Within another tunnel found near Qin'an Palace, Xue Yunrou pilots the 'Xuanming Zhiyang Shuttle', moving at nearly the speed of light through a damp, dark tunnel five feet wide.
Inside the flying shuttle, Tingtian Ao manifests itself, perched on Li Xuan's shoulder.
"Why did it latch on to you? If you looked into the Princess's Jince Yudie, you would know."
Tingtian Ao scratches its face with a paw, looking somewhat agitated: "While there is indeed no connection between you and the princess, your birthdates are the same. That is the bond between you both. You met her when she was most desperate, in a near hopeless situation, thus forming this bond."
Li Xuan glances wordlessly at the red-robed figure behind him, then furrows his brow: "Why didn't you say all this before?"
