Chapter 76: Before Returning Home (2)

  "What? You're going back to China this spring?" Song Tang said with some surprise. In Song Tang's memory, Li Bo hadn't returned to China for many years, so how did he suddenly think of going back now? For a moment, Song Tang couldn't help but feel puzzled.

  "Haha, it's nothing, after all our roots are there, and your parents will also return to China for the Spring Festival this year." Li Bo said with a smile, "But if nothing unexpected happens, you'll also be back in China for the Spring Festival this year."

  "Return to the country?" Song Tang murmured, for a moment, Song Tang couldn't help but feel a little confused. Because of his arrival in this world, would another self appear on that distant ocean shore? Which one was the real self and which one was just a dream? As soon as he thought about it, Song Tang felt extremely perplexed and didn't know how to face it.

  "What's wrong, young master?" Li Bo asked with concern when he saw Song Tang looking a bit dazed. "I'm fine, Li Bo," Song Tang replied with a smile. "I just got excited hearing you mention that we might be able to return to our own country for the new year." As soon as he heard Li Bo's voice, Song Tang snapped back to reality - what was the point of worrying about these things anyway? After all, no one knew what the future held.

  "Haha, no wonder. To be honest, who wouldn't miss their own country after leaving it for many years? No matter how good a foreign land is, it's not where one's roots are. A fallen leaf must return to its roots!" Li Bo sighed. Song Tang looked at Li Bo's somewhat desolate back and felt a sour nose. Song Tang wasn't someone who liked sentimental feelings, but seeing this scene, he couldn't help but feel some evening sunset melancholy.

  "By the way, Mr. Li, what's this internal energy you mentioned earlier?" Song Tang saw that the atmosphere between the two had become somewhat melancholic and changed the subject. "Hehe, this is a bit complicated, but this internal energy really exists. It was only after thousands of years of development that it became the essence of modern national arts. However, with the development of modern firearms, national arts gradually declined, and in people's eyes, they were like flowery fists and embroidered legs."

  "In fact, in our national art, it is generally divided into internal and external training. External training usually practices tendons, bones, skin, and flesh, while internal training cultivates internal energy. Chinese martial arts have many schools. The internal family includes Tai Chi, Ba Ji, Xing Yi, Bagua, etc. Regardless of which school, there is a so-called "qi fist", each move must be held still for a long time, this is the cultivation of internal energy, in jargon it's called "standing post training". (Don't take it seriously, just messing around.)"

  After listening to Li Bo's introduction about internal energy, Song Tang somewhat understood, but Chinese martial arts are vast and profound, and it is not something that can be explained in one or two sentences. Song Tang deeply felt this point, as he had deeply studied the culture of Taoism in his past life, and the classic "Tao Te Ching" was one of his main research objects. However, even though the "Tao Te Ching" is only 5,000 words long, Song Tang spent five years studying it without fully understanding it, and the more he studied, the more extraordinary he felt it was.

  "Haha, but in the past I only learned a little bit of Bagua Palm for a short period of time, and as for internal energy cultivation, I don't know much about it. If there's an opportunity, taking advantage of this trip back to China, let's see if we can visit the sect." Li Bo said somewhat awkwardly.

  "The sect? Could it be that Li Bo is still a disciple of some school?" Song Tang asked curiously after hearing Li Bo's words.

  "I don't have that good fortune," Li Bo waved his hand and said. "It's just that back then, coincidentally I met an elder from Wudang, who taught me this set of palm techniques."

  Then Song Tang chatted with Li Bo about some martial arts issues and went back to his room to take a bath. Although he still had many things he didn't understand, it seemed that Li Bo also didn't know much about this aspect. So Song Tang could only wait until he returned home and asked some real masters later. If Song Tang was initially confused about returning home, now he couldn't wait to go back. He also thought that if possible, he would visit more famous mountains like Shaolin and Wudang.

  For this Christmas, Song Tang didn't have a very good time. Yesterday and last night's busy work basically consumed most of Song Tang's energy. On Christmas Day, Song Tang finally had a day without busyness, without being disturbed by others, and also without work. This day, apart from having a good rest, Song Tang also thought carefully about the next step plan. After all, goals and plans are two indispensable factors for success.

  After Christmas, the festive atmosphere has not dissipated, and the New Year's Day has arrived. As for celebrating holidays, Song Tang, whether in his past life or in this life, did not feel particularly happy. Now, in Song Tang's eyes, these festivals are just times to rest and accompany family members. Having never experienced the taste of affection before, Song Tang cherishes this hard-won affection very much. Song Tang is really afraid that this is just a dream, and when he wakes up from the dream, everything will be gone.

