The moment the ladle left Wine Spring, the liquid transformed from white to blazing red, the heat rushing up the handle into Li Qiu's palm. Unprepared, Li Qiu felt as though his arm had been plunged into a boiling wok of oil, and even caught the scent of burning flesh from his hand, forcing him to drop the ladle.
The ladle clattered to the ground, and the Wine Spring liquor inside splashed and scattered into the lava lake below, sending up flames several zhang high that illuminated Li Qiu's slightly distressed face.
Suddenly, Li Qiu thought of the jade pendant. The cooling aura radiating from the jade steadied his somewhat agitated heart. Figuring that the chill from the pendant might neutralize the oppressive heat, he placed the jade in his palm, picked up the ladle again, and scooped out the liquor. Yet the moment the ladle cleared the pool, the blistering heat returned with a vengeance. Left with no choice, Li Qiu had to drop the ladle once more.
Chapter 62