Villainess X Villain: They are obsessed with each other!

Chapter 293: Chapter: 292 End of seclusion.

A few months later, back within the Sun Family City, the underground dojo had fallen into complete silence.

Not a single sound had echoed through its stone walls for the past eight months, leaving the training hall abandoned and lifeless.

A thin layer of dust had settled across the floor, undisturbed by footsteps or the clash of weapons, making it appear as though nobody had entered the place in years.

Beneath that very floor, however, two individuals remained in Seclusion, or rather, secluded training, completely isolated from the outside world, dedicating every waking moment to their own growth.

Today, however, was the day they had agreed upon before entering seclusion.

Whether either of them had managed to achieve a breakthrough no longer mattered.

In only a few days, the announcement for the Grand Tournament would spread across the continent, and shortly afterward, the qualifying tournaments held within the major cities would come to an end.

By then, only the first and second-ranked participants from each city would be permitted to advance further.

If they delayed even a little longer, they would miss their opportunity altogether. Neither of them intended to allow that to happen.

Creak!

A sharp creak echoed through the silent dojo as a section of the stone floor slowly shifted upward from below.

Dust scattered into the air as the concealed entrance opened, and a figure climbed out before stepping onto the floor.

He paused for a brief moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the familiar surroundings after spending months beneath the earth.

The figure was Kavin. He stood tall, though his appearance had become considerably rougher than before.

His long hair had grown messy during his months of isolation, falling untidily around his face and shoulders, while faint exhaustion lingered beneath his eyes.

Yet despite his worn appearance, those same eyes possessed a spark they had lacked before, a quiet confidence forged through months of relentless effort.

He slowly surveyed the empty dojo before his gaze settled upon a spot several steps away, where another hidden entrance remained firmly closed.

She hasn’t returned yet?

The thought crossed his mind as he instinctively spread his senses throughout the underground chamber.

Almost immediately, he located the familiar presence below.

Jasmine remained exactly where she had entered months ago, her aura calm and steady as she continued meditating without the slightest disturbance.

’Hmm... it seems she’s close to a breakthrough.’

Realizing she had reached a crucial moment, Kavin chose not to interrupt her. Instead, he stretched out a hand toward the empty air.

Space rippled faintly before his wakizashi materialized in his grasp, its polished blade reflecting the dim light filling the dojo.

’Before she arrives... I should get some practice in.’

Without wasting another moment, he stepped forward and swung the blade.

The first slash felt unfamiliar. His movements were slightly stiff, lacking the smooth precision he had once possessed.

Eight months without touching a weapon had inevitably dulled his body’s instincts, and he could immediately feel the awkwardness in every swing.

Unsatisfied, he adjusted his footing and swung again.

Then again. And again. The quiet dojo soon became filled with the repeated sound of steel slicing through empty air as his long limbs moved continuously, cutting, thrusting, and turning in an unbroken rhythm.

Gradually, the stiffness began to disappear.

Each strike flowed more naturally into the next until his movements resembled a crude yet disciplined dance, every step connecting seamlessly with another.

Sweat slowly gathered across his forehead and dampened the strands of hair clinging to his face, but he paid it no attention, continuing to slash and thrust with unwavering concentration.

Creak!

Another section of the floor shifted open.

This time, Jasmine emerged from below.

She looked as beautiful as ever, but months of seclusion had left unmistakable traces upon her.

Dust and soot clung to her clothes and face, while her long hair had become tangled and messy from spending so long underground.

Her complexion appeared noticeably paler than before, and there was a clear fatigue hidden beneath her normally composed expression.

For a brief moment, she simply stood there, allowing her eyes to adjust before they landed upon Kavin, who was still practicing with his sword only a short distance away.

Sensing her presence, Kavin immediately stopped mid-swing.

The blade froze in the air before he casually released its handle, causing the wakizashi to vanish back into empty space.

Turning toward her, a small smile naturally formed on his face.

”Welcome back.”

As he looked at her more carefully, his smile became slightly helpless. She appeared utterly exhausted.

Dark circles had formed beneath her eyes, her cheeks looked noticeably sunken, and despite maintaining her composure, it was obvious she desperately needed proper nourishment.

’She probably didn’t eat the Soul Bread...’

The realization came almost instantly.

For long periods of seclusion, specially prepared Soul Bread was commonly used.

A single loaf contained enough nourishment to sustain an ordinary person for nearly an entire month, making it indispensable for prolonged isolation.

Unfortunately, it possessed one rather significant flaw.

It tasted absolutely terrible.

Knowing Jasmine’s tastes, Kavin found it difficult to imagine her willingly eating something like that unless she had absolutely no other choice.

She had probably forced herself to finish one or two loaves over the past eight months, but judging from her current appearance, she certainly hadn’t eaten as much as she should have.

Before he could say anything else, Jasmine spoke first.

There was a faint hint of anticipation in her voice, one she was trying very hard to suppress despite the obvious exhaustion weighing down on her.

Even so, her eyes remained fixed on him, searching his expression for the answer before he had the chance to speak.

”Have you made any breakthrough?”

Kavin nodded with a quiet smile as he walked toward her, the weariness in his own body unable to hide the satisfaction lingering on his face.

”I did.”

After answering, he looked into her eyes with equal curiosity, eager to know whether her efforts had borne fruit as well.

”What about you?” he asked.