Zhǔ leaned against a mortar wall of a tavern, viewing the execution before him. It was a despicable act, one that Zhǔ could not conceptualize. He had lived his life secluded, but he was instilled with firm moral ideals regardless. A monastery, no matter how unconventional, was venerable ground, and though Zhǔ was incompatible with its approach to spirituality he imbibed the wonders of human excellence in both mind and body. Of course, the concept of an execution repulsed Zhǔ. It was human cruelty at its apex, the subjection of the fate of a lesser being into oblivion by that occupying a higher space. In this case, such social stratification was all the more exacerbated from the noble's presence. Zhǔ did not understand the concept of nobles and had affronted one with casual hostility in his first travel to Vecafan, and was rewarded with a grand chase from several guards. Such power structure was entirely foreign to Zhǔ. He could not understand what the noble possessed that granted him such significance over the commonwealth. Yet unraveling such mysteries that would have been mundane constants to most of the people in this crowd was one of the main goals of Zhǔ's travels.

In any case, Zhǔ observed the execution with a disapproving glint to his blood red eyes. He was garbed in hooded clothing to conceal his appearance. He was wanted in Vecafan for his little outburst, and quite an exorbitant bounty was placed on his head. Zhǔ no doubt understood that revealing himself now would cause many swords to be drawn from eager or desperate men to satiate their avarice or sustain their families. The odds were stacked against Zhǔ acting against authority here, as much as he despised such a situation. With wrathful poise contained by rationality and yet poised with curiosity, Zhǔ  simply watched as a spectator from a side angle. However, his role as an observer would dissipate upon one bold action. A shot was fired, and the executioner's axe rattled from the force of the bullet which sent waves of force down to the executioner's wrist, causing his grip to release. 

There was no mistake. This was a perfect opportunity to both save the condemned and slight further the oppressive nobles. It was as if time slowed down as Zhǔ witnessed the scene. The guards holding the chains swiveled their heads towards the executioner, while the condemned was in the process of bowing down to receive the axe blow. The chains holding his limbs together went taught as they stretched from where the guards gripped them. Zhǔ assessed the risks of his next course of action. Surely his attack would  free the prisoner in an instant, but if nobody acted against the guards the act was pointless. However, obviously one had already incited an attack. They were likely hoping for the same commotion that Zhǔ desired, and what reason was there not to indulge them?

With a coy smile, Zhǔ focused his gaze on the chains. He breathed in deeply. Streaks of energy bean coursing through his body as the braeth brought in and fueled his magical energy. A malevolent aura of wounded red began chaotically coursing around him, sending wind and debris floating in a lazy orbit around him. Several onlookers began to look at awe at Zhǔ, but the guards were too occupied with the executioner to notice. Crackles of crimson energy began circling around his head, streaking and screaming like wild electricity before condensing into two one inch circles of bright red at the centers of Zhǔ's eyes. Air around Zhǔ's head began circling around before funneling into these two spheres of crimson, and moisture condensed and formed a solid layer of rapidly rotating water on top of the circles of life energy. 

Zhǔ breathed out, and in synchronization the two circles of energy exploded into two ultra thin beams of crimson red energy. A massive outpouring of life force wreathed out from all around Zhǔ's eyes before funneling into the beam to fuel its trajectory. Almost as fast as bullets, the two beams streaked through the chains in mere instants. Zhǔ directed his eyes slightly upward, causing the two knives of energy to slice through the chains. As abruptly as it had began, the attack stopped. The entire process had lasted but five seconds, and had left Zhǔ breathing deeply in exhaustion in order to recharge his strength. Blood began trickling from Zhǔ's eyes in two thin streams, pattering softly on the stone ground beneath him. Zhǔ could not see, and would not be able to now for a minute but he hoped such a risk was well worth the reward.