They were still teenagers after all and inexperienced. If Ye Qingtang had not led them through that encounter, they would probably still be the same as those other teenagers in the academy. Leading comfortable, pampered lives in the academy. Venturing outside to train now and then, but nowhere too dangerous.
There was a certain disparity between an academy and a sect.
Most of the teenagers in the academy were still in training. Their teachers might be strict but they would still ensure their safety. They would seldom bring them to dangerous training grounds.
But sects were different. After entering a sect, you were part of it and had to serve it wholeheartedly. The only thing of importance was that one had to fight for the glory of the sect. Even if you received a dangerous mission, you had to treat death and injury as if they were common-day occurrences.
Ye Qingtang had stayed in both an academy and a sect.