Gulp!

The governor was intensely anxious . It was the first time for him to see an operation . Before, he had only heard that Ganghyuk used strange looking tools, but actually seeing it was a whole another thing .

"Hu…"

The monk could not breath when Ganghyuk put the mess in his mouth . On the other side, Yeoju came nearer to Ganghyuk, observing him closely without disturbing him .

She constantly sketched while the chief monk watched her drawing with curiosity .

"Now, I am going to cut . "

"Yes, sir . "

"Do you have the cotton swab?"

"Yes, yes . " Dolseok shook a small cotton swab .

When Ganghyuk cut the skin, there would be blood everywhere . It was the same for everyone . n.o.body could cut the skin without causing blood to come out .

The difference was only in amount, resulting in the need to choose between wiping with a cotton swab or gauze .

"Good!"

Ganghyuk had not done this kind of operation in which he had to put the mess in the mouth . It was for an ENT doctor to do after all, and not for a general surgeon .

'However, I have opened a brain . '

He did not have any experience of this before, so he just followed what he had learned . It was said that doctors in the third world considered YouTube as a teacher . In that sense, Ganghyuk was better, because he saw real operations with his eyes .

Jeek!

The tissue was cut by the sharp mess .

Specifically speaking, the entry of the pa.s.sage from where saliva secreted in the left submaxillary gland flowed out was cut open .

At the same time, blood came out and blocked his view .

"Wipe it, wipe!"

"Yes . " Dolseok hurried to move with the cotton swab .

"Stop!"

"Yes, sir . "

Dolseok removed the cotton swab, causing blood to come out again . The amount was reduced, but Ganghyuk could not do the operation still .

"Blood . . . Wipe it again . "

"Yes . "

"It does not stop with just wiping . Press it . "

"Okay, sir . "

Dolseok felt tense . He did what he was told, yet he was scolded . If Ganghyuk were not his master, he would have hit him .

"Good! Well-done . "

"Did I? Hehe . " But with a single praise, Dolseok felt good once again .

"The next part is important . You must learn it . "

Dolseok opened his eyes wide, although that did not make his eyes too big .

"Look at this . " Ganghyuk used a new cotton swab to take out something from inside, causing pus and rotten saliva to flow out .

Dolseok murmured with gladness . "It came out . . . the bad things . "

"It is not the end . "

"No?"

"No… Not at all . "

Why was the pus in the gland? Every disease must have a cause, and pus was only the result .

"Now, it is going to be painful . " Ganghyuk pressed the cotton swab along with the warning .

Pok

With a vulgar sound effect, something came out, as big as a nail . With that, the saliva and pus stagnated in the pa.s.sage flew out . It came out with a great force, and the smell filled up the room .

"Ugh!" The governor rushed to open the door .

"What is the matter? Huck!" Yeoni had come near the room because of the fuss inside, but she covered her nose quickly because of the strong pungent odor .

Ganghyuk, Dolseok, and Yujeong were the only people who did not lose their nerves .

"Tweezer!"

With the remark, Dolseok moved busily . He left the b.l.o.o.d.y swab and searched for the tweezer .

"Do you want this?"

"No, the one with teeth . "

"Teeth? Where is it?"

"There . "

"Okay, sir . "

Ganghyuk took out the thing with the tweezer that Dolseok gave him, then put it on the gauze .

"Wipe the blood and put it out . "

"Yes, sir . " Dolseok promptly wiped the thing with gauze .

"Wow!"

"What is this?"

When the thing became clean, the chief monk and the governor changed their facial expression . Dolseok wiped it carefully, seeming to be surprised .

"What is that? Clean it thoroughly . It will not be broken . "

"What is this, sir?" Dolseok asked while pointing at the white thing . "

"It is a stone . "

"Oh! Why is there a stone in the body?"

"Oh!" Ganghyuk thought that it was quite an intelligent question to ask . He felt that Dolseok was a quite a good student to think of the question and have the courage to ask it .

In the twenty first century, there was no student who would ask questions; they just listened to the professor .

He always missed having such a student as a professor .

'He is a good student . Good!'

It had been a really long time since he had to explain why a stone was produced in the gland .

'It is because of shortage of saliva… Sometimes, it is produced because the submaxillary gland bursts the saliva in the opposite direction of gravity . '

He was thinking of the answers with sincerity .

'Why are they looking at it like that?'

They all look strange . Dolseok was about to bow to the stone; the governor and the chief monk could not stay in their seats either as they had stood up . Even Yeoju had stopped drawing .

Only Yujeong and Ganghyuk stayed calm .

"What are you doing?"

"It is a Sari (1) . "

Dolseok could not touch the stone anymore, looking at Yujeong and the stone alternatively . His face showed that he was deeply moved .

