14. (12 points) As shown in the figure, an ant starts from the center point $A$, walks 5 steps and returns to point $A$, without returning to $A$ in between. There are ( ) different ways to do this. (Each step can only move to an adjacent point, and repeated routes are allowed.)
A. 144
B. 156
C. 168
D. 180
【Solution】Solution: Starting from $A$, there are two directions. One can go to $B$ and $C$, two major categories.
(1) If the path goes through $B$, there are also three categories next, $C, D, E$. This way, two steps have already been taken, leaving three steps. Returning to $A$ from $C$ in three steps has 8 ways, from $D$ has 5 ways, and from $E$ has 6 ways. Therefore, if the path goes through $B$, there are $8 \times 2 + 5 \times 2 + 6 = 32$ ways.
(2) If the path goes through $C$, then there are two major categories next, $B, D$. Returning to $A$ from $B$ in three steps has 9 ways. Returning to $A$ from $D$ in three steps has 5 ways. Therefore, if the path goes through $C$, there are $9 \times 2 + 5 \times 2 = 28$ ways. In total, $(28 + 32) \times 3 = 180$ ways. Therefore, the answer is: $D$.