, startled.

Of course, both his hands were already off the surgical site.

“Wh-Why?”

Jang-mi was just as clueless.

And understandably so—Jaewon hadn’t even fully retracted the [sternocleidomastoid] yet.

(T/N: A paired neck muscle that helps with head rotation and flexion. It’s often retracted during neck surgeries to access deeper structures like the carotid artery.)

Everyone knew that you had to retract it to expose the carotid artery.

“With your finger… press where you just aimed your scalpel.”

Finally regaining composure, Baek Kang-hyuk spoke in a calm tone.

He pointed to the border of the sternocleidomastoid with his left index finger.

It was exactly where Jaewon had applied the cautery just moments ago.

“Yes.”

In the operating room, Jaewon was always a yes-man, and he obediently followed the instruction.

And then his expression turned even more shocked than before.

“Holy—”

“Now… does that carotid artery look normal to you? It’s not cut by the scalpel. You have to consider that its trajectory might be different!”

“Ah.”

“‘Ah,’ my ass, this punk—”

Baek Kang-hyuk tried to grab a surgical tool with his left hand.

But Jang-mi had already removed all the instruments, having anticipated it early on.

Nothing was within reach.

“Count yourself lucky.”

“Yes…”

“And also—I’m the one holding pressure here. So… shouldn’t you be even more careful?”

“Yes.”

“Anyway, you did fine up to that point. Keep going.”

At Kang-hyuk’s words, Jaewon made a face as if asking, ‘Can I really keep going?’

In response, Kang-hyuk gave a firm nod that reignited his resolve.

It had been a close call.

But no actual damage had been done.

All things considered, that was good enough.

“Hmm.”

So Jaewon resumed the surgery.

Though he was noticeably slower than before.

Which, for Kang-hyuk, was irritating.

‘The more time we waste, the more the aorta… no, wait.’

They’d been keeping mechanical ventilation running from the start.

Even if Gyeongwon was doing his best to regulate respiratory rate…

He was still breathing.

Which meant the blade was continuing to move inward.

‘It’s probably already punctured.’

Doing the math coldly confirmed that.

‘Once it’s punctured… there’s no advancing further.’

This wasn’t some soft, squishy tissue like the lungs.

The aorta was a muscle-covered structure.

Meaning a little delay here wouldn’t hurt.

Unless that delay became excessive.

“You got Parkinson’s or something? Why are your hands so slow?”

Kang-hyuk eventually snapped, despite trying not to.

“Still faster than what you’d manage with just your left hand, right?”

“What did you say, punk?”

“Well, I mean—if you left it to me… just watch for a bit.”

“Wow, this guy—Jang-mi, can you say something?”

Kang-hyuk pointed at Jaewon with a stunned look, seeking rescue from Jang-mi.

But he didn’t realize—

In any team, everyone gets along… except the team leader.

“I think Dr. Yang’s got a point.”

“You too, huh? Gyeongwon, you’re my last hope.”

“Sorry, professor. I agree with Dr. Yang.”

“You godda—”

Kang-hyuk was about to curse but shut his mouth.

He saw Jaewon had reached the most crucial part of his surgical task.

Between the retracted sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscles, the carotid artery appeared.

Just as the scan had shown, it was torn about 3cm.

Blood was slowly seeping out.

Only because Kang-hyuk’s right hand was pressing directly on the rupture.

“Alright, this is where it gets important.”

Kang-hyuk’s face turned solemn, a sharp contrast to his earlier jokes.

Jaewon didn’t dare crack wise now.

“Yes, professor. Should I clamp it first? As long as brain function holds… it should be okay.”

At Jaewon’s suggestion, Kang-hyuk paused to think.

‘Technically… you’re supposed to check if brainwaves remain normal when the carotid is clamped.’

Principles existed for a reason.

Even if they seemed minor, those principles had emerged from extensive data and expert consensus.

But in emergencies, principles often got pushed aside.

Like now.

‘Been clamping it for a while already.’

This was a case where massive bleeding was expected.

Who had time to wait for an EEG machine?

He’d just clamped it down.

At this point, clamping or not wouldn’t make much difference.

‘He’s young. Let’s just hope he pulls through.’

Kang-hyuk nodded, reassured by the patient’s stable vital signs.

If something had gone wrong with the brain, they’d have seen signs by now.

“Clamp it. But quickly. We need to suture fast.”

“Yes.”

As soon as Kang-hyuk spoke, Jang-mi handed Jaewon a vascular clamp.

A scrub nurse who could read the surgery like this—

She was invaluable.

“Thanks.”

Jaewon gave a short nod of appreciation as he clamped the carotid artery.

As soon as both ends were secured, Kang-hyuk removed his hand.

And finally, the full extent of the tear came into view.

“At least… the cut is clean. The blade was really sharp.”

“Yeah, seriously.”

It was questionable to call the wound “good.”

