The reason was simple: for all that time, he genuinely hadn't proactively contacted Wang Guan. Just as Wang Guan had forgotten about the IOU, Cai Peng had lost Wang Guan's contact information.

Without a way to reach him, Cai Peng, lost in the vast populace, naturally couldn't find him, and over time, the matter faded from his mind.

Now that Wang Guan brought it up, Cai Peng was speechless. After a long pause, he stammered, "Brother, I thought you would go to Taiwan to look for me..."

"Do you think I'm so short of money that I’d have to go collect a debt?" Wang Guan countered.

"Uh." Cai Peng was instantly silenced. Yet, the fact that he couldn't even handle such a minor jab suggested he was truly green, lacking in experience and a thick skin. However, just as he was about to give up, a turning point suddenly appeared.

"Helping you isn't out of the question," Wang Guan said, pausing thoughtfully. "But in return, you need to tell me a few things."

"What things?" Cai Peng asked, surprised yet thoroughly perplexed.

"Do you remember that jade pendant you sold me?" Wang Guan smiled. "Just tell me the origin of that jade pendant. You mentioned buying it somewhere, right?"

"Oh, that thing."

At Wang Guan's reminder, Cai Peng suddenly realized and then frowned in thought. "I definitely bought it. The person who sold it to me claimed it was Mutton-Fat Jade... Could it not be?"

Once bitten, twice shy, Cai Peng was now prone to jumpiness and suspicion. He feared the jade pendant wasn't worth much, which would be a huge problem for him. For Cai Peng, failing to repay a debt was already embarrassing enough; if the item he sold to Wang Guan turned out to be fake, he would have no face left to show anyone.

Fortunately, his worries did not materialize. Wang Guan shook his head slightly and chuckled, "The item is fine; I like it very much, which is why I wanted to know its origin. You must understand, when you truly love something, it’s not just about admiring it; it’s about understanding its essence..."

This explanation could fool an expert, let alone a novice like Cai Peng, who immediately believed it without question.

Or perhaps there was little reason to doubt it. After all, the item was already sold, and Cai Peng had no intention of buying it back, so he wouldn't keep this piece of non-secret information to himself.

"Let me think, that jade pendant..."

Cai Peng scratched his head, trying hard to recall. Soon, a smile spread across his face. "Right! I bought it two years ago when I traveled to Hanzhong, at a local antique shop."

"Hanzhong." Wang Guan's eyes brightened, and he quickly asked, "Do you remember the specific antique shop?"

"I forgot," Cai Peng shook his head. "I just vaguely remember it was on a relatively bustling street with many antique shops, and I bought it from one of them."

"Oh."

Wang Guan nodded slightly and didn't press further. In truth, his reason for inquiring about such matters was merely to explore a one-in-ten-thousand chance of finding a clue about the famed sword, Chixiao.

After all, both the Nine-Bend Pearl (Jiuhua Jade) and the Ruyi Jade (Seven-Colored Bead) were ornaments belonging to the Chixiao Sword. However, these two ornaments had clearly been removed, and after countless years of circulation, they had fallen into Wang Guan's hands.

Ambition often breeds greater ambition. Wang Guan naturally desired to find the Chixiao Sword. But the probability was slim, so he quietly filed it away, planning to try his luck in Hanzhong sometime later.

For now, Wang Guan smiled and continued, "Alright, now you can tell me how you want me to help you."

"Help me pick out a weapon better than the one that guy Hu has," Cai Peng said excitedly. "I want to knock him down a peg."

"I can’t guarantee that," Wang Guan shook his head. "I haven't seen Young Master Hu's katana either, and without knowing the specifics, I can't definitively say which weapon is better. Do you know the origin of that Japanese katana of his?"

"It’s called something like Kikumaru," Cai Peng frowned. "I heard it was the relic of some famous Japanese samurai."

"Kikumaru?"

Wang Guan pondered for a moment, then shook his head in confusion. He didn't have much knowledge of Japanese artifacts. The only famous sword he knew of was the so-called cursed sword Muramasa; he was unclear about others.

Knowing what one knows, and admitting what one doesn't know—when faced with something unfamiliar, Wang Guan maintained a proper attitude, directly admitting his ignorance and asking others for guidance: "Brother Pi, do you know a Japanese katana named Kikumaru?"

"Brother, you've asked the wrong person," Pi Qiushi spread his hands. "I'm even worse off than you; I haven't even fully recognized the artifacts from our own country, so how could I possibly know about Japanese items."

As he spoke, Pi Qiushi also turned and asked, "Old He, you travel to Japan often—do you know the Kikumaru blade?"

"I study Japanese painting; I’m not very familiar with Japanese swords either," a middle-aged man shook his head. "I only know that Japan has the so-called Five Swords Under Heaven and the Ten Great Famous Swords, but none of them are named Kikumaru."

