Little White Dragon reached out again and pressed his hand onto Red Boy's head.
With Little White Dragon holding his head down, Red Boy wiped away his tears and struggled desperately, still cursing in defiance:
"You stinking loach! Let go of me! What do you mean?!"
Little White Dragon did not withdraw his hand.
He kept it firmly on Red Boy's head, gazing into those startled, defensive eyes as he asked softly:
"Do you need to be needed?"
The question was like a heavy stone suddenly crashing into Red Boy's heart.
His struggles stopped short.
His mouth hung open, but for a long while, no words came. His eyes only grew redder. Stiffening his neck, he held out stubbornly, his mouth as unyielding as a dead duck's beak:
"I-I don't! I'm the Holy Infant Great King! I have Samadhi True Fire! Everyone has to listen to me, everyone has to fear me! Why would I need anyone to need me?!"
Little White Dragon looked at him, the corners of his mouth lifting into the faintest, gentlest smile.
"At first, I thought I could stay because they needed me."
"Master is mortal flesh and blood. He needs protection, and someone to run errands and handle worldly affairs for him."
"My eldest senior brother has vast divine powers, but he still needs someone to hold him back when he acts rashly, even if all that person does is stand beside him and offer a reminder."
"My second senior brother is mischievous. He needs someone to trade barbs with, or all those complaints bottled up inside him would leave him miserable."
"My Junior Brother Sha is honest and taciturn, slow on the uptake. He needs someone to organize his notes and give him extra lessons on the sutras."
"And A-Hu needs me to