  On New Year's Day, Song Tang arrived at Jessica's home in California. As a child, Jessica basically drifted back and forth with her parents. Born in Pomona, California, she moved to Biloxi, Mississippi with her parents, then three years later, her father, who was serving in the Air Force, moved the family back to California, then to Del Rio, Texas, finally settling in Southern California when Jessica was nine years old.

  Jessica's father, Mark Alba, is of Mexican American descent and a pilot by profession, while her mother, Catherine Jensen, comes from a French and Danish Canadian family. Jessica has five nationalities: American, Mexican, French, Danish, and Canadian. Her childhood was spent drifting around due to her military upbringing, which also cultivated her independent and strong personality. As for Jessica's parents, Song Tang still attaches great importance to meeting them, after all, the relationship between him and Jessica is not easy to handle without her father's consent. However, Song Tang really likes this beautiful girl who looks a bit confused but is actually independent and self-reliant.

  "Hey, sweetheart, where are you? I'm at your doorstep." Song Tang arrived at a high-end residential community, with a spacious avenue in the middle and villas with gardens on both sides. The green path was beautiful, and from this, it could also be seen that Jessica's family lived very well.

  "Really, Tong, wait for me, I'll be right there." Just as Song Tang was admiring the scenery around him, Jessica's delighted voice came from the other end of the phone. "Okay, sweetheart." Not long after Song Tang hung up the phone, Jessica walked over, wearing a white high-necked sweater on top and tight-fitting jeans on the bottom, with her hair tied back in a small braid, accentuating her sexy and slender figure while also adding some innocence.

  Jessica saw Song Tang and suddenly ran towards him excitedly. Song Tang felt a sense of guilt and welcomed Jessica, hugging her and kissing her twice, saying: "My dear sweetheart, you look beautiful today!" "Really, Tang?" The girl didn't like to be praised for her beauty, and neither did Jessica. "Of course, my lovely girl." Song Tang stroked Jessica's face and said with a smile. "Okay! Okay! You're the only one who can say that, just come here, why buy so many things?" Although Jessica said so, Song Tang saw the joy in her eyes, revealing her true feelings at this moment. "Hehe, dear, you can't let me come empty-handed, help me carry these, I can't hold so much." Song Tang pointed to a pile of gifts beside him.

  Fortunately, these gifts were all unexpectedly selected by Song Tang, although there were many, they were not heavy, so the two easily picked them up.

  It wasn't long before Song Tang and Jessica arrived in front of a luxurious villa. The villa was painted with the common silver-white color found in Western countries, and in front of it was a large lawn, next to which was a garden. A small path led from the middle of the lawn to the entrance of the villa. Seeing this scene, Song Tang couldn't help but say: "I didn't expect my sweetheart's home to be that of a rich man." Jessica, who was walking in front, heard Song Tang's words and turned her head to give him a white eye, giggling and saying: "Hehe, then you have to work hard to make money, otherwise, you might not be able to afford me!" "Wow, sweetheart, you're really a vampire." Song Tang exclaimed. "If I'm a vampire, then you're the fresh blood, hehe."

  As they chatted and laughed, Song Tang and the others arrived at the villa entrance. Jessica shouted towards the villa: "Joshua, open the door quickly!"

  As Jessica shouted, a blond boy about sixteen or seventeen years old, slightly taller than Song Tang, opened the door of the villa. Seeing Jessica, he said with excitement: "Jessica, what are you doing out?" Then at this time, he saw Song Tang standing beside Jessica with an intimate expression, and his eyes became vigilant as he looked at Song Tang, saying: "Who are you? Why are you together with Jessica."

  Song Tang also saw the boy named Joshua and was taken aback, looking at Jessica with some confusion after hearing Joshua's question. "This is my brother, Joshua, Joshua Albah, who will be seventeen today." Jessica smiled and introduced him to Song Tang, then scolded Joshua, "Joshua, you should have manners, you know, you're already seventeen, not a kid anymore."

  Joshua? Song Tang looked at the blond boy standing in the doorway with a puzzled expression after hearing Jessica's voice, thinking: The role of history is indeed unparalleled. Because of his arrival, Jessica was born six years earlier than before, and as a result, Jessica also got a younger brother six years earlier. Now it seems that he can no longer view the present with the eyes of his past life!

  "Oh no, NO! NO! My dear sister Jessica, who is this person I'm asking about? Is he Jessica's mysterious boyfriend?" Joshua said with a somewhat unpleasant expression after hearing Jessica's accusatory words.

  Song Tang couldn't help but feel a little down seeing Jessica's brother like that, but he still nodded at Joshua in a friendly manner and asked: "Hi Joshua, I'm Sweetheart's boyfriend, Song Tang. You can call me either Tang or Song."