Traveling from the US to Asia

So happy China has a 144-hour visa free program. I'm trying to figure out if I can leave China and travel to the US. I am a US citizen but actually live in Mexico and am a legal resident there. My current flight plan is as follows:

US > Japan > South Korea > China > US

But if needed I could change it to

US > Japan > China > South Korea

Am I eligible for the 144-hour free visa program with the original flight plan? Or can you not be returning to your country of origin?