(MC POV)
Some of you might call me a bully for this but you must understand, this is the fastest and best way to learn.
It is but a simple thing for the mind to memorise something theoretical, but when you want to put it into practice, the body must be able to keep up as well.
We learn the fastest when we are put under pressure.
These students have faced death and returned from its embrace before, it is here that I will know whether that experience broke them or made them stronger.
If they were unable to walk away from that as a stronger person, they will not survive long as a Practitioner. So before they meet another adversary that will make them get the same feeling of death under much more unfavourable conditions, I shall be the one to resolve that trauma here.
I gave them some time to discuss amongst themselves on how they would fight a four on one battle, opting to join Elder Gong in his half burnt pavilion for some tea.
Don't let kids beat you either. It'll destroy what little self-esteem we already have.