With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

At noon the next day, Aunt May went to volunteer at the community center, leaving only Peter and Uncle Ben at home.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Peter," Ben's voice came through the door, "I think we should talk."

Peter was testing his Web Shooters in his room. Hearing Ben's voice, he quickly hid his equipment and opened the door.

Ben held two cups of hot cocoa and handed one to Peter. "Want to talk on the balcony?"

The two sat on the small second-floor balcony, with New York's skyline in the distance. Ben did not speak right away. Instead, he slowly sipped his hot cocoa, as though he were simply enjoying an ordinary weekend afternoon.

Ben looked much calmer than he had the previous night, though his gaze remained serious. After a moment of silence, he set down his cup and slowly asked, "What's with that thing on your wrist, and the way you move now?"

Peter knew he could not hide it anymore, so he honestly explained how he had been bitten by a spider and had gradually gained superpowers. Uncle Ben had long known about his martial arts training with Lin Hai, so Peter did not specifically mention it this time.

After listening, Ben frowned deeply. He had not expected Richard to be involved in any of this.

"So you can climb walls now, you're more than ten times stronger than ordinary people, and you can shoot webs from your wrists?"

"Uh, technically, it's synthetic webbing. I designed the shooters myself." Peter explained instinctively, then realized that was not the point.

Ben looked deeply into his eyes. "Peter, do you know why I rushed in last night?"

Peter shook his head.

"Because I was capable of doing it." Ben's voice was quiet.

"The elderly woman from last night was Mrs. Wilson, an old woman who lives alone in the neighborhood next to ours. If I hadn't helped her, her life would have been very difficult for a long time afterward," Ben said. "That's why she came by to thank me this morning."

Peter tightened his grip on his cup. "Was she okay?"

"She was frightened, but she's fine. Thanks to you." Uncle Ben looked at Peter.

Peter did not know what to say, so he could only remain silent.

"Peter." Uncle Ben's voice suddenly turned solemn. "I don't know how you did it, or what happened to you, but there is one thing you must understand."

He looked directly into Peter's eyes. "With great power comes great responsibility."

Peter froze. "What does that mean?"

"When you have abilities that others don't..." Uncle Ben explained slowly, "when you can clearly stop something bad from happening but choose to turn a blind eye, then you bear responsibility for the consequences too."

Peter frowned. "So I should stop every bad thing I can stop?"

"That's not what I mean." Uncle Ben shook his head. "I mean that when you face a choice, remember what your abilities mean."

Peter lowered his head and stared at the hot cocoa in his cup, his thoughts in turmoil. Uncle Ben's words struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

With great power comes great responsibility.

It sounded noble, but what exactly was he supposed to do? Patrol New York every night and catch every thief?

What about my life? My friends? My studies? Aunt May and Uncle Ben?

Though he did not fully understand, Peter knew what he should say at a time like this. "I understand, Uncle Ben. I'll use these abilities to do good."

Uncle Ben patted his shoulder and said no more. But Peter could sense that beneath the old man's relief was deep concern.

That afternoon, Peter went to the Chen-Style Chinese Medicine Clinic. Lin Hai was drying herbs in the backyard. When he saw Peter, he glanced at him before returning to his work. "Your face says, 'I have a question.'"

Peter collapsed into a wicker chair nearby. "Uncle Ben knows."

Lin Hai's hand paused. "He knows you're Spider-Man?"

"More or less." Peter scratched his hair. "There was a robbery last night. I saved him with my webbing, and today he talked to me about 'with great power comes great responsibility.' But I'm not sure whether I understand it correctly."

Lin Hai set down the basket of herbs and sat across from him. "What did he say?"

Peter repeated Ben's words.

"But how great is this 'responsibility,' exactly?" Peter looked up. "If I have to deal with a robbery when I see one, what about a thief? Someone running a red light? Bullying at school? If I'm responsible for stopping every bad thing in the world, then wouldn't I..."

"Wouldn't you work yourself to death?" Lin Hai finished for him.

Peter was stunned. "You don't agree with Uncle Ben?"

Lin Hai sat down and poured himself a cup of tea. "I agree, and I don't."

He took a sip, fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Who do you think is more responsible to society: Gwen's father or Harry's father?"

Peter blinked. "What?"

"Every crime in New York concerns the police. They need to investigate every case, so they fight all evil with ordinary human bodies," Lin Hai said. "Norman Osborn, on the other hand, prefers to use technology to improve the world while enjoying his life."

Peter thought about it. "They're both responsible, but in different ways?"

"Exactly." Lin Hai nodded. "Uncle Ben isn't wrong, but many people—especially young people like you—easily interpret it as, 'I must be responsible for every bad thing.' The result is that they wear down their bodies and ruin their lives."

He picked up a stalk of herb and gently snapped it in two. "Peter, your abilities are indeed considerable, but what is your identity? A high school student, a student who is not yet financially independent. In society's structure, students are themselves a group that needs protection, not the main force protecting others."

Peter blinked. "So I shouldn't use my abilities to help people?"

"No. I'm saying the scope of your help should match your identity and abilities." Lin Hai emphasized, "It's good that you can stop a robbery happening right in front of you. But can you solve world hunger? Can you stop financial fraud on Wall Street? Obviously not."

He looked Peter straight in the eye. "Responsibility is not limitless. It should match your abilities, position, and resources."

Peter looked thoughtful. "Um... so what should I do?"

"It's simple." Lin Hai raised three fingers. "First, when something bad happens in front of you, stop it if you can. Second, don't actively go looking for responsibility. You're not a savior. Third, if you're not sure whether you should intervene, ask me, Gwen, or Harry. We'll all help you."

He smiled. "Remember, Peter, helping others is a good thing, but don't let it destroy your own life."

After listening to Lin Hai, Peter felt completely enlightened. Uncle Ben's words made sense, but Peter had been unable to fully understand them.

What Lin Hai said, however, was an answer offered from the perspective of someone like him, making its meaning much easier for Peter to grasp.

With the burden on his mind resolved, Peter pestered Lin Hai into teaching him several new martial arts moves. When night fell, Peter's steps on the way home were far lighter and more cheerful than when he had arrived.

Lin Hai's interpretation gave him a clearer framework. He was not a martyr who had to bear responsibility for the entire world, but an ordinary student with the ability to help those around him.

That night, New York's skyline glittered with lights.

In the clinic's backyard, Lin Hai slowly practiced Tai Chi, as if meditating, as if thinking. Life Force flowed slowly through his body, giving off a faint jade-green glow.

At the Stacy home, the light in Gwen's bedroom window was on. She was bent over her desk studying Peter's web sample, while encrypted files on biological enhancement were open on her computer screen.

At the Osborn home, an unfinished set of green armor sat quietly on a display rack in Harry's living room, with Norman Osborn's research notes posted beside it.

And in Professor Connors's laboratory, a syringe was already prepared...