He pressed another button on the dashboard, and a compartment opened in the middle console. Inside was a matte black handgun.
Tang Lin's eyes widened. "You're armed?" the words stored from her throat like a cry of alarm.
Hsu Jin did not answer.
His silence and the look in his eyes she caught in the mirror was as if saying:
"is that even a question?"
The whole time his eyes did not leave the road.
The SUV rammed into their car again, more aggressive this time. The impact was so strong it sent their car skidding sideways.
Hsu Jin fought with the wheel, barely maintaining control.
Tang Lin was gripped with the realization that if the was not not sturdy enough from the modification, they would have been crushed to paste already.
"We can't outrun them," Hsu Jin said through gritted teeth.
This was his first admission of how dire the situation they found themselves was.
He was reaching towards the middle compartment for the gun when Tang Lin saw movement in the side mirror.
Three motorcycles were approaching at top speed, navigating the sparse traffic toward them.
Each rider wore all black, with helmets that completely covered their faces.
"There's more of them coming," she breathed.
But to her surprise, Hsu Jin's shoulders relaxed considerably. "No. Ours."
The motorcycles surrounded the SUV, two on either side and one behind, successfully cutting them off from following Hsu Jin's car.
Tang Lin saw a few coordinated movements from the riders, and then the SUV was falling back, smoke pouring from under the hood.
Hsu Jin's phone rang, and he answered it immediately.
"Young Master," he said, his voice returning to its usual measured tone.
Tang Lin could hear the cold, commanding voice on the other end, though she couldn't make out what words were being spoken.
"Yes. Miss Tang is unharmed," Hsu Jin continued, glancing at her. Then his expression darkened a few shades. "No, sir. They came prepared."
Another pause ensued as he listened.
"I understand. We'll proceed to the backup location immediately."
As soon as the call ended he made a U-turn at the next intersection.
"Change of plans," he told Tang Lin. "We are heading to Young Master Zhao's Manor."
Tang Lin stared at him, the adrenaline still rushing through her system. "Who would do this? Why?"
Hsu Jin's eyes met hers in the mirror.
"The jade," he said simply. "It could be anyone. It's not hard to guess the value of the jade considering how hard it is to come by. They're going all out for it."
Tang Lin felt a chill run down her spine that had nothing to do with the wind now blowing through the shattered rear window.
The jade remembers, Master Wen had said.
But what exactly did it remember? And who else wanted that knowledge badly enough to stage an armed attack in the middle of T City?
Before she could voice any of these questions, a thunderous explosion rocked the street they had just driven past.
Tang Lin whipped around to see a ball of flame rising from where the SUV should have been.
"You're not leaving them alive for questioning?" Tang Lin asked as she kept looking back.
Hsu Jin glanced at her face via the mirror. "We would want to. Unfortunately, whoever sent them is not leaving behind any traces.
His voice was grim, then he began driving faster away from the scene.
As they turned onto a quiet, tree-lined street, the car's engine sputtered and died.
The dashboard lights flashed once, then went dark. Hsu Jin carefully rolled to a stop in the middle of the empty street.
"That's not good," Hsu Jin muttered, trying the ignition again.
Nothing.
Tang Lin looked out the window.
The street was deserted, the surrounding buildings eerily quiet and shuttered.
There were no pedestrians. No traffic. Even the air seemed unnaturally still.
A movement caught her eye, a shadow shifting at the end of the street. Then there was another, on the opposite side.
"Hsu Jin," she said quietly, fear constricting her throat. "I think we're surrounded."