"Sari? What are you talking about?"

"He is a living Buddha . He must be a living Buddha . "

Ganghyuk could not continue his speech any longer . Dolseok began bowing, and the governor and the chief monk followed as well .

Dolseok had not even taken off gloves and the mask yet . They looked very serious, so he could not stop them .

'Are they crazy? No . It must be something serious . Sari?'

Ganghyuk looked at Yujeong and the stone from the gland . 'Aha! A monk and a stone . '

He remembered that when a monk died, he would be incremated . Sometimes, there remained some small crystals among the cremated remains of monks, which were called Sari .

Ganghyuk thought that those Saris should be stones in the body, probably from the kidney or the bladder…or in the saliva gland just like now .

'So, they think that a Sari came from a living person…'

To Ganghyuk, it was all nonsense, but he could understand why they were reacting the way they did .

'The reactions are quite vehement . '

The governor seemed to be fully displaying his hidden faith . Ganghyuk did not count from the beginning, but it seemed that he had bowed more than ten times .

Ganghyuk thought that the chief monk would stop them . But, he did the same thing instead of stopping them .

"He is a Buddha . "

Dang, Dang, Dang!

He held his Moktak(2) in his hand and sounded it .

'They bow to him while he is still bleeding…'

He thought he must first stop bleeding . As he had cut the gland, it should be restored . In that case, he needed an a.s.sistant .

"Dolseok . "

"Buddha…"

"Dolseok . "

"Here is a living Buddha . "

"Dolseok, wake up!"

"Ouch"

It was a rude behavior to hit him in front of people, but Ganghyuk could not help it . He had to finish the treatment .

"I need your a.s.sistance . The treatment is not yet finished . "

"Yes, yes . What should I do?"

He was more active than usual, although he could no longer dare to touch him .

"Open his mouth . What are you doing?"

"How can I…?"

"Well…"

At this moment, Yujeong helped him . "Nothing is changed . You can do what you should do . Take it easy . "

"But…"

"I am not a living Buddha or a priest of virtue . I am a patient who needs to be treated . "

"Ok, I will follow your instruction . "

Dolseok opened Yujeong's mouth, who acted just like before . Since the governor and the chief monk made a fuss, he could have been swayed . Ganghyuk felt that the latter himself could have thought that it was Sari .

'He is a man of self-discipline . '

Even though he might not be a living Buddha, he must be a priest of virtue . Hence, Ganghyuk told him in a friendlier tone . "It is nearly done . Just a few more minutes . "

"Okay . "

With the remark, Ganghyuk opened his mouth again, causing blood, pus, and saliva to flow out . It gushed out fiercely, causing the swelling of the submaxillary gland to reduce .

'It is really severe . How could he preach in such a condition?'

It was indeed unbelievable . Ganghyuk could not have believed it if he had not seen him preaching with his own eyes .

It was good to finish quickly, so he came back to his senses . After all, it was not good to prolong the operation time .

"Dolseok, open it . "

"Yes, sir . "

"I will finish it quickly . "

Ganghyuk made a small suture at the top and the bottom of the cut he made . As a result, there was a hole left between the sutures, around half a centimeter in size .

The saliva would flow from the hole from now on .

'It may be enough . '

Even if a stone was produced again, it would come out through the hole . If they had to do the same thing whenever it came out of the hole, it might get serious .

On the other side, the governor had made a place for wors.h.i.+pping and bowing to the stone constantly . If Changgweon saw this, he would have cut the governor's head rather than hair .

'Ugh!'

Ganghyuk looked at Yujeong, turning away from the governor . He looked peaceful and comfortable .

"It is done now . As you still have inflammation, please take this medicine . "

"Thank you . "

Yujeong recieved the medicine without any question . The chief monk who was sounding the Moktak asked . "Is he cured?"

"No, not yet . "

As he had severe inflammation, he had to take the medicine for a few days more .

"Then, can you stay here longer till he has completely recovered?" The chief monk begged . To him, Yujeong was a living Buddha, and Ganghyuk was the one who had treated his sickness .

'I like the government office better . ' Ganghyuk thought . But, it was a long way from the office to Chiljangsa, so he could not commute every day .

'Anyway, when would I get to sleep in a temple again?'

It would be a very special experience . Moreover, even if he wanted to go, Dolseok would not listen to him, who was busy bowing alongside the governor .

"I will see his status by staying here for a few days more . "

"Thank you! Yujeong told me that he would have great helper today . It must be you . "

"Great helper?"

"Yes . "

Dolseok sprang on hearing the words of the chief monk . He remembered the conversation he had heard before coming into the room .

"He is marvelous . "

"What?"

"I heard the priest say that he would have a great helper today . "

"Did you?"

