Dipping the last xiaolongbao in vinegar, He Yuefeng put it into his mouth, savoring the chewy dough wrapped around the tender meat filling, the delightful taste of the special vinegar slowly blending in his mouth, causing him to involuntarily close his eyes.
Although the initial shock of the first taste had faded, at this moment, He Yuefeng still marveled at the delicious flavors spreading in his mouth.
This xiaolongbao might look like a small steamed bun, but the taste was truly extraordinary.
No wonder it had a score of 9.6.
Looking at the now-empty steamer basket, He Yuefeng felt a twinge of regret.
There were simply too few. Even ten weren't enough.
But thinking about the magical hotpot awaiting him next, the regret in his eyes gradually disappeared.
It was just as well he wasn't full; if he ate too much now, he wouldn't be able to enjoy the hotpot later.
As He Yuefeng finished the xiaolongbao, Qin Yao brought out his spicy hotpot base.
The pot base was the size of a washbasin, making him slightly astonished; such a pot would be more than enough for four people dining together.
Maybe...he could invite a few friends to join him for a hotpot next time?
Several friends came to mind immediately.
The spicy pot base was a bright red color, with an attractive oil sheen on the surface. As the built-in heating element on the table was turned on, it quickly reached a boiling state. The red oil shimmered, and a slightly pungent, spicy aroma wafted from the pot base, filling He Yuefeng's nostrils.
It smelled so good, and already seemed very spicy.
"Here is your Blazing Cup. Please enjoy," Qin Yao's voice rang out again, slightly startling He Yuefeng before he realized it was his drink being served.
Qin Yao gently set down a small wooden barrel she had been holding. The barrel had a finely crafted wooden spout, allowing the drink to flow out.
Accompanying it was a wide-mouthed cup and a plate of neatly arranged ice cubes.
The ice cubes exuded a thin mist, providing a refreshing coolness to He Yuefeng's slightly sweaty forehead from the hotpot steam.
"The barrel contains one liter of Blazing Cup. You can open the spout to pour it into the cup for drinking. If desired, you can add ice cubes to the drink, offering a different taste experience." After explaining how to drink it, Qin Yao turned and left to bring the various hotpot ingredients he had ordered.
He Yuefeng's attention shifted from the boiling pot to the drink.
The ingredients weren't ready yet, and the pot base couldn't be eaten directly, so the drink seemed more appealing.
He picked up the wide-mouthed cup, placed it under the barrel's spout, and opened the spout. The liquid flowed smoothly from the barrel, releasing a rich aroma that gradually entered He Yuefeng's nose.
It was a rich and mellow scent, with a hint of wildness, like an untamed horse running free, yet irresistibly enticing.
Could there really be such a wonderful aroma in this world?
He hadn't even tasted the drink, yet he already felt slightly intoxicated.
He eagerly brought the cup closer to his nose and mouth, deeply sipping the increasingly rich aroma.
"Cough, cough!"
Swallowing a mouthful, he couldn't help but cough, his face contorting in pain as if wearing a mask of agony.
He drank too quickly!
The drink, true to its name, felt like a flame flowing from his throat to his stomach, with a burning and numbing sensation in his mouth.
This drink...was incredibly strong!
He Yuefeng had drunk many kinds of alcohol, but none as potent as this Blazing Cup.
After a while, as the burning sensation faded, he began to appreciate the lingering rich flavor in his mouth.
It was like a fiery kiss from a passionate maiden, irresistibly wonderful.
Unable to resist, he took another sip, but this time, he didn't dare take such a big gulp.
Now prepared, he no longer made a fool of himself like the first time. The fiery burn appeared in his mouth but was within his tolerance.
As the burning sensation subsided, the intoxicating taste emerged again, and He Yuefeng closed his eyes in enjoyment.
This was unlike any drink he had ever had; it made everything he'd drunk before seem inferior.
Right, he could try adding ice cubes?
He Yuefeng's interest was immediately piqued. He picked up the ice tongs from the plate and placed three perfectly smooth ice cubes into his glass. With a slight shake, the ice cubes chilled the liquor rapidly, causing a thin mist to form on the glass.
He took an expectant sip, and surprise flickered across his face. Although the temperature of the drink had dropped, the fiery burn remained, now accompanied by a pronounced chill, creating a tingling sensation. The cold and the heat, two seemingly opposite sensations, blended harmoniously in this drink, providing a unique experience of hot and cold simultaneously.
Qin Yao was right; the Blazing Cup with ice offered a completely different taste.
He Yuefeng shook his head slightly. After a few sips, he felt pleasantly tipsy. This was remarkable considering his high alcohol tolerance. He glanced at the wooden barrel, which still held a liter of the potent drink.
A thought crept into his mind: after finishing this barrel, would he be able to walk out upright?
...
"Excellent wine! Hahaha, I knew that Boss Qi had some good stuff hidden away," Tang Qianqiu said, savoring a sip of the Blazing Cup with ice, a look of contentment on his face. "This entire barrel is mine. If you want some, order your own."
Seated before him were four branch masters of Tang Sect's Star Luo City branch. The former branch master, Liu Xu, had been reassigned to Luoyang City, and his position was now held by another powerful Spirit Doulou.
In the Tang Sect, Spirit Master with 8 Spirit Ring were typically the standard for branch masters, unlike the situation in Shrek City, where all of the Hall Master were Title Douluos, something that are a rarity in other branches.
The four branch masters didn't dare compete with the sect master for his wine. Watching Tang Qianqiu drink made them crave it too, so they quickly called Qin Yue over and each ordered a barrel of Blazing Cup.
Tang Qianqiu swirled the fiery liquid in his cup and then, after a brief pause, said, "You've all worked hard lately. I toast to you."
The four branch masters quickly responded with, "We don't deserve this," and took a sip after clinking glasses. They didn't dare drink it all at once; such a strong drink would be too much, and they feared making a fool of themselves in front of the sect master.
"Let every disciple of the Star Luo City branch come here for a meal in the next few days. Put it on my tab as a token of appreciation for their hard work," Tang Qianqiu said with a hearty laugh.
He had planned this earlier, and now, with all four branch masters present, he seized the opportunity to make the suggestion.
<+>
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