Chapter 190: Does It Hurt?

"Ms. Porter, stay out of this," Pierce Jackson said. Kyle sidled up again. This time he twisted open the jar; a strong, bitter whiff of Chinese herbs rushed out, and he wrinkled his nose. "Master, I still don't get it. Why do we have to add Coptis Chinensis? It's so bitter. Can't we skip it?" Pierce let out a low chuckle. Then, all at once, his hand flashed out. Smack! The crack rang through the room. Kyle's cheek burned; the slap was so hard it felt like it knocked the peach fuzz off his face. The...