The chief monk added . "He has never said such a thing before . It must be about you . "

That was marvelous! His voice and att.i.tude… He might be an extraordinary man . Although, Ganghyuk did not realize it at the moment…

"Surprising . Can you tell me who you are?"

"I am Yujeong . You can call me Samyeongdang . "

Sari – A sacred relic

Moktak - wooden percussion instrument used for chanting by Buddhist clergy

Gulp The governor was intensely anxious . It was the first time for him to see an operation . Before, he had only heard that Ganghyuk used strange looking tools, but actually seeing it was a whole another thing . Hu The monk could not breath when Ganghyuk put the mess in his mouth . On the other side, Yeoju came nearer to Ganghyuk, observing him closely without disturbing him . She constantly sketched while the chief monk watched her drawing with curiosity . Now, I am going to cut . Yes, sir . Do you have the cotton swab Yes, yes . Dolseok shook a small cotton swab . When Ganghyuk cut the skin, there would be blood everywhere . It was the same for everyone . n.o.body could cut the skin without causing blood to come out . The difference was only in amount, resulting in the need to choose between wiping with a cotton swab or gauze . Good Ganghyuk had not done this kind of operation in which he had to put the mess in the mouth . It was for an ENT doctor to do after all, and not for a general surgeon . 39 However, I have opened a brain . 39 He did not have any experience of this before, so he just followed what he had learned . It was said that doctors in the third world considered YouTube as a teacher . In that sense, Ganghyuk was better, because he saw real operations with his eyes . Jeek The tissue was cut by the sharp mess . Specifically speaking, the entry of the pa.s.sage from where saliva secreted in the left submaxillary gland flowed out was cut open . At the same time, blood came out and blocked his view . Wipe it, wipe Yes . Dolseok hurried to move with the cotton swab . Stop Yes, sir . Dolseok removed the cotton swab, causing blood to come out again . The amount was reduced, but Ganghyuk could not do the operation still . Blood . . . Wipe it again . Yes . It does not stop with just wiping . Press it . Okay, sir . Dolseok felt tense . He did what he was told, yet he was scolded . If Ganghyuk were not his master, he would have hit him . Good Well done . Did I Hehe . But with a single praise, Dolseok felt good once again . The next part is important . You must learn it . Dolseok opened his eyes wide, although that did not make his eyes too big . Look at this . Ganghyuk used a new cotton swab to take out something from inside, causing pus and rotten saliva to flow out . Dolseok murmured with gladness . It came out . . . the bad things . It is not the end . No No Not at all . Why was the pus in the gland Every disease must have a cause, and pus was only the result . Now, it is going to be painful . Ganghyuk pressed the cotton swab along with the warning . Pok With a vulgar sound effect, something came out, as big as a nail . With that, the saliva and pus stagnated in the pa.s.sage flew out . It came out with a great force, and the smell filled up the room . Ugh The governor rushed to open the door . What is the matter Huck Yeoni had come near the room because of the fuss inside, but she covered her nose quickly because of the strong pungent odor . Ganghyuk, Dolseok, and Yujeong were the only people who did not lose their nerves . Tweezer With the remark, Dolseok moved busily . He left the b.l.o.o.d.y swab and searched for the tweezer . Do you want this No, the one with teeth . Teeth Where is it There . Okay, sir . Ganghyuk took out the thing with the tweezer that Dolseok gave him, then put it on the gauze . Wipe the blood and put it out . Yes, sir . Dolseok promptly wiped the thing with gauze . Wow What is this When the thing became clean, the chief monk and the governor changed their facial expression . Dolseok wiped it carefully, seeming to be surprised . What is that Clean it thoroughly . It will not be broken . What is this, sir Dolseok asked while pointing at the white thing . It is a stone . Oh Why is there a stone in the body Oh Ganghyuk thought that it was quite an intelligent question to ask . He felt that Dolseok was a quite a good student to think of the question and have the courage to ask it . In the twenty first century, there was no student who would ask questions they just listened to the professor . He always missed having such a student as a professor . 39 He is a good student . Good 39 It had been a really long time since he had to explain why a stone was produced in the gland . 39 It is because of shortage of saliva Sometimes, it is produced because the submaxillary gland bursts the saliva in the opposite direction of gravity . 39 He was thinking of the answers with sincerity . 39 Why are they looking at it like that 39 They all look strange . Dolseok was about to bow to the stone the governor and the chief monk could not stay in their seats either as they had stood up . Even Yeoju had stopped drawing . Only Yujeong and Ganghyuk stayed calm . What are you doing It is a Sari 1 . Dolseok could not touch the stone anymore, looking at Yujeong and the stone alternatively . His face showed that he was deeply moved . Sari What are you talking about He is a living Buddha . He must be a living Buddha . Ganghyuk could not continue his speech any longer . Dolseok began bowing, and the governor and the chief monk followed as well . Dolseok had not even taken off gloves and the mask yet . They looked very serious, so he could not stop them . 