Leilani’s breath hitched, a wave of indescribable emotion swelling in her chest. "This is..."
Payton’s hand rested on the armrest of his wheelchair as he spoke calmly. "Those are Paulina’s medical notes. Before she left, she entrusted them to me, saying they should be given to her successor one day."
He turned his blind eyes toward her, his gaze piercing despite the emptiness. "Now, they are yours."
Leilani gently stroked the pages. Paulina’s handwriting pressed deep into the paper; she could almost feel the focus her mentor had possessed while writing this years ago. Taking a deep breath, she closed the manuscript. "Thank you."
Payton waved a hand dismissively. "Don't thank me. As Paulina’s apprentice, you deserve this." He paused, then suddenly changed the subject. "Starting tomorrow, in addition to treating me... I will also be teaching you combat skills."
Leilani stared at him, stunned. "Combat skills?"
Payton nodded. "If you want to inherit Paulina’s legacy and her medical arts, knowing how to defend yourself is essential. After all, Paulina made quite a few enemies. If those people find out you’re her disciple, they won't let you off the hook."
Leilani understood the logic, but she frowned, her gaze drifting to his paralyzed legs and sightless eyes. "But in your current condition... how can you teach me?"
Payton chuckled low in his throat, a sound filled with rasping arrogance. "Little girl, don't let my current appearance fool you. Before I was crippled, I was 'Nighthawk,' ranked third on the dark web's hitman list."
He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the armrest, his tone playful. "Even if I can't demonstrate physically, guiding you through theory is... more than within my capabilities."

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