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 the 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 rush to speak. Instead, he slowly sipped his hot cocoa, as though he were simply enjoying an ordinary weekend afternoon.

Ben's expression was much calmer than it had been the night before, but 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 can move now?"

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

After hearing him out, Ben frowned deeply. He had not expected Richard to be connected to this.

"So now you can climb walls, you're more than ten times stronger than an ordinary person, and you can shoot spider silk from your wrists?"

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

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

Peter shook his head.

"Because I had the ability to do it." Ben's voice was quiet.

"That old lady last night was Mrs. Wilson. She lives alone in the neighborhood next to ours. If I hadn't helped her, things would have been very difficult for her for a long time afterward," Uncle Ben said. "That's why she came 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 serious. "I don't know how you did this, or what happened to you, but there's one thing you must understand."

He looked Peter straight in the eyes. "With great power comes great responsibility."

Peter froze. "What does that mean?"

"When you have abilities that others don't..." Uncle Ben slowly explained, "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'm capable of stopping?"

"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 Peter's heart like a heavy hammer.

With great power comes great responsibility.

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

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

Though he could not fully understand it, Peter knew what he should say at that moment. "I understand, Uncle Ben. I'll use these abilities to do good."

Uncle Ben patted his shoulder and said nothing 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 back courtyard. When he saw Peter arrive, he gave him one glance before returning to his work. "Your face says, 'I have a question.'"

Peter slumped directly into a rattan chair nearby. "Uncle Ben knows."

Lin Hai's hands 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. Today, he talked to me about 'with great power comes great responsibility,' but I'm not sure 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 see a robbery, I should intervene. What about a thief? Someone running a red light? School bullying? 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 stared at him. "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 of tea, fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Who do you think is more responsible toward 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 also enjoying life."

Peter thought for a moment. "They're both responsible, but in different ways?"

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

He picked up a herb stem and gently snapped it in two. "Peter, your abilities are indeed considerable, but what is your identity? You're a high school student, a student who is not yet financially independent. Within society's structure, students are 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, "You can stop a robbery happening right in front of you, and that's good. But can you solve world hunger? Can you stop Wall Street financial fraud? Obviously not."

He looked directly at Peter. "Responsibility is not infinite. It should match your ability, position, and resources."

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

"It's simple." Lin Hai held up three fingers. "First, when you encounter something bad happening right 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 unsure 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 as though a fog had lifted from his mind. Uncle Ben's words made sense, but Peter had been unable to fully understand them.

What Lin Hai had explained, however, was an answer from the perspective of someone like him, making it much easier for Peter to understand what it meant.

With that burden off his mind, 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 required to take responsibility for the entire world, merely an ordinary student with the ability to help those around him.

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

In the clinic's back courtyard, Lin Hai slowly practiced Tai Chi, as though meditating, as though thinking. Life Force flowed slowly through him, radiating a faint jade-green glow.

At the Stacy family home, light shone from Gwen's bedroom window. She was bent over her desk studying a sample of Peter's webbing, while encrypted files on biological enhancement were open on her computer screen.

At the Osborn family home, an unfinished set of green armor stood silently 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...