Li Dan quickly fixed his gaze on a man in the corner.
The man appeared to be in his thirties. His blond hair was disheveled, his eye sockets sunken, and heavy dark circles hung beneath his eyes. He looked haggard, as if he had not slept in days.
On the table before him sat a bottle of whiskey, an empty glass, and an unopened bag of original Lay's potato chips.
When Li Dan walked over, the man raised his head, surprise filling his eyes as he sized him up.
Ben Carson simply could not believe that this young man, who looked barely twenty and wore a plain white T-shirt and black jeans, was actually a veteran exorcist certified by the Horror Forum.
If the Horror Forum's certifications had not always been flawless—
its vetting process was notoriously strict throughout supernatural circles—he would have almost assumed he had run into a con artist.
"Hey, Li? Is that you?" Ben Carson asked hesitantly, his voice slightly hoarse.
"It's me." Li Dan sat across from him and looked at him calmly. Without any unnecessary pleasantries, he went straight to the point.
"Tell me everything about the Ghost Mirror."
Ben Carson had originally wanted to buy him a drink, both to ease his own nerves and to play the proper host. After all, the other man had come to help him solve his problem.
But seeing Li Dan's businesslike manner, he could only swallow the words that had reached his lips.
He picked up the whiskey, poured himself a full glass, and took a large gulp. The burning liquid slid down his throat, calming him slightly.
He set down the glass, his hands clenching unconsciously as an unmistakable flicker of fear crossed his eyes.
"It's at the mall where I work. Outside the fitting