Chapter 32 - The Market Under Pike Place
At 12:01 a.m., a fish stall elevator descended three floors farther than the building plans allowed.
The doors opened onto another world.
The Moonlight Market filled old brick tunnels beneath downtown. Neon signs floated without wires. Steam rose from carts selling spirit dumplings, phoenix-pepper tacos, medicinal pho, and one suspicious booth labeled DEFINITELY LEGAL MUSHROOMS.
Eli's Appraisal went insane.
[Cloud vinegar — Grade II]
[Spirit crab — angry]
[Knife manual — counterfeit]
[Vendor smile — also counterfeit]
"I love this place," Tasha whispered.
"We're here to train."
"I can train and buy illegal butter."
Madam Sato led them to the Trial Hall.
A registrar in a tuxedo examined Eli's sponsor token.
"Victor Vale?"
"Against my wishes."
"Most sponsorships are."
The Trial consisted of six gates.
Flame.
Knife.
Taste.
Intent.
Covenant.
Table.
Passing all six in one market night allowed a direct Hearth Core condensation attempt.
Failing any gate locked Eli out for a year.
"No pressure," Reggie said.
The first gate was Flame.
Contestants had to cook three eggs simultaneously: one over open flame, one over spirit flame, and one using no visible heat.
Eli used Hearth Flame on the second.
For the third he wrapped the egg in hot salt and let residual heat do the work.
The judge cut all three yolks.
Perfect.
[Flame Gate passed.]
The Knife Gate required cutting a single daikon into one continuous ribbon thinner than paper.
Eli's Knife Intent guided his hands.
Halfway through, a contestant beside him bumped the table intentionally.
The ribbon tore.
The judge frowned.
Victor's trap?
Eli looked at the broken ribbon.
Then cut the remaining daikon into tiny cubes.
"Failed," the saboteur whispered.
Eli tossed the cubes into a pan, added broth, and served the judge a quick radish soup.
The judge raised an eyebrow.
"The instruction was one continuous ribbon."
"And the purpose of a knife?"
"Cutting."
"Purpose of cutting?"
The judge tasted the soup.
"Preparing food."
Eli shrugged.
"Then I used the knife."
The hall murmured.
After a long pause:
[Knife Gate passed by Dao interpretation.]
The saboteur looked furious.
Tasha shouted from the audience, "COPE!"
Madam Sato pretended not to know her.
Eli passed Taste by identifying twenty ingredients blindfolded, including one fake truffle oil the system described as "petroleum with ambition."
Then came Intent.
The judge placed an empty bowl before him.
"Serve your strongest intention."
No ingredients.
No fire.
Just an empty bowl.
Eli closed his eyes.
He thought of the entire journey.
His strongest intention was not saving the city.
Not defeating Victor.
Not even rescuing Jian.
It was simpler.
No one hungry eats alone.
Warmth filled the bowl.
The judge's eyes widened.
[Intent Gate passed.]
[Dao Statement recognized.]
Then the hall floor cracked.
Black smoke seeped through.
The Moonlight Market's protective array screamed.
Ren appeared at the far entrance.
"Nephew," he called. "The Ash Pavilion is not attacking you."
Eli tightened his grip on his knife.
Ren pointed downward.
"Something under the Market is waking up."
The Maw's voice whispered inside Eli.
NOT ME.
That was worse.
There was another Hollow beneath Seattle.
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