Chapter 150: Always thought mosquitoes were pure pests, didn’t expect to have cursed them too early!

Chapter 150: I always thought mosquitoes were nothing but pests—turns out I judged them too soon!

Sheng Qingquan was already good-looking, and after drinking the genetic serum, the flaws on his appearance disappeared during evolution. His features became even more striking, and later, he received an additional enhancement to his appearance.

Previously, Sheng Qingquan had resented this ability, thinking it was useless, and even worried that being too handsome might attract unnecessary trouble in the future.

Unexpectedly, trouble never came—instead, he had to actively seek it out.

Truly, there are no useless abilities, only people who don’t know how to use them.

Now was the time to put this face to use!

After becoming even more attractive, Sheng Qingquan rarely showed his real self in crowded places—not just to avoid trouble. Mainly, jostling through crowds held little appeal. Compared to watching people, he preferred diving into the underwater world to enjoy seafood or browsing the web in style.

Moreover, considering Sheng Qingquan’s feelings, the authorities had discreetly helped keep attention at bay. Even if passersby took photos of him, they never gained traction—everything was kept under wraps.

"Though I don’t know how they screen for suitable targets—whether by random encounters on the streets or trawling through online photos."

"But first, I’ll go out and take a look."

"If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to ask the authorities to leak my photos online. Once the buzz grows, even if those heartless traffickers don’t notice immediately, as long as they’re closely monitoring Tianlanxing, it won’t take long for them to spot me."

Sheng Qingquan had everything planned out. Hearing his thoughts, the PR team was also prepared.

The moment Sheng Qingquan decided to release his photos online, they could immediately respond, ensuring his face went viral across the internet in the fastest and most natural way possible.

But things went even more smoothly than expected.

Sheng Qingquan had originally intended to leave himself some room to retreat—at least wandering outside for half a day before resorting to more drastic measures if the bait didn’t work.

Yet it didn’t even take that long.

"Damn, they’re watching like hawks!"

"Less than half an hour, and they’ve already found me?!"

Though the goal was achieved effortlessly—without needing to post photos online—Sheng Qingquan felt somewhat relieved but even more furious.

He sensed something penetrating the protective suit’s defenses, adhering to his skin. It was obvious that once it stuck, it would seep inside.

Nothing on Tianlanxing could bypass the protective suit’s alarms while penetrating it. Clearly, this was most likely the work of those repeat offenders and their drugs.

"Of course, these guys are seasoned criminals."

"The protective suit’s technology isn’t particularly advanced—some civilizations not yet integrated into the interstellar community could produce it. Naturally, the slave traders would have prepared counter-drugs."

"Can’t let them succeed."

"According to later events, their ships carry antidotes. After all, while most buyers prefer modified slaves, some customers are more particular and prefer them in their original form. Wouldn’t they lose those customers otherwise?"

"These so-called ‘entrepreneurs’ wouldn’t allow that to happen."

"To satisfy their clients, they’d often use the antidote to restore their ‘inventory’ to its original state."

Knowing this, Sheng Qingquan had no qualms about taking direct action.

As for whether taking out the slavers would cause trouble—

That wasn’t even a worry.

It's quite normal for those human traffickers to meet unexpected deaths while engaging in such underhanded business.

People in the black market are used to it by now.

If these slavers don’t show up for a while, it usually means they either ran into the regular army and got arrested, or they messed up a snatch job and were killed by the locals.

Otherwise, they might have made enough money to retire, lying low under a fake name.

*No one* bothers digging deeper.

Mainly because if it turns out to be the last scenario, airing their dirty laundry after they’ve become respectable businessmen won’t earn gratitude—only enemies. To avoid that possibility, no one wastes their time on it.

Why waste the effort when you could just focus on earning more credits instead?

“There’s an antidote, so letting them succeed wasn’t a total loss. But if they do, those traffickers probably won’t show themselves until after I’ve shrunk down.”

“Only if I remain completely unaffected by the drug, showing no changes, will those guys get impatient.”

Sheng Qingquan was counting on them coveting his looks—either forcing them to reveal themselves out of desperation or at least doubling down on their tricks nearby.

The more attempts they make, the easier it’ll be to catch them.

Oh joy, exposing their dark past might actually work in our favor in some ways.

Originally, Sheng Qingquan had considered ways to protect himself, like wearing a mech suit in transparent mode. That way, sitting inside the mech would be like sitting in a glass box, still visible to outsiders.

This transparent mode was actually designed for teaching purposes, usually used by instructors in academies to walk students through the steps.

Sheng Qingquan had never used it before, but this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

However, he figured the mech’s signature might get picked up, and moving naturally a pain due to the limited space inside. Eventually, he abandoned the idea.

The mech wasn’t suitable, and while the authorities had provided stopgap protections, those items were quickly dismissed.