But a clean slice was better than a ragged one.

“Think you can suture it?”

“Yes, professor.”

“Alright. Take your time. I’ll go scrub up.”

Kang-hyuk was still wearing just one glove.

If they were nitpicking about infection control, there’d be a lot to say.

But what could he do?

All those safety protocols were ultimately about saving lives.

When something more urgent came up, priorities had to shift.

“Okay. Take your time.”

With Jaewon’s response, Kang-hyuk rushed out of the OR.

He hit the knee-operated faucet and cold water came pouring out.

‘Damn it. Told them to switch to warm water…’

He’d submitted countless requests.

Even provided a research paper titled “The Relationship Between Water Temperature and Handwashing Duration and Cleanliness.”

Still, no change.

‘Even though the hospital director was a surgeon too.’

Excuses upon excuses.

But the real reason was always the same.

Money.

Too many patients were being put at risk over that one issue.

Dig deep and the list would be endless.

All in the name of offering high-quality care at low costs.

But think it through for just a second—it was downright terrifying.

Trying to measure human life by cost-efficiency?

‘Save the patient in front of you first.’

It was important to think critically about policy.

But priorities always came first.

And right now, saving this patient was the top priority.

Clack.

When he returned, Jaewon had already sutured about 1cm.

In the past, he would’ve just stood around like a spare part.

This was impressive growth.

“Ho.”

Kang-hyuk let out a small sound of admiration as he examined the sutures.

Compared to his own skills, it still had a long way to go.

But objectively, it was excellent.

Among his peers, Jaewon would be hard to beat.

‘Maybe even better than Chief Han Yoo-rim.’

Their career goals were quite different, so it was hard to compare.

“I’m improving, right?”

They’d spent so much time together that Jaewon could now read Kang-hyuk’s expressions.

He immediately knew the little “ho” was a compliment.

“You’ve improved. I’ve been working you like a dog. You better improve.”

“Why can’t you ever finish a sentence nicely?”

“Step aside. You’re good, but still too slow.”

“I think I can do it…”

Jaewon replied, half-stepping away.

He shifted, but not completely—his posture was awkward.

‘Look at this guy, trying to act like the lead surgeon.’

Kang-hyuk looked at him with half pride, half amusement.

You needed this kind of ambition to become a true surgeon.

But even ambition had a time and place.

Now wasn’t it.

“Hey, remember the aorta? This isn’t the main event.”

“Ah. Right…”

“‘Ah, right’ my ass. Step back and assist. We’ve got a long way to go.”

“Yes…”

Jaewon stepped back reluctantly.

Kang-hyuk was right—the aorta was still at risk of bursting.

Getting greedy here would be plain insanity.

Zip zip zip.

And after watching Kang-hyuk suture, Jaewon felt disheartened.

He thought he’d improved a lot.

But the difference was staggering.

“Alright, that’s pretty much done.”

“Uh…”

“Don’t just stand there—remove the clamp.”

“Oh, right.”

The sutures Jaewon had been struggling with for over five minutes—

Kang-hyuk finished them in moments.

And looking closely, even the esophageal laceration deeper inside had been repaired.

‘What kind of surgeon works like a magician…’

This was the textbook definition of “the hands are quicker than the eye.”

If someone hadn’t paid close attention, they’d have thought he just sutured the vessel.

Shhhk.
Shhhk.

Once the clamps were removed, blood began to flow.

The carotid artery was fairly thick, so it rarely had complications after reconstruction like this.

As long as it didn’t leak, it was fine.

And Baek Kang-hyuk’s sutures never leaked.

“Good. We’ll close the skin later.”

He smiled at the flawlessly finished job.

Jang-mi packed the site with gauze soaked in saline.

Leaving it exposed would dry it out and damage the tissue.

Thanks to Jang-mi’s airtight support, Kang-hyuk and Jaewon could immediately move to the chest.

“Hey. I wasn’t the only one who didn’t see the blade earlier, right?”

Kang-hyuk asked as he positioned himself on the right side of the patient’s chest.

“No, I didn’t see it either.”

Jaewon nodded from the opposite side.

The others agreed as well.

The blade was no longer in the neck.

“Guess we’ll have to open the chest after all…”

Kang-hyuk picked up a scalpel with a grim expression.

He sliced cleanly down the sternum.

The thin skin split open and peeled to the sides.

“Bone saw.”

“Here. Speed’s set to 25,000 rpm.”

Jang-mi immediately handed him the powered saw.

“Nice. That’s my gangster.”

“Stop calling me that…”

“Whatever. Spray water. Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Grrrrrrrk.

A horrifying screech echoed as the chest bone was sawed open.

As always, the lower structures remained untouched.

A perfect cut.

Thanks to that, once Jaewon pried open the sternum, they could examine the internal structures.

It wasn’t a pretty sight.

“That damned blade almost pierced the heart?”