Superman Termination Manual

"Just like someone once said, 'Great people are always hermaphroditic.'" The strange creature spoke, "Some people inherently possess many seemingly contradictory but cleverly coexisting traits, housing many different souls within them: sometimes it is a stern drill sergeant, sometimes just a child craving for affection." It paused for a moment: "And you, sometimes you're a stoic vigilante with a mask, never uttering an extra word in front of the camera, and sometimes you do some outrageous things." "Outrageous? Like what?" "Like always having secret meetings with a super villain on the overpass," the strange creature said without hesitation. "Let's not talk about whether you are a super villain or not, it's always been you seeking me out, I have never initiated a meeting with you, how can there be such a thing as a secret meeting?" "Neither accepting nor rejecting, isn't that ambiguity?" Bai Qiuwu gave it a glance and propped her chin with her hand, seriously pondering for a while: "Let me think, I should be a poor little girl being lured by the super villain Dice Monster." "So you admit, in front of me, you're just a little girl?" Bai Qiuwu spoke indifferently: "At least not when I'm wearing the mask." "That's enough for me." Bai Qiuwu brushed her hair beside her ear, fell silent for a while, hugged her legs, and spoke in a low voice: "So, we're so familiar with each other now, do you really not plan to reveal your true identity to me?" "I get it, you're pretending to be close to me but actually want to steal my true identity." The strange creature shrugged, "You're really shrewd, Miss Sun Wukong, but unfortunately, I'm not dull enough to just give in. Give up, you won't be able to make me surrender to you." "I don't really want to know your identity that much." "Why?" "Not knowing what you look like beneath the mask prevents disappointment and getting hurt," Bai Qiuwu said, "You're good as you are right now, a symbolic comic character, like someone from a dream, so I can let go of my worries and speak honestly when I'm with you." She paused for a moment, "But... if I were to treat you as a real person, I'd only feel intimidated and even a bit of dislike towards you." "So, you don't really want to know who I am?" The strange creature turned its head, looking pitifully at her with a tone like a drenched puppy. It felt conflicted, on one hand, it couldn't let Bai Qiuwu find out its identity, on the other, it didn't want her to not care about its identity, which would be humiliating for it as a mysterious villain. "It's contradictory, wanting... yet not wanting." As she spoke, Bai Qiuwu suddenly looked over with sharp eyes, and out of the blue extended her right arm, her fingers encased in a metal glove caressing the strange creature's enigmatic face. As if sensing its presence. The strange creature let her touch its face, "Maybe one day in the future, I'll tell you who I am." "Really?" "Of course. Rather, when that day comes, there'll be no point in hiding it from you anymore." "Then remember to tell me before I go crazy," Bai Qiuwu joked, "Otherwise... the monkey inside me might start wreaking havoc in heaven, and by that time, I won't have the chance to know who is beneath your mask." "Alright." At those words, Bai Qiuwu bowed her head and fell silent for a moment, suddenly put on the mask, and clenched Jingu Bang in her right hand. She swung it in a circular motion in mid-air, producing a whistling sound, then rested it against the strange creature's neck. "Promise me," she said. Her tone sounded joking, yet seemed serious. The strange creature raised its arms in surrender. "I promise you: I assure you that our Miss Sun Wukong won't die alone, unbeknownst to her identity. How pitiful would that be, right?" Bai Qiuwu seemed satisfied, the corner of her mouth lightly lifted, and she lowered Jingu Bang, saying, "Actually, I want to thank you. I wouldn't want to see my brother get hurt either, especially not on such an important day. If he came back injured to celebrate my sister's birthday, not to mention her, even I would be unhappy." "Then I guess I've accomplished two things at once?" "You really are sentimental, I hope you don't talk to my sister in the same manner." "No, no, no, you should know about Miss Ash's violent temper. Every time she sees me, she already has her gun pointed at my head without saying a word," the strange creature paused, "I mean, I'm only gentle with you... after all, in a real sense, you are my only friend." Bai Qiuwu was stunned for a moment. "I'd sooner believe you're Emperor Qin Shi Huang." Saying these internet catchphrases was rare for her, though slightly outdated. "Of course, believe me. If not, take a look at your phone," the strange creature spread its hands. Bai Qiuwu took out her phone from the pocket of her long coat upon hearing this and glanced at the message content, letting out an irritated chuckle. [Mr. Strange Creature: I am Emperor Qin Shi Huang, V me 50 to help unify the world.] "Alright, let's end the joking here; we have serious matters to attend to now," said the strange creature. "Serious matters?" "Correct, since you are here, I can't let you go empty-handed. That's the principle of our trade." The strange creature paused, then asked with a secretive tone, "Do you know about the Witch Church?" "I've heard of it." "They are planning to make a move on your sister?" "Like what happened to Xiao Ling and Yongzhu?" "No, this time it's different. The Witch Church's goal is to turn your sister into a witch, to make her one of their own, not to kill her." "So, at least my sister is safe?"