Transmigrated to Raise Panther Cubs novel Chapter 261

Chapter 261 A Gift Carried from the Sea

+5 Pearls:

Jaden and Taylor refused to leave until Zachary finished the medicine. Only after confirming he had swallowed every drop did they run off to feed the chicks, ducklings, and little rabbits.

Zachary sat astride Matthew’s lap and rested his forehead against Matthew’s shoulder. His voice sounded hollow, as if half his soul had already left him. “Do I really have to finish the rest of it?”

“Be good.” Matthew did not give him a direct answer, yet the meaning was clear enough.

Zachary lifted his head with a small, irritated huff. The bitter taste still clung to his tongue and would not go away. After staring into Matthew’s eyes for a moment, he suddenly raised his chin and kissed him.

This was not a gentle kiss. Zachary kissed him with clear revenge in mind, pressing in with his lips and tongue as if he wanted to force every trace of that horrible medicine into Matthew’s mouth.

Matthew did not pull away.

He did not even frown.

Instead, he seemed to enjoy it. After thoroughly tasting Zachary’s mouth, he still looked unsatisfied. The tip of his tongue caught Zachary’s and drew him back for more.

Zachary glared at him, then dropped back onto Matthew’s shoulder in defeat.

He soon realized that this kind of revenge did not work

on unreliable, and instead of punishing him, the kiss had only

Matthew. His taste buds seemed completely pleased him.

They had been away for several days, and Zachary had not slept well during the trip.

After dinner, he made Matthew carry him up the mountain to soak in the hot spring for a while. When they returned, he wrapped himself in beast–hide bedding and fell asleep almost immediately.

He had no memory of when Matthew came to bed, when Matthew undressed him, or when Matthew kneaded the tiredness out of his body before pulling him into his arms.

Matthew had no plans to bother him that night. After blowing out the candle, he kissed Zachary’s forehead, held him properly, and closed his eyes.

Once the market area began running, the entire tribe became busier than ever.

Some therians continued their usual patrols. Others assisted in moving goods around the market area, while some went to the fields to clear weeds.

The sub–therians handled weaving, candle–making, pottery, and other work. More visiting tribes arrived every day, and the goods they had prepared were already running low.

Everyone was busy, yet their faces carried the same satisfied look. They were using their own hands and skills to trade for what their families and the tribe needed.

11:16 am PP.

Chapter 264 A Gift Carried from the Sea

+5 Pearts

The sub–therians no longer had to go out gathering as often, so their daily lives became much safer. The therians still had to hunt, but the pressure on the tribe was no longer as heavy as before.

That evening, Zachary lay in the hanging basket with his eyes half closed, lazily basking in the sunlight that filtered through the leaves.

Taylor and Jaden suddenly ran back to him with news. The group that had gone to the merfolk tribe to trade for salt had returned.

Zachary sat up at once. Without realizing it, he licked the corner of his mouth.

It had been far too long since he had eaten seafood, and the thought of what the trade team might have brought back made him visibly excited.

At the center of the tribe, heavy beast–hide sacks were piled across the ground. Every sack looked full and swollen.

Salt was there, of course. In addition, there were heaps of dried seafood: dried fish, shrimp, crabs, shellfish, and several kinds of dried sea greens. They had been packed so tightly that, the moment they were poured out, they seemed to expand into small hills.

There were also several sacks of fruit from the coast, including coconuts, pineapples, mangoes, and other sweet things that were difficult to find inland.

The merfolk tribe had clearly been generous.

Zachary was almost bouncing with happiness when a therian walked over with a large beast–hide sack in his arms.

The therian said, “Zachary, this one is for you.”

Zachary blinked. “Has everything already been divided?”

The therian shook his head. “A merman named Red asked me to give this to you.”

“Red?” Zachary remembered him at once. He took the sack and placed it on the ground.

Before he could untie it, Matthew’s tall figure appeared behind him. The moment Mathew looked at the sack, his gaze sharpened.

The therian had delivered the sack carefully and even repeated Red’s message. “That merman wanted me to tell you this is only for you. He hopes you will like it.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Zachary crouched beside the sack.

A shadow fell over him.

He lifted his head and met Matthew’s dark, heavy gaze.

Zachary did not rush to open the sack. Instead, he smiled up at Matthew.

Matthew frowned slightly. “What?”

11:16 am

pp

Chapter 264 Gitt Carried from the Sea

+5 Pearls

Zachary looked up at him and softened his voice. “Do you want me to accept it? If you do not want me to take it, then I will leave it.”

That gentle certainty sank straight into Matthew’s chest. Under the sunlight, Zachary’s face looked warm and bright, and Matthew’s heartbeat stumbled for a moment.

Zachary was asking him, listening to what he believed, and giving him the choice.

Once Matthew understood that, the displeasure his chest faded almost immediately.

He nodded. “Open it. Let us see what he sent.”

Zachary untied the cord around the sack and took the contents out one by one.

The first thing was a small pouch of glossy pink pearls. Their color was soft and warm, and each pearl was smooth and delicate. Even Zachary could tell they were valuable.

Next came a handful of gemstones in different colors. They were clear and bright, flashing sharply under the sunlight.

There were also two small turtle–shell pots, just right for simmering soup.

Yet the item that caught Zachary’s attention most was a thick stack of fabric–like material at the bottom of the sack.

It was exceptionally lightweight. When he lifted it, it felt breathable and smooth, with a slight coolness against his fingers. The texture was soft and fine, similar to cotton gauze, but not see–through.

The moment Zachary touched it, his eyes lit up. He thought, This would feel incredible as clothing.

Matthew noticed Zachary’s excitement and looked at the fabric in his hands. For a brief second, the corners of his mouth lowered.

Then his mood eased almost at once as he remembered Zachary had once mentioned wanting to use this material for a new set of clothes.

During the hot season, the therians visited the merfolk tribe to trade for salt and observed the merfolk wearing clothes made of it.

Believed to originate from the deep sea, it was lightweight, soft, and very comfortable.

However, it was so rare that the merfolk tribe rarely traded it.

r

478

(11)

11:16 am