Some staff who had already begun shrinking tested them, only to find they kept shrinking anyway.

So, despite their determination to stop the traffickers, everyone was mentally prepared for Sheng Qingquan to be affected.

If he were, the traffickers, thrilled with their fresh catch, might get sloppy with cover—admiring him up close or slipping up entirely.

That would be their chance!

"Not to sound defeatist, but being affected by the drug might actually work in our favor in some ways."

"The plan can still proceed."

"When you get your hands on a valuable antique vase, wouldn’t you want to give it a good once-over before selling it?"

Exactly!

Some staff with collecting hobbies nodded in agreement. Even before handing a straight stick to their mothers or wives for clothes-hanging, they’d fiddle with it forever.

With that perspective, the plan held water.

The team had cracked the code: those who could tune into Sheng’s head were not only limited by distance but also by attitude—they couldn’t have a grudge.

So, no one feared the traffickers catching wind of anything from Sheng Qingquan’s inner monologue if they showed up.

Those bastards are straight-up evil toward all of humanity!

Not to mention, even if they weren’t evil, the second they laid eyes on Sheng Qingquan, they’d still scheme something shady.

Zero chance of leaks!

The undercover staff blended in nearby, working while low-key scoping out the area.

But they were totally wasted.

Those creeps were way bolder and more reckless than anyone expected.

Though these heartless traffickers were also used to hiding themselves, they had no problem showing their faces when needed.

When they realized that no matter how much they sprayed Sheng Qingquan with the drug, it wasn’t being absorbed—almost as if it was being blocked outside his body—they lost patience fast.

Just as Sheng Qingquan and the others had predicted, they couldn’t bear to let such prime merchandise slip away.

Sheng Qingquan soon discovered that he didn’t need to worry about being affected by the drug at all. No extra gear or mech armor needed.

After breaking through the protective clothing, the drugs just sat on his skin, useless.

Sheng Qingquan did feel discomfort, but it wasn’t because the drug was altering him.

It was because his skin had gotten dirty.

You know that feeling when you’re fresh out the shower, hair washed, new clothes on, walking down the street clean as a whistle—only for a gust of wind to kick up dust and blow it straight at you?

That feeling of suddenly feeling filthy, dying to go home and shower all over again.

It hit Sheng Qingquan:

"Now that I think about it, whether it was everyone getting fat, freezing, or being transformed into marine creatures—none of that ever touched me, huh?"

"Is it because of the genetic serum? After evolving, I’m immune? Or is it because of the *golden finger*, protecting me as its host?"

"Win either way."

"I won’t have to worry about similar situations in the future."

Sheng Qingquan dusted off the invisible gunk on his body and continued walking forward, completely unaffected.

Then those scumbags came busting out.

Just like in those documentaries, when drugging someone unconscious fails, they’ll shove the drugs down your throat or just grab you—exactly the same.

As Sheng Qingquan and the others had expected, after finally discovering such prime merchandise, these scumbags were shook.

How’d they overlook this jackpot before?

Their earlier picks—

Not like they were ugly. They were, each a looker in their own right.

This one all-American hot, that one pretty-boy refined, this one bright and charming, that one fragile and exquisite…

Looks aside, their temperaments varied too.

Fresh and gentle, dignified and sweet, book-smart and bad-boy…

Some individuals even possessed strikingly contrasting appearances and temperaments, yet this contradiction didn’t diminish their value—instead, it made them even more captivating.

But no matter how attractive they were, none could compare to the one before them now.

If the previous captives had merely made them eager to sell for vast sums of money, this one—at first glance—stirred an urge to keep him for themselves.

Were it not for their strong business sense and the promise of a secure future, which together just barely held them back, they might not have found the resolve to part with him.

After a shared look, the group decided that since they were determined to sell this gem, he must fetch a price worthy of his extraordinary looks—only then would their sacrifice be justified.

Keeping him at normal size would be fine, but to maximize the price, they’d have to shrink him down.

His fine-boned face would become even more exquisite and beautiful when shrunk!

Presenting such merchandise at auction would surely set off a bidding war. Bidders would lose their minds over him!

Their greedy hearts raced. The more these unscrupulous slave traders fantasized, the more fervent they grew.

Seeing the drugs fail to penetrate Sheng Qingquan's body, they gave up trying to understand why or continued spraying powder.

Several traders closed in, surrounding Sheng Qingquan from all sides.

Worried about damaging his appearance, they used strips of soft cloth to ensnare and restrain him.

The remaining trader held a vial of drugs in hand.

The bottle contained that very powder.

If spraying it externally didn't work, he planned to make Sheng Qingquan ingest the powder directly.

It would work faster and better.

"They actually showed up just like that?!"

"All that prior planning was for nothing."

Though Sheng Qingquan thought this, his movements were swift. With unscrupulous slave traders surrounding him from all sides, he tapped the ground with his toes, channeled his energy, and leapt into the air.