39 Are they crazy No . It must be something serious . Sari 39 Ganghyuk looked at Yujeong and the stone from the gland . 39 Aha A monk and a stone . 39 He remembered that when a monk died, he would be incremated . Sometimes, there remained some small crystals among the cremated remains of monks, which were called Sari . Ganghyuk thought that those Saris should be stones in the body, probably from the kidney or the bladder or in the saliva gland just like now . 39 So, they think that a Sari came from a living person 39 To Ganghyuk, it was all nonsense, but he could understand why they were reacting the way they did . 39 The reactions are quite vehement . 39 The governor seemed to be fully displaying his hidden faith . Ganghyuk did not count from the beginning, but it seemed that he had bowed more than ten times . Ganghyuk thought that the chief monk would stop them . But, he did the same thing instead of stopping them . He is a Buddha . Dang, Dang, Dang He held his Moktak 2 in his hand and sounded it . 39 They bow to him while he is still bleeding 39 He thought he must first stop bleeding . As he had cut the gland, it should be restored . In that case, he needed an a.s.sistant . Dolseok . Buddha Dolseok . Here is a living Buddha . Dolseok, wake up Ouch It was a rude behavior to hit him in front of people, but Ganghyuk could not help it . He had to finish the treatment . I need your a.s.sistance . The treatment is not yet finished . Yes, yes . What should I do He was more active than usual, although he could no longer dare to touch him . Open his mouth . What are you doing How can I Well At this moment, Yujeong helped him . Nothing is changed . You can do what you should do . Take it easy . But I am not a living Buddha or a priest of virtue . I am a patient who needs to be treated . Ok, I will follow your instruction . Dolseok opened Yujeong 39 s mouth, who acted just like before . Since the governor and the chief monk made a fuss, he could have been swayed . Ganghyuk felt that the latter himself could have thought that it was Sari . 39 He is a man of self discipline . 39 Even though he might not be a living Buddha, he must be a priest of virtue . Hence, Ganghyuk told him in a friendlier tone . It is nearly done . Just a few more minutes . Okay . With the remark, Ganghyuk opened his mouth again, causing blood, pus, and saliva to flow out . It gushed out fiercely, causing the swelling of the submaxillary gland to reduce . 39 It is really severe . How could he preach in such a condition 39 It was indeed unbelievable . Ganghyuk could not have believed it if he had not seen him preaching with his own eyes . It was good to finish quickly, so he came back to his senses . After all, it was not good to prolong the operation time . Dolseok, open it . Yes, sir . I will finish it quickly . Ganghyuk made a small suture at the top and the bottom of the cut he made . As a result, there was a hole left between the sutures, around half a centimeter in size . The saliva would flow from the hole from now on . 39 It may be enough . 39 Even if a stone was produced again, it would come out through the hole . If they had to do the same thing whenever it came out of the hole, it might get serious . On the other side, the governor had made a place for wors.h.i.+pping and bowing to the stone constantly . If Changgweon saw this, he would have cut the governor 39 s head rather than hair . 39 Ugh 39 Ganghyuk looked at Yujeong, turning away from the governor . He looked peaceful and comfortable . It is done now . As you still have inflammation, please take this medicine . Thank you . Yujeong recieved the medicine without any question . The chief monk who was sounding the Moktak asked . Is he cured No, not yet . As he had severe inflammation, he had to take the medicine for a few days more . Then, can you stay here longer till he has completely recovered The chief monk begged . To him, Yujeong was a living Buddha, and Ganghyuk was the one who had treated his sickness . 39 I like the government office better . 39 Ganghyuk thought . But, it was a long way from the office to Chiljangsa, so he could not commute every day . 39 Anyway, when would I get to sleep in a temple again 39 It would be a very special experience . Moreover, even if he wanted to go, Dolseok would not listen to him, who was busy bowing alongside the governor . I will see his status by staying here for a few days more . Thank you Yujeong told me that he would have great helper today . It must be you . Great helper Yes . Dolseok sprang on hearing the words of the chief monk . He remembered the conversation he had heard before coming into the room . He is marvelous . What I heard the priest say that he would have a great helper today . Did you The chief monk added . He has never said such a thing before . It must be about you . That was marvelous His voice and att.i.tude He might be an extraordinary man . Although, Ganghyuk did not realize it at the moment Surprising . Can you tell me who you are I am Yujeong . You can call me Samyeongdang . Sari A sacred relic Moktak wooden percussion instrument used for chanting by Buddhist clergy