The Vernal Equinox sun path does not cross in an x on the Autumnal equinox sun path. In both the sun rises in the east and sets in the west directly over the equator. You seem to be confused with the axial tilt. The Earth is tilted and rotates around that tilt. It does NOT rotate on a line straight up and down while tilted. It rotates around the axis as it always does. Check out a standard globe. It will be tilted and rotate around that tilted axis.