However, Iarin was confident.
“Isn’t this martial art related to volcanoes?”
At the very least, she wasn’t lying.
The martial art she had just used was clearly related to volcanoes. Anyone with even a slight understanding of martial arts could tell that it was inspired by the imagery of a volcano and the principle embodied in her single punch. Furthermore, she had compressed her Qi and unleashed it in a manner akin to a volcanic eruption. The technique even contained a principle to convert the practitioner’s Qi into Yang energy, making it beneficial even for those who hadn’t primarily trained in Yang Qi.
Though its name, “Volcanopunch,” was absurdly simple, it was evident that this martial art was created by someone deeply experienced. It had undeniably been developed by a masterful practitioner—someone who had reached a high level of martial arts and possessed the qualities of a grandmaster.
Moreover, in terms of utility, it wasn’t just about imagery or technique.
Whether you were practicing another martial art, this one allowed for adaptability by manifesting as Yang energy in various situations. It also enhanced one’s understanding of Qi distribution, specifically for those focused in boxing techniques. It provided broad applications that could refine your combat instincts and offered insight into handling different scenarios.
Each aspect was impressive in its own right.
Additionally, the effects of this martial art, similar yet different from the principle of explosive Qi projection, were particularly useful when stepping out into the real world. Unlike the school’s training, which was focused on one-on-one sparring or specific situations, the real world was filled with dirty tricks.
For instance, those in bodyguarding might have to face multiple opponents in tight spaces or dodge bullets from snipers. In these challenging situations, dealing with criminals wielding guns or facing experts in handling warriors, the stress could feel crippling. This martial art, however, could significantly aid in such scenarios.
Directional explosions, for example, were practical in group battles, breaking traps, demolishing obstacles, or creating temporary shelters.
Certainly.
It was perfect.
All except for the fact that the person Iarin brought to the martial arts practice room under the claim of demonstrating a volcano-related martial art was actually practicing martial arts tied to Huashan (華山), not to mention that Iarin had deliberately heightened the other’s expectations without providing clarification, even fueling misconceptions.
“Volcano! Not that volcano! How many times! How many times must I say it?”
Of course, this was intentional.
Even if Iarin hadn’t studied much, she surely wasn’t naive enough to not understand the difference between Huashan (華山) and Huoshan (火山). Unless one’s brain had completely turned to muscle, misunderstanding the difference would be rare.
Perhaps… Asha might mistakenly confuse them?
No, not Asha.
Someone as cute and incomprehensible as Anastasia might genuinely mix them up. She might not only misunderstand but could perhaps conceptualize something quite bizarre.
“Isn’t Huashan (華山) also a volcano (火山)? Of course I know the difference! Huashan (華山) refers specifically to a mountain, and Huoshan (火山) refers to a broader category involving molten rock forming the mountain body! Clearly, Huoshan (火山) is the broader term and concept!”
“As the sister of Ella, who has TV watching as a hobby, I can tell you Huashan (華山) can technically also be considered part of Huoshan (火山)! Therefore, it’s not entirely correct to deny their connection!”
“Get out of my head!”
Iarin shook her head vigorously at the automatic replay of Anastasia’s voice in her mind, as though trying to dislodge it.
“I-I! I!”
The girl interpreted her movements differently. During their discussion on Huashan (華山) versus Huoshan (火山), her vigorous head shaking seemed like a defiant statement: “You’re wrong, and I’m right. Huashan (華山) is ‘Volcano’ in English, period!”
“Die!”
Anger surged like a volcanic eruption!
It was said that extreme anger can twist the flow of vital energy, and this sensation seemed eerily real!
The girl unleashed a punch driven by sheer anger.
Of course, despite her frustration, this was Iarin—her valued friend and rival—so she held back just a little.
The punch, filled with the imagery of Huashan, flew toward Iarin’s solar plexus. Given the scent of plum blossoms that wafted, this blow, if landed, would undoubtedly leave Iarin breathless, causing pain as she regretted her words.
But only if she got hit.
Whish!
Iarin’s body bent, her waist folding as her solar plexus moved backward, almost as if her body curved into a crescent moon, gracefully evading the punch—so fluid, as if she had practiced yoga for a lifetime.
Although, if she had mastered yoga-related martial arts, her body might have bent in ways that would make one doubt it wasn’t made of rubber—so this “yoga” was purely metaphorical.
“Yes! Take it! Just one hit from Plum Blossom Punch!”
“No way! It looks painful!”
“It’s not ‘Plum Blossom Punch!’ It’s ‘Plum Blossom One Fist!'”
“Nope! It’s Plum Punch! Anyone can see it’s a punch!”
“Die!”
And the graceful evasions continued.
Iarin’s body flexed, bent, and rebounded like a rubber ball against the floor and walls. It was almost animal-like.
Thus, Iarin avoided every punch from the young woman, who, naturally, was growing angrier and madder with each miss.
“Haaa!”
The irritated exhalations accompanying each missed punch!
The infuriating calm of Iarin’s expression!
The playful and spry movements that were almost mocking!
It was all so aggravating!
What infuriated her most was the fact that no matter how much Iarin goaded her, she couldn’t land a single blow.
“I’m done!” Finally, the girl snapped.
Throwing up her hands in frustration, she stomped aggressively to the door, unlocking the safety mechanisms and swiping her school ID.
Beep.
“Are you leaving?”
She confirmed her grade, class, and name—“Yesuhwa”—on the display, touched “Yes” to confirm departure, and verified the time of exit.
Beep.
Just then, Iarin descended from above, using her martial arts to quickly land in front of her.
Blocking Yesuhwa’s way out, Iarin smiled playfully, tilted her head, and looked at her with an expression akin to a cartoon squirrel.
Then she asked:
“Are you mad?”
It was intensely irritating.
The pose itself was a blatant invitation to punch her…
“No, I’m not mad. Move!”
But Yesuhwa restrained herself.
She did.
She restrained herself.
“Angry? I’m angry! Are you going to hit me? Huh? Are you going to hit me?”
Slap!
“Ow!”
She couldn’t help it.
Yesuhwa, unable to endure Iarin’s continued taunts, automatically smacked the top of her head.
Of course, it was a soft tap without using any Qi or real strength.
In short, it was all noise and no damage.
“Aah, it’s so painful. Being hit by our Yesuhwa, this is too much pain~”
But Iarin exaggeratedly whined about the pain in her crown, sticking to Yesuhwa like a clingy nuisance. She even pressed her head against Yesuhwa’s solar plexus and rubbed it in a drilling motion.
“Hmm… really….”
A sight so difficult to hate.
Yesuhwa sighed, seeing Iarin like a wild beast playfully flirting.
“You’ve been pranking so much lately. Restrain yourself…”
“Hehe.”
Then she gave her a peculiar look, as if asking, “Who else will play with you if not me?”
“…You seem to be regressing mentally. Never mind… Quickly, go scan your ID and leave… Let’s head to the food court.”
“Great, food court! Not bad at all! Let’s go!”
That was that—they left the martial arts practice room behind.
A place for warriors, where immense physical exertion could be relieved with nutrition and stress relief.
But to less active girls, it was called the “enemy of dieting”—a place filled with tempting but evil indulgences that could instantly add to one’s weight.
The convenience store.