Using his lightness skill (qinggong) to escape the encirclement, Sheng Qingquan simultaneously activated his mech. The next moment, he was already seated inside it.

Meanwhile, the nearby staff pretended to be startled by the sudden appearance of the mech, scattering in feigned panic.

Since the plan had gone so smoothly, they were no longer needed. Naturally, they hurried away to avoid interfering with Sheng Qingquan's operation.

After calling forth his mech, Sheng Qingquan didn’t use it to attack the unscrupulous slave traders.

He wasn’t sure if he could win.

He also feared that if a battle broke out, the fighting might cause too much collateral damage, potentially harming many innocent people.

Though the authorities had already prepared an excuse for the streets he passed through—claiming they were temporarily closed for a street-decoration event—there were no civilians around except for the undercover staff disguised as workers.

But if a real fight erupted, who knew? There was no telling whether their weapons might wipe out a city, a province, or even an even wider area.

To avoid tipping off the enemy, the authorities didn’t evacuate all the people from these cities.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t considered luring them into a house in a desolate desert, as they had done with that bloated slob before.

But for a treasure like the beauty elixir, they could fabricate a story that it could only survive in a desert environment—once removed, its potency would diminish or even be destroyed.

But could the same be said for a person?

A drop-dead gorgeous beauty appearing in a barren desert would be far too suspicious. Even with an excuse, it would easily arouse the suspicion of the unscrupulous slave traders.

Even announcing an event as the reason for temporarily closing off the streets carried significant risks.

However, the staff, disguised as workers, genuinely decorated the streets with flowers and other materials, creating art displays and temporary stages or structures.

Afterward, these streets would indeed host events, and specific plans could be found online.

Everything was real, so they weren’t afraid of the unscrupulous slave traders investigating—that was why they dared to proceed this way.

The conflict couldn’t escalate, so they couldn’t engage in direct confrontation.

Sheng Qingquan had already devised a solution for this.

"Before, we just couldn’t locate them. But as for how to deal with these black-hearted bastards, the plot had already laid out clues."

"When the unscrupulous slave traders saw Tianlanxing, they hesitated for a moment after landing, even considering abandoning their plans and leaving the planet."

"It wasn’t because they had any shred of kindness left. Seeing humans living peaceful lives on Tianlanxing didn’t soften their hearts or make them reluctant to act."

"As if! Slave traders don’t have a conscience. For the right price, they’d sell out their own companions or even family, let alone strangers."

"They simply discovered that Tianlanxing had mosquitoes."

[‘"There are actually bloodsucking pests here! No, this planet is too hot—we should find another place. The goods are valuable, but not worth risking our hides."’ Immediately, some got cold feet, but they couldn’t resist the massive payday.]

[‘"There are so many people here! And puny humans can reproduce endlessly—if we control this planet, we’ll have a goldmine!"’]

[‘"And so what if there are mosquito monsters? Only we’re afraid of them. Other creatures just get a little itchy, maybe a bump, and it goes away soon. Only a few poor saps get infected and die."’]

[‘"Look at these weaklings—they’re fine. After our first score, we can con them into wiping out the bloodsucking pests with empty promises like making fewer rounds or snatching fewer folks."’]

"One moronic trafficker suggested this. But just because one was foolish didn’t mean the whole group lacked intelligence. Immediately, another objected."

[‘"No way, that’s idiotic! You’d just expose our weakness. Are you trying to help them defeat us?"’]

[‘"Exactly! Anyone would think you’re a plant from the humans. If not for the fact we’re from the same planet, I’d seriously suspect you!"’]

[‘"Better to hire races from the black market who aren’t afraid of bloodsucking pests. No, even that’s not safe."’]

[‘"I wouldn’t even trust dumb robots—who knows if there’s someone controlling them from behind? Too many sketchy beings can manipulate robots. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps."’]

[‘"Let’s just buy the medicine. It’s expensive, but we’ve skimped before. After this score, what’s a little extra cost?"’]

[‘"Exactly! By then, the last thing we’ll be short on is credit points!"’]

[‘"This time, we’ll be more careful. Spend as little time on Tianlanxing as possible, and when we must go, we’ll wear hazmat gear without removing it."’]

[‘"Alright, let’s roll with that."’]

[‘"Boss knows best—no wonder he’s the boss!"’]

"The plot never mentioned what the Vampiric Beasts were. But just from the description, Sheng Qingquan didn’t need to think twice to figure it out."

"So mosquitoes are called Vampiric Beasts in space?!"

"That name sounds both badass and hilarious."

"Who knew that useless pests like mosquitoes would actually come in handy one day? I remember seeing news about scientists wasting time on reckless experiments developing mosquitoes that could survive winter, and I called those scientists out for messing around with things that would only harm everyone."