"Furthermore, there are many Japanese samurai, and 'famous' depends on the degree of fame. Perhaps that person was only well-known locally, similar to a local notable in China, not someone famous throughout the land," the middle-aged man mused, then added with a chuckle, "If it was a wild samurai, then it's even less worth mentioning."

"Haha..."

At that moment, Cai Peng laughed heartily, his face beaming. "I knew that guy Hu was just bluffing! A so-called famous Japanese katana—it's just a pretense to lure me into a trap."

"If that’s the case, then it’s much easier to handle," Wang Guan smiled. "Everyone here is a renowned expert. In Hong Kong, people here have connections and channels. You only need to ask any one of them for help; you don't need to resort to me."

Hearing this, Sha Qingfeng and the others felt a sense of gratitude, thinking Wang Guan was truly generous.

Of course, those who had connections were the happiest. After all, the weapons trade was a niche market; not everyone dealt in it. Even those who did occasionally moved inventory rather than specializing. Moreover, everyone present knew each other’s business, so there was no need for a chaotic scramble.

Almost simultaneously, one person spoke up with a laugh, "Young Master Cai, do you want a saber or a sword? Domestic or foreign? Just say the word, Young Master Cai, and I'll immediately get it for you."

"It doesn't matter if it's domestic or foreign, as long as it's better than Hu's Kikumaru," Cai Peng's requirement was simple, yet it was the most difficult to fulfill.

At the same time, Cai Peng added, "Oh, and it needs to be fast, because we're having the weapon duel tomorrow afternoon."

"Tomorrow?"

In an instant, everyone exchanged bewildered glances, especially the person who had just spoken, who now began to backtrack.

"What, is there a problem?" Cai Peng frowned. "Didn't you say you could get it for me immediately?"

Suddenly, several people exchanged wry smiles. That so-called 'immediately' was naturally an exaggeration. If it was something local in Hong Kong, that might be manageable. But if it was in Europe or the Americas, after negotiating terms, persuading the seller to part with it, and arranging immediate air transport, it would likely take half a day, even if everything went smoothly...

If the process wasn't smooth—if the seller refused to sell, or if the flight was delayed—there would naturally be delays. Therefore, no one dared promise to procure the item within a single day.

Moreover, it was already dusk; only twelve hours remained until tomorrow noon. Under these circumstances, who would dare take on this job? After analyzing the situation, everyone showed expressions of helplessness.

"I knew you can’t trust anyone easily; they always let you down at the critical moment..." Cai Peng muttered, making no attempt to hide his feelings, so those who needed to hear it did, causing embarrassment to flash across their faces.

However, this comment cast too wide a net, and some couldn't sit still. After hesitating for a moment, Old Meng spoke up. "Young Master Cai wants a superior weapon. I know a place that can definitely meet your needs, but..."

"But what?" Young Master Cai's spirits lifted, and he quickly said, "The price doesn't matter. As long as the item is truly excellent and not a deception."

"Although cold weapons are a niche collection, it doesn't mean no one collects them," Old Meng chuckled. "I know a collector who specializes entirely in cold weapons. He has an arsenal at home displaying cold weapons from various countries, East and West. However, this man cherishes his collection deeply and might be reluctant to part with anything easily."

"Where does he live? Take us there quickly," Cai Peng was visibly elated. He naturally dismissed Old Meng's remark about reluctance, assuming it was just a tactic to drive up the price. As long as they were willing to spend money, why would the owner refuse to be moved?

"In a hurry for what? Let's eat first," Wang Guan laughed. "As long as he's in Hong Kong, he isn't going anywhere."

"Right, right, let’s eat..."

Having glimpsed the hope of victory, Cai Peng was in high spirits and proactively invited everyone to drink and eat. After learning the professions of Old Meng and the others, he generously promised that if they needed any services in the future, he would certainly contact them.

The atmosphere was excellent, and the meal concluded with everyone being thoroughly pleased.

After dinner was settled, a few people had other engagements and left first. The remaining group, led by Old Meng, drove around for about twenty minutes before finally arriving in front of a residence.

After parking, Old Meng immediately went to knock on the door. A moment later, an old woman opened the gate. Seeing so many people gathered at her doorstep, she was naturally surprised and utterly bewildered.

Old Meng quickly asked, "Is Mr. Xin at home?"

"..." The old woman muttered something indistinctly and returned inside, then began shouting.

A short while later, a heavily built man walked out. He had a full, thick beard, wore only a tank top, and his biceps, as thick as his calves, were exposed, revealing large patches of tattoos and ink, which made everyone slightly uneasy. Was this person a cold weapon collector or someone affiliated with the underworld?