In reality, from the perspective of accountability, Zheng Zhixing, as this team's highest leader, had to bear the consequences for his decisions. A mistake was a mistake, regardless of whether his subjective judgment caused it. Since he enjoyed the power, he had to bear the corresponding responsibility.

Moreover, choosing one of those three cave entrances seemed like a matter of luck to ordinary people like Qiao Shuangyi. For the warriors, however, it was not so simple. This was a time to test the commander's 'battlefield instinct'!

Clearly, Zheng Zhixing was not up to par in this regard. For a staff officer renowned for his tactics, this was an even more critical error.

Fortunately, Han Zhuangzhi and others still did not know that Zheng Zhixing had been sent by the general to assist Chen Gu tactically. Otherwise, their objections would have been even greater.

Furthermore, the legends of Chen Gu's 'Volunteer Soldier's Spirit' didn't mention the 745 Research Institute, so no one yet knew of his status as its director.

Retracing their steps, they naturally encountered many other forks. Zheng Zhixing stood at a particular fork with two cave openings: one leading back the way they had come, and the other descending deeper underground.

Zheng Zhixing pondered for a moment and was about to speak when Han Zhuangzhi interjected, "Why not consult Chen Gu? He's a professional; he has special abilities to find the enemy."

Zheng Zhixing gave him a cold look but completely ignored his suggestion. He knew why the general had sent him. If he wanted to catch Marshal Bai's attention and secure a more promising future, he naturally had to accomplish things even Chen Gu could not!

What future could a military unit have if it began to fracture due to individual ambitions?

Zheng Zhixing pointed to the cave leading deeper underground and said, "We'll go this way."

From beginning to end, he never asked for Chen Gu's opinion.

By now, even Qiao Shuangyi had noticed. He quietly sidled up to Chen Gu. "Brother Chen, does that guy have a problem with you?"

Chen Gu was also somewhat baffled. He was sure he'd never met Zheng Zhixing before, right? So why did this man seem so wary and hostile towards him?

The Great Actor Chen shrugged his shoulders. "Let him be."

It was unclear whether Zheng Zhixing was genuinely unlucky, but the path he chose still didn't yield a single Subterranean.

The group advanced roughly four to five kilometers and arrived at yet another dead end.

This time, Han Zhuangzhi's dissatisfaction boiled over. He asked Zheng Zhixing bluntly, "Back the way we came? Again?"

"Hmph!" Zheng Zhixing wasn't in a good mood either and had little patience for a mere team captain like Han Zhuangzhi.

On the way back, Han Zhuangzhi approached Chen Gu again, inquiring, "Brother Chen, if it were you, which one of those three caves at the beginning would you have chosen?"

Chen Gu glanced at Zheng Zhixing ahead of them and whispered, "The one on the left."

Han Zhuangzhi nodded.

By their second time backtracking, the warriors were thoroughly exhausted. Zheng Zhixing ordered them to rest on the spot and eat to replenish their energy.

Chen Gu put down his backpack—it was the largest of everyone's, and it was filled with... food.

High-calorie individual rations.

Chen Gu ate twenty portions in one go. Of course, he was still not full. However, he had only brought one hundred portions. Considering he had no idea how long the mission would last without resupply, he repacked his backpack.

Zheng Zhixing ate only one portion. Regarding Chen Gu's appetite, he had a single thought: Wasteful.

After eating, Han Zhuangzhi stood up and asked, "What do we do next?"

Zheng Zhixing glanced at him coldly. "You are a soldier. Your job is to follow orders."

Han Zhuangzhi couldn't offer a retort and sat back down, fuming.

By now, Zheng Zhixing also vaguely sensed that his initial choices might have been wrong. Thus, during this second retreat, when they encountered diagonal cave forks, he no longer led everyone headlong into them. Instead, he had them pass through quickly. Within an hour, they were back at the first three caves.

Han Zhuangzhi stepped forward, wanting to suggest they take the right one.

But Zheng Zhixing ordered without hesitation, "The middle one! Move out!"

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