"Guess I spoke too soon!"

Sheng Qingquan raised the two mechanical arms of his mech, exposing the cannons. He fired a shot from each side.

What he fired wasn’t the mech’s standard energy ammunition. Instead, it was something rushed into production by Tianlanxing.

The left cannon fired a chemical agent designed to melt protective suits. Just a single touch would instantly dissolve the suits.

This was a specially developed countermeasure when Tianlanxing began equipping all citizens with protective suits.

After all, on a large planet, there were bound to be some rotten eggs. Some criminals, relying on their protective suits, would resist arrest even when busted.

The suits protected everyone—just not criminals. That’s how the suit-melting agent came to be.

Such agents were always tightly controlled by the authorities, never made available to civilians.

Just like certain addictive medications, even hospitals had strict sign-out procedures, ensuring accountability.

The same applied when distributing this agent to the police—strict oversight to prevent misuse.

The right cannon, on the other hand, fired live mosquitoes specifically gathered by the authorities.

All kinds of blood-sucking mosquitoes were included: Aedes albopictus, Culex pipiens pallens, Anopheles sinensis, Culex tritaeniorhynchus… the works. Even non-blood-sucking species were thrown in.

All alive, and all starved for a long time—guaranteed to attack on sight.

In case they didn’t recognize alien blood, the authorities even thoughtfully prepared blood pellets for Sheng Qingquan.

Aim at those traffickers, splash them with blood, and the mosquitoes would descend on them in a frenzy. They’d be drained dry whether they wanted to be or not.

They’d planned for everything—except this.

"Got to hand it to them, these mosquitoes are Tianlanxing’s own. When it counts, they stand with their people!"

Or maybe these mosquitoes were just the natural nemesis of those heartless traffickers. They instinctively knew how to drain them dry.

Watching the mosquitoes instantly engulf the heartless traffickers, Sheng Qingquan was genuinely impressed.

"Sure, I’ll still swat mosquitoes when I see them later, but for now, I’ll praise them from the bottom of my heart. Praise the mighty Mosquito Gods!"

The heartless traffickers, suddenly stripped of their protective suits, were caught off guard. Before they could even pull out and activate new suits, they were turned into human-shaped mosquito clouds.

Those who dared traffic humans weren’t amateurs—they had skills.

With their reflexes, they should’ve had time to grab another suit. But at the sight of the mosquitoes, their natural predators, they were paralyzed with fear.

So they never stood a chance.

It's like many people in the wild, seeing a tiger up close without any protective measures—their instincts scream *run*, and their minds think of running too. But while the mind reacts, the body doesn't follow.

They know exactly what the right thing to do is, but these damn legs won’t budge. All they can do is just wait to die.

At this moment, the heartless traffickers were exactly the same. In fact, they reacted even more pathetically.

After all, when facing a tiger, some people, terrified to the extreme, might snap and fight back—and even succeed.

Otherwise, how could there be tales of tiger slayers?

But these heartless traffickers had no such ability.

Talk about a happy accident.

In an instant, the mosquitoes, gorged, took flight. Before they could scatter, Sheng Qingquan threw out a giant electrified net, electrocuting them.

The street became a downpour of densely falling mosquito corpses.

Also drifting down were a few thin, freakishly ugly hides. Their shapes and appearances were clearly the black-market traffickers.

These mosquitoes, which normally only fed on the blood of humans and livestock, had not only drained the traffickers of their blood but had also picked them clean to the bone.

Only the skins remained.

Sheng Qingquan was thrilled, but he also felt an even deeper chill. His hand trembled, and the raised mechanical arm let loose more nets in succession.

Like a fisherman hauling in his catch, the electric nets fell one after another.

Only when the mosquitoes were fried to a crisp, turning entirely to ash, did Sheng Qingquan finally relax.

The surrounding staff, seeing this, finally worked up the nerve to come closer.

Who wouldn’t be terrified of mosquitoes capable of devouring bones, muscles, and organs in the blink of an eye?

If even one escaped, God knows what could happen.

Even if these mosquitoes might only be specialized against heartless traffickers, and against ordinary humans would behave as before—just bloodsuckers, easily swatted dead with a clap of the hands—that was before.

What if, after feasting on the traffickers’ flesh and blood, they mutated once they digested it?

No one in their right mind would chance that.

So it was far safer to ensure they were thoroughly exterminated.

Stone-cold dead, their bodies gone—there was no way those mosquitoes could harm anyone now.

"Still, these skins, which the mosquitoes’ proboscises could pierce so easily, are weirdly durable. Even after multiple layers of electric nets, they didn’t char or disintegrate."

"Might as well take 'em as souvenirs!"

Sheng Qingquan gleefully stretched out the mechanical arm again—this time revealing not a cannon barrel but a mechanical hand built like